If you’ve been following the saga of 20 Squad, you know that Sergeant Daniel "Hondo" Harrelson has survived more near-death experiences than almost any other cop on TV. But the biggest threat wasn't a cartel or a rogue sniper. It was a boardroom at CBS. The news that CBS cancels Shemar Moore's SWAT finally stuck in 2025, marking the end of one of the most chaotic "will-they-won't-they" relationships in television history.
This wasn't just a standard cancellation. It was a three-year rollercoaster. Honestly, it's kinda legendary how many times this show came back from the dead.
The Cancellation That Kept Coming Back
The first time the axe fell was in May 2023. Fans were stunned. The ratings were solid, and Shemar Moore was basically the face of Friday night. But behind the curtain, a massive fight was brewing between CBS and Sony Pictures Television. See, CBS doesn’t actually own S.W.A.T.—Sony does. When the network asked for a flat licensing fee and a shorter season, Sony said no.
The show was dead. For three days.
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Shemar Moore didn't take it sitting down. He took to Instagram, fired up a camera, and basically told the world that CBS was making a huge mistake. He called out the lack of diversity in the network’s decision-making and pointed to the show's global success. It worked. CBS and Sony "listened" to the fans (and Shemar's very loud megaphone) and brought it back for a seventh and "final" season.
Then, the script flipped again. In April 2024, despite Season 7 being marketed as the end, CBS handed out an 8th season renewal.
But by March 2025, the luck finally ran out. CBS cancels Shemar Moore's SWAT for the third and final time, confirming that Season 8 would be the absolute end of the road on the network. The series finale, titled "Return to Base," aired on May 16, 2025. It was a bittersweet moment for a crew that had been packed and unpacked more times than a travel blogger.
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Why CBS Finally Pulled the Plug
You’d think a show pulling in over 8 million viewers an episode (when you count streaming and delayed viewing) would be safe. It isn't. The "economics of the business"—a phrase showrunner Shawn Ryan used frequently—eventually caught up with the production.
- The Licensing War: CBS wanted to own its content. Shows like Fire Country or the FBI franchise are easier for them to manage because they have a bigger stake in the pie. Paying a heavy licensing fee to Sony for an older, more expensive show became a harder pill to swallow.
- The Aging Cast: As shows get older, they get pricey. Contracts for veteran stars like Shemar Moore, David Lim, and Jay Harrington aren't cheap.
- The "Blue Bloods" Factor: With Blue Bloods also ending, CBS was looking to refresh its entire Friday night lineup. They moved S.W.A.T. to the 10 p.m. slot in its final year, and while it held its own, the "live" numbers dipped about 20% compared to previous seasons.
Shemar Moore’s reaction to this final blow was a mix of grace and "I told you so." In a six-minute Instagram video, he thanked the fans for keeping them alive for eight seasons but made it clear he thought CBS was making the wrong choice again. He even started "flirting" with other networks, openly inviting Netflix, NBC, or ABC to "come to the barbecue" and pick up the show for a Season 9.
Is Hondo Really Gone? (The SWAT: Exiles Twist)
If you watched the finale, you know it wasn't the clean "happily ever after" everyone expected. Hondo didn't ride off into a peaceful sunset. Instead, the finale set the stage for something new.
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While the main show is over, the "S.W.A.T. universe" is trying to migrate. Reports have surfaced about a spin-off titled S.W.A.T.: Exiles. The premise? Hondo is forced into retirement after a high-stakes mission goes sideways. But he’s not staying retired for long. He gets recruited to lead an experimental, "exiled" unit of younger, more rebellious officers.
It’s basically a way to keep Shemar Moore in the tactical vest while cutting the budget by bringing in a cheaper, younger supporting cast. Whether this lands on Netflix or Paramount+ is still the big question for 2026.
What This Means for Fans Right Now
The era of S.W.A.T. as a CBS staple is officially over. But the show's legacy is its resilience. It proved that a vocal lead actor and a dedicated fanbase can actually change a network's mind—at least for a few years.
If you're looking to relive the 20 Squad glory days or catch up on what you missed during the "cancellation years," here is the current state of play:
- Streaming: The first seven seasons are currently dominating Netflix and Prime Video. Season 8 is the outlier, primarily living on Paramount+ for now, though it's expected to hit Netflix by late 2025 or early 2026.
- The Spin-off: Keep an eye on trade publications for S.W.A.T.: Exiles. If the licensing deals with Sony can be smoothed out for a streamer, Hondo might be back on your screen sooner than you think.
- Physical Media: Sony is leaning into complete series box sets. For those who don't trust streaming rights, the Season 1-8 collection is the only way to guarantee you keep the 20-Squad together.
The lesson here? Never count Shemar Moore out. He’s been "cancelled" three times and still managed to walk away with 172 episodes in the bank. That’s a win in any playbook.