▁law y ers ▁Michael ▁Crist al li ▁and ▁Marc ▁S agg ese . ▁This ▁series ▁is ▁not ▁related ▁to ▁the ▁ 1 9 6 0 s ▁CBS ▁series ▁of ▁the ▁same ▁name . ▁ ▁In ▁October ▁ 2 0 1 0 , ▁CBS ▁announced ▁that ▁the ▁show ▁had ▁been ▁picked ▁up ▁for ▁a ▁ 1 9 - ep is ode ▁season ▁with ▁the ▁option ▁to ▁produce ▁a ▁full ▁ 2 2 - ep is ode ▁season . ▁In ▁January ▁ 2 0 1 1 , ▁CBS ▁announced ▁that ▁The ▁Def enders ▁was ▁moving ▁from ▁its ▁Wed nes day ▁times lot ▁to ▁the ▁Friday ▁times lot ▁vac ated ▁by ▁Med ium , ▁with ▁Blue ▁Blo ods ▁tempor arily ▁moving ▁to ▁the ▁times lot ▁The ▁Def enders ▁vac ated . ▁Blue ▁Blo ods ▁returned ▁to ▁its ▁Friday ▁times lot ▁in ▁February ▁ 2 0 1 1 ▁ow ing ▁to ▁the ▁series ▁premi ere ▁of ▁C riminal ▁M inds : ▁Sus pect ▁Be havior . ▁The ▁Def enders ▁a ired ▁the ▁last ▁six ▁episodes ▁of ▁its ▁season ▁on ▁Frid ays ▁at ▁ 8 : 0 0   p . m . ▁Eastern / 7 : 0 0   p . m . ▁Central . ▁Jim ▁Bel ush i ▁and ▁Jerry ▁O ' Con nell ▁star ▁as ▁the ▁defense ▁att or ne ys ▁of ▁the ▁show ' s ▁title . ▁ ▁On ▁May ▁ 1 5 , ▁ 2 0 1 1 , ▁The ▁Def enders ▁was ▁can ce led ▁by ▁CBS ▁and ▁it ▁was ▁not ▁renew