Shemar Moore is suiting up for another season of S.W.A.T. following the series' surprise renewal. The actor says he's willing to reprise Sergeant Hondo for more seasons, but there's one caveat.
S.W.A.T. lead Shemar Moore is hoping for five more seasons beyond Season 8. "Everybody at S.W.A.T. wants Season 13," he told People, adding that he would do everything to make it happen. The show's recent renewals prove Moore's commitment. "To get canceled twice in a row and to get uncanceled twice in a row, I give kudos to me running my mouth on social media," he asserted. "Nothing lasts forever, but I fight." Season 7 was meant to be their farewell run, but CBS reversed the cancellation in a surprise announcement last April. The same thing happened in May 2023 when the network renewed the show for a "final" Season 7.
Moore said he has the same attitude to any challenge, including the show's recent setbacks. "It's skill, it's hunger, it's determination, it's passion, it's humility and a whole bunch of luck," he asserted. "It has to be a perfect storm, and I'm a product of exactly that." Long-time fans know Moore best as Malcolm Winters in The Young and the Restless, but his Criminal Minds character (Derek Morgan) proved he can lead police procedurals. Moore admitted he can only play Sergeant Hondo for so long, however. "You've got to talk to my knees, boy," he quipped. "It ain't no joke. Hey, I'm 54. It ain't like it was. It's harder and harder running around, jumping over cars and playing tough guy and trying to keep that six-pack together."
'It's Kind Of A Miracle'
Moore said the new season is a huge win for the series. "All the adversity that we've faced, and to be granted a Season 8 and a full slate of 22 episodes, that's great for the fans, that's great for the crew that work so hard and have to provide for their families. There's so many wins in S.W.A.T. staying alive," he told TV Insider. "I'm super, super geeked. I'm so excited, so proud, humbled, and I'm still pinching myself because it's kind of a miracle. It's business, and you can't take it personal, but sometimes you do a little bit because you're so passionate about something."
CBS has yet to confirm future plans for S.W.A.T., but whatever happens, Moore confirmed he's willing to end the show after Season 8. "That's okay because we won this fight, this impossible fight," he said. "But maybe there's [Season] 9, maybe there's 10. We don't know, but I know that all of us involved aren't worried about getting canceled anymore. We're so proud of winning, and we know nothing lasts forever. And one day, it will end. And if that's after Season 8, we're going to throw one hell of a party, hug it out, and then figure out our next chapters. But we don't know until we get there."
Moore credited the series' renewals to his outspoken comments; he previously called out CBS' decision to cancel the show after six seasons, asserting the network has made a huge mistake.
New episodes of S.W.A.T. air Fridays on CBS.
Source: People
