In a surprising turn of events, NBC has officially canceled its legal drama Suits LA after just one season, a spinoff of the beloved USA Network series Suits. The decision, announced on May 9, 2025, comes as the network grapples with low viewership numbers despite high hopes for the show, which had launched in February 2025 amid significant buzz.
Originally created by Aaron Korsh, the Suits franchise had seen a resurgence on Netflix, where it became a massive hit, drawing in new audiences and reigniting interest in the original series, which aired from 2011 to 2019. This revival prompted NBC to take a chance on Suits LA, featuring former Arrow star Stephen Amell in the lead role as Ted Black, a former federal prosecutor who reinvented himself as a high-powered attorney in Los Angeles.
Despite an initial decent premiere, viewership for Suits LA quickly dwindled, averaging just over 1 million viewers per episode in recent weeks. The show struggled to capture the attention of the Sunday night linear TV crowd, a competitive time slot that has seen many shows falter. In an effort to boost ratings, NBC organized a three-hour marathon of Suits LA repeats on March 27, but this move failed to attract a larger audience.
The series featured a blend of new and returning characters, with original cast members such as Gabriel Macht reprising his iconic role as Harvey Specter in a three-episode arc. Other familiar faces included Rick Hoffman as Louis Litt and David Costabile as Daniel Hardman, both of whom added a nostalgic touch to the new series. However, even the return of these beloved characters could not save the show from cancellation.
In its narrative, Suits LA followed Ted Black as he navigated the complexities of running a law firm in Los Angeles, dealing with personal and professional challenges. The show also starred Lex Scott Davis as Erica Rollins, Bryan Greenberg as Rick Dodson, and Josh McDermitt as Stuart Lane, Ted's old friend who ultimately betrays him by cutting him out of a merger.
Critics and audiences alike had mixed reactions to the show, with many noting that it failed to live up to the legacy of its predecessor. The original Suits was known for its sharp writing and engaging characters, but Suits LA struggled to find its footing, drawing mostly negative reviews upon its debut.
As NBC prepares for its upfront presentation on May 12, the cancellation of Suits LA marks a significant shift for the network, which is also parting ways with other shows, including the comedies Lopez vs. Lopez and Night Court, as well as the drama The Irrational. The network is making room for upcoming NBA coverage, signaling a broader strategy to refresh its programming lineup.
Despite its short run, Suits LA attempted to tap into the successful formula of the original series, which had become the top streaming show on Netflix in 2023, amassing nearly 58 billion minutes of viewing time. However, the spinoff could not replicate this success, highlighting the challenges of translating a streaming phenomenon into traditional network television.
The first and only season of Suits LA will conclude with its finale airing on May 18, 2025. Fans of the franchise will now have to reflect on what the future holds for the Suits universe, as the cancellation leaves the series with more questions than answers.
