UPDATE: Back in May when the networks released their fall schedules, such as they were, most seemed to be at least slightly optimistic that the nascent writers’ strike would end long before filming would need to begin on the scripted fall shows. ABC was the only network that took a more pessimistic approach, filling their schedule with game shows and reruns. And now, almost two months to the day, the other networks seem to be realizing that the strikes aren’t ending anytime soon, and making adjustments to a fall schedule that is set to launch in September.
As you’ll see below, CBS has completely thrown out their previous schedule and replaced it with one that is a little more creative than some of the other networks. They’ve added Yellowstone, their sister network’s biggest hit, some other shows from Paramount+, some reruns, a foreign rerun in the form of the original Ghosts, and of course reality shows and game shows. Please find their fall schedule and premiere dates below.
There is no such thing as a traditional Upfront season anymore. Last year, very briefly, it felt like the Upfronts — the events when the networks announce their upcoming fall schedules and new series — were back following the pandemic and the steady decline of network television in general. But now with a writers’ strike that could very well stretch through the summer, and potential strikes by the Directors Guild of America and the Screen Actors Guild on the horizon, the networks are having to play the upcoming fall season entirely by ear. With some networks, this looks like loading up on reality content; with others, it looks like they are moving forward with their scripted material and hoping for the best.
CBS is taking a bit of a mixed approach. The most popular network clearly hopes that the strike(s) will be over before production has to begin for the fall season, as all of their scripted hits are on the schedule. That said, they’ve super-sized Survivor and The Amazing Race, eliminating the need for at least one hour of prime-time programming. Not sure that will do the trick, but I suppose you have to start somewhere.
CBS has also added two new dramas to their fall schedule — a spinoff of one of their popular franchises, and a gender-swapped reimagining of a television classic. Let’s hope we don’t have to wait long for them to premiere.
NEW Schedule
MONDAY
7/8 p.m.: LOTERIA LOCA (October 2)
8/9 p.m.: NCIS (Reruns)
9/10 p.m.: Paramount+ Original TBA
TUESDAY
7/8 p.m.: Big Brother
8/9 p.m.: FBI: TRUE (Paramount+ docuseries) (October 3)
9/10 p.m.: FBI (Reruns)
WEDNESDAY
7/8 p.m.: Survivor (September 27)
8:30/9:30 p.m.: Amazing Race (September 27)
THURSDAY
7/8 p.m.: Big Brother
8/9 p.m.: BUDDY GAMES (September 14)
9/10 p.m.: The Challenge: USA
Once Big Brother, Buddy Games, and The Challenge: USA conclude:
7/8 p.m.: Young Sheldon (Reruns)
7:30/8:30 p.m.: Ghosts (Reruns)
8/9 p.m.: U.K. GHOSTS (Beginning with Season 1) (November 16)
9/10 p.m.: SEAL TEAM (Beginning with Season 5) (November 2)
FRIDAY
7/8 p.m.: The Price Is Right at Night/Let’s Make a Deal Primetime
8/9 p.m.: RAID THE CAGE (October 13)
9/10 p.m.: Blue Bloods (Reruns)
SATURDAY
7/8 p.m.: Repeats
8/9 p.m.: Repeats
9/10 p.m.: 48 Hours (September 16)
SUNDAY
6/7 p.m.: 60 Minutes (September 17)
7/8 p.m.: YELLOWSTONE (Beginning with Season 1) (September 17)
8/9 p.m.: YELLOWSTONE
9/10 p.m.: Big Brother
With an NFL Double-header:
6/7 p.m.: NFL Overrun + 60 Minutes
8/9 p.m.: YELLOWSTONE
9/10 p.m.: Big Brother
PREVIOUS Schedule
MONDAY
7/8 p.m.: The Neighborhood
7:30/8:30 p.m.: Bob ♥ Abishola
8/9 p.m.: NCIS
9/10 p.m.: NCIS: HAWAI’I
TUESDAY
7/8 p.m.: FBI
8/9 p.m.: FBI: INTERNATIONAL
9/10 p.m.: FBI: Most Wanted
WEDNESDAY
7/8 p.m.: Survivor
8:30/9:30 p.m.: Amazing Race
THURSDAY
7/8 p.m.: Young Sheldon
7:30/8:30 p.m.: Ghosts
8/9 p.m.: So Help Me Todd
9/10 p.m.: ELSBETH
FRIDAY
7/8 p.m.: SWAT
8/9 p.m.: Fire Country
9/10 p.m.: Blue Bloods
SATURDAY
7/8 p.m.: Repeats
8/9 p.m.: Repeats
9/10 p.m.: 48 Hours
SUNDAY
6/7 p.m.: 60 Minutes
7/8 p.m.: MATLOCK
8/9 p.m.: The Equalizer
9/10 p.m.: Seal Team
New Fall Shows
LOTERIA LOCA
Official Synopsis: Full of unexpected surprises, the game show is based on the Latin game of chance popularly known now as Lotería. In each episode, two players go head-to-head and take turns picking cards to get four-in-a-row, which is Lotería. Each time a card appears on their unique bingo-style card, they bank big money. Landing on one of the “Loca Cards” creates a twist in the game and gives players the opportunity to bank even more cash by competing in wild, interactive challenges. The player who gets the most “Loterías” on their board the fastest, moves on to the dramatic final round for a chance to win the ultimate show cash prize.
