NBC President Explains Suits LA Cancellation Amid Tough Choices

Suits, a beloved series since its 2011 debut on USA, has captivated audiences for nearly 15 years. Its recent surge in popularity on Netflix, sparking countless binge-watching marathons, wasn’t enough to sustain the spin-off Suits LA, which NBC canceled upon releasing its fall schedule. Jeff Bader, president of program planning strategy, shared insights into the tough call to end the show.

“Discussing which shows to renew is always challenging. Suits LA had a brief run but didn’t connect with audiences as we’d hoped,” Bader told Variety after the fall schedule was announced.

“Many factors could explain its lack of traction, but ultimately, it didn’t show the growth potential we needed moving forward,” he added.

Bader elaborated: “We had to make difficult decisions. We evaluated each show’s performance on both linear TV and digital platforms, focusing on which ones showed promise for future growth. We assessed stability in viewership and identified which programs were gaining or losing traction. Those insights drove our choices.”

Bader also noted that NBCUniversal routinely considers transferring canceled network shows to Peacock, but Suits LA didn’t make the cut for a platform switch.

For shows that survived the cuts, Bader explained what kept them on the air, especially as NBC reshuffles its schedule to accommodate NBA broadcasts on Tuesday nights.

“We analyzed week-to-week and episode-to-episode performance on both linear and digital platforms to identify shows with strong ratings trends,” Bader said. “On the creative side, our teams evaluated which programs had the greatest potential to attract new viewers. The top performers earned their spots.”

Suits originally aired for nine seasons from 2011 to 2019. The spin-off, which premiered in February, featured Stephen Amell, Lex Scott Davis, Josh McDermitt, and Bryan Greenberg, with guest appearances by original cast members like Rick Hoffman, David Costabile, and Gabriel Macht. Created and executive-produced by Suits creator Aaron Korsh, Suits LA aired its final episode on May 11, 2025.