CBS Boss: Equalizer EPs Were Given 'Some Notice That This Might Be The End' To Prep 'Satisfying' Finale For Fans

CBS Entertainment president Amy Reisenbach is explaining why Queen Latifah's reign as The Equalizer is over.

"It's never easy to end shows, and we had a lot of options this year," Reisenbach told reporters on Wednesday afternoon, shortly after revealing CBS' Fall 2025 schedule. "We always have to look at all of our shows, look at the aggregate information — the creative, where they are in their life cycle, what the finances look like, what the ratings are — and we make those tough decisions.

"Equalizer did have some notice that this might be the end," she revealed. "They wrote a really satisfying ending for fans. And it's always sad to say goodbye to shows, but they've been incredibly classy. Again, we make the tough decisions in order to benefit the best version of the schedule."

In its fifth and final season, The Equalizer averaged 5.8 million total viewers (with Live+7 playback), down 27% from its Season 4 audience. Out of the 14 dramas that CBS aired this TV season, it ranked No. 12 (besting only the previously renewed NCIS: Sydney and cancelled S.W.A.T.).

Not helping The Equalizer's cause was the fact that it started Season 5 in an hour-than-later time slot (with the well-watched Tracker now leading out of 60 Minutes). Then at midseason, it got pushed back another hour, where it led out of Watson (which was also renewed).

In TVLine's annual Save One Show poll, it came in seventh place. Its series finale aired Sunday, May 4. (To read Queen Latifah's farewell to The Equalizer, go here.)