BUDDY GAMES
Official Synopsis: The game show unites six teams of four deep-rooted friends, who met at various stages of their lives, at a stunning lakeside location for a nostalgic adult summer camp adventure. “Ride or dies” get the chance to play “buddy games” where they will relive their glory days and compete in an assortment of absurd physical and mental challenges in the outdoors while bunking together in the same lake house. Friendships will be rekindled, and rivalries reignited, when these friends are challenged to prove which bonds are strong enough to withstand the competition. The last buddy team standing will be crowned champion and take home a cash prize, plus the coveted Buddy Games trophy, and of course bragging rights.
Raid the Cage
Official Synopsis: In the new action-packed game show, two teams of two face off to grab-and-go prizes from the Cage before their time runs out and the doors close. Correctly answering trivia questions adds seconds to the clock, giving teammates more time to grab prizes ranging from cold hard cash to electronics and even a new car! After three lively rounds, the team that banks the highest total dollar value in prizes wins the game, keeps what they grabbed and plays the final round for an even bigger cash prize.
ELSBETH
Official synopsis: ELSBETH stars Carrie Preston (The Good Wife) as Elsbeth Tascioni, an astute but unconventional attorney who, after her successful career in Chicago, utilizes her singular point of view to make unique observations and corner brilliant criminals alongside the NYPD. Based on the character featured in The Good Wife and The Good Fight. Elsbeth stars Carrie Preston as Elsbeth Tascioni, Wendell Pierce as Captain C.W. Wagner and Carra Patterson as Officer Kaya Blanke. Robert King, Michelle King, Liz Glotzer and Jonathan Tolins are executive producers. Tolins will serve as showrunner. Robert King directed the pilot from a script he wrote with Michelle King. The series is produced by CBS Studios.
T’s Take: Look. It’s a procedural. But it’s a Richard and Michelle King procedural so chances are very good that it will be very good. Also, Carrie Preston! Who is delightful! (And 1. she’s married to Evil star Michael Emerson (Evil is also made by the Kings) and 2. please note the True Blood reunion in this trailer. I think I’m going to enjoy this little show.)
MATLOCK
Official synopsis: MATLOCK stars Kathy Bates as the brilliant septuagenarian Madeline “Matty” Matlock, who achieved success in her younger years, and decides to rejoin the workforce at a prestigious law firm where she uses her unassuming demeanor and wily tactics to win cases and expose corruption from within. Inspired by the classic television series of the same name. Matlock stars Kathy Bates as Madeline “Matty” Matlock, Skye P. Marshall as Olympia, Jason Ritter as Julian, David Del Rio as Billy and Leah Lewis as Sarah. Bates, Jennie Snyder Urman, Joanna Klein, Eric Christian Olsen and John Will are executive producers. Kat Coiro directed the pilot from a script written by Urman. The series is produced by CBS Studios.
T’s Take: Frankly, I’m surprised it has taken CBS this long to remake a hit show about a brilliant and underestimated septuagenarian. This seems like the easiest call to patronize their audience. So, when are they bringing Murder, She Wrote back?
Midseason
TRACKER
Official synopsis: TRACKER stars Justin Hartley as Colter Shaw, a lone-wolf survivalist who roams the country as a “reward seeker,” using his expert tracking skills to help private citizens and law enforcement solve all manner of mysteries while contending with his own fractured family. The series is based on the bestselling novel The Never Game by Jeffery Deaver. Tracker stars Justin Hartley as Colter Shaw, Fiona Rene as Reenie, Robin Weigert as Teddi, Abby McEnany as Velma and Eric Graise as Bobby. Hartley, Ken Olin, Ben Winters, Hilary Weisman Graham and Jeffrey Deaver are executive producers. Olin directed the pilot from a script written by Winters. The series is produced by Twentieth Television.
T’s Take: All I know is that CBS is premiering this after the Super Bowl, so they’re betting that it will be a pretty big hit.
Poppa’s house
Official synopsis: POPPA’S HOUSE, starring Damon Wayans and Damon Wayans Jr., features Wayans as legendary talk radio host and happily divorced “Poppa” who has his point of view challenged at work when a new female co-host (Essence Atkins) is hired, and at home where he finds himself still parenting his adult son (Damon Wayans Jr.), a brilliant dreamer who is trying to pursue his passion while being a responsible father and husband. Poppa’s House stars Damon Wayans as Poppa, Damon Wayans Jr. as Damon, Essence Atkins as Ivy and Tetona Jackson as Nina. Wayans and Kevin Hench are executive producers. Andy Ackerman directed the pilot from a script written by Hench and Wayans. The series is produced by CBS Studios.
T’s Take: While I am not likely to consistently watch this series, I do love me some Damon Wayans, Jr. and might give it a chance just for him alone. In fact, as most people in my generation, I have a soft spot for the entire Wayans clan, and I can see this being a successful companion to The Neighborhood.
Cancellations
- East New York
- NCIS: Los Angeles (ended)
- True Lies
Renewals
- The Amazing Race
- Blue Bloods
- Bob Hearts Abishola
- CSI: Vegas
- The Equalizer
- FBI
- FBI: International
- FBI: Most Wanted
- Ghosts
- NCIS
- NCIS: Hawai’i
- The Neighborhood
- So Help Me Todd
- Survivor
- S.W.A.T.
- Tough as Nails
- Young Sheldon
Read some grumblings that the Paramount+ original they may slot into the Monday spot may be Evil! Fingers crossed.