It’s early May, which means one thing: it’s time to start thinking about what we’ll be watching in the fall. Below is a preview of CBS’s new fall and midseason series, a look at CBS’s schedule, a list of the shows that have been renewed for at least another year, and the unlucky few that have been canceled.
CBS decided to forgo the big fancy Upfronts presentation again this year. The TV industry has undergone some huge changes in the past few years, but CBS in particular has been going through some things, with their parent company desperately trying to land a merger, all the while being threatened by the lunatic President of the United States.
And because of the merger mentioned above and larger changes in the television business, CBS is playing it VERY safe this fall. All three new fall dramas are spinoffs of popular CBS series; there is only one new comedy, and one new reality competition. Midseason is a little riskier, with a true crime series hosted by a popular crime writer, a cooking competition hosted by a familiar face, and another spinoff of Yellowstone. On second thought, maybe they’re not taking that big of a risk after all.
Schedule
MONDAY
7/8 p.m.: The Neighborhood (October 13)
7:30/8:30 p.m.: DMV (October 13)
8/9 p.m.: FBI (October 13)
9/10 p.m.: Watson (October 13)
TUESDAY
7/8 p.m.: NCIS (October 14)
8/9 p.m.: NCIS: Origins (October 14)
9/10 p.m.: NCIS: Sydney (October 14)
WEDNESDAY
7/8 p.m.: Survivor (September 24)
8:30/9:30 p.m.: Amazing Race (September 25)
(January)
7/8 p.m.: Hollywood Squares
8/9 p.m.: The Price Is Right at Night
9/10 p.m.: Harlon Coben’s Final Twist
(Spring)
7/8 p.m.: Survivor 50
8:30/9:30 p.m.: America’s Culinary Cup
9:30/10:30 p.m: Hollywood Squares
THURSDAY
7/8 p.m.: Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage (October 16)
7:30/8:30 p.m.: Ghosts (October 16)
8/9 p.m.: Matlock (October 12)
9/10 p.m.: Elsbeth (October 12)
FRIDAY
7/8 p.m.: Sheriff Country (October 17)
8/9 p.m.: Fire Country (October 17)
9/10 p.m.: Boston Blue (October 17)
SATURDAY
7/8 p.m.: Repeats
8/9 p.m.: Repeats
9/10 p.m.: 48 Hours (September 27)
SUNDAY
6/7 p.m.: 60 Minutes (September 28)
7/8 p.m.: Tracker (October 19)
8/9 p.m.: The Road (October 19)
9/10 p.m.: Repeats
(Spring)
6/7 p.m.: 60 Minutes
7/8 p.m.: Tracker
8/9 p.m.: Y: Marshals
9/10 p.m.: Watson
New Fall Shows
CIA
Official synopsis: CIA, starring Tom Ellis, is a one-hour crime drama centered on two unlikely partners – a fast-talking, rule-breaking loose cannon CIA case officer (Ellis), and a by-the-book, seasoned and smart FBI agent who believes in the rule of law. When this odd couple are assigned to work out of CIA’s New York Station, they must learn to work together to investigate cases and criminals posing threats on U.S. soil, finding that their differences may actually be their strength. CIA is a universe expansion of the FBI series.
T’s Take: Fun Fact: this series was originally titled FBI: CIA, which, honestly, is the most CBS title I’ve ever seen. I mean, I think we all know what we can expect from this series, right? It’s not going to be a wild departure from the tried and true Dick Wolf FBI formula, methinks. Still, I’m always happy to see that handsome devil, Tom Ellis, back on the TV.
SHERIFF COUNTRY
Official synopsis: Sheriff Country stars Morena Baccarin as straight-shooting sheriff Mickey Fox, the stepsister of Cal Fire’s division chief Sharon Leone (Diane Farr of Fire Country). She investigates criminal activity while she patrols the streets of small-town Edgewater, contending with her ex-con father, Wes (W. Earl Brown), who is an off-the-grid marijuana grower, and a mysterious incident involving her wayward daughter. Sheriff Country is an expansion of the universe of the hit drama series Fire Country.
T’s Take: I don’t have much to say here, except I’m always amazed at how much exciting crime takes place in small towns on TV shows.
BOSTON BLUE
Official synopsis: Boston Blue stars Donnie Wahlberg as he reprises his role as NYPD officer Danny Reagan in a universe expansion of the long-running top drama Blue Bloods. In the new drama, Reagan takes a position with Boston PD. Once in Boston, he is paired with detective Lena Peters (Sonequa Martin-Green), the eldest daughter of a prominent law enforcement family.
T’s Take: When Blue Bloods was canceled, fans LOST THEIR MINDS. Fortunately, Donnie Wahlberg had nothing better to do so they moved his character to a far more natural Boston setting. Basically: Blue Bloods – Tom Selleck + Boston.
DMV
Official synopsis: DMV, based on award-winning author Katherine Heiny’s short story, is a single-camera workplace comedy set at the place everyone dreads going most: the DMV. Our quirky and lovable characters are making minimum wage, doing a thankless job where customers are annoyed before they even walk in the door. Good thing they have each other.
T’s Take: A workplace comedy set in the least wacky place imaginable: the DMV. It’s being helmed by a prolific comedy director who has directed many episodes of Ghost, as well as Colin from Accounts, Going Dutch, and Hacks, among others. It also stars two Saturday Night Live vets, Tim Meadows and Molly Kearny, so it has potential.
The Road
(Video to come)
Official synopsis: THE ROAD offers viewers a backstage pass into the gritty and unforgiving life of a touring artist. With exclusive access to behind-the-scenes workings of the music industry, viewers will see what happens when some of the best up-and-coming performers pile into a tour bus and tackle a grueling schedule in pursuit of their dreams. From executive producers Taylor Sheridan, Blake Shelton, David C. Glasser, Lee Metzger and Keith Urban, the docu-follow format trails Grammy Award winner Urban on his journey to discover the next big artist alongside Grammy Award winner Gretchen Wilson, who acts as the “tour manager.” Singers will join the headliner on tour, performing as opening acts in venues across the country. They will compete to win over local fanbases to secure a spot in the next city and remain on the tour.
T’s Take: So American Idol, but on a tour bus. Sounds smelly.
Midseason
Y: Marshals
(Video to come)
Official synopsis: Y: Marshals (working title) stars Luke Grimes as Kayce Dutton. With the Yellowstone Ranch behind him, Dutton joins an elite unit of U.S. Marshals, combining his skills as a cowboy and Navy SEAL to bring range justice to Montana, where he and his teammates must balance family, duty and the high psychological cost that comes with serving as the last line of defense in the region’s war on violence.
T’s Take: Cowboy! Navy SEAL! RANGE JUSTICE! It looks like they took a Taylor Sheridan series and put it through a CBS acronym-named procedural filter. Got it.
Harlan CobEN’s Final twist
(Video to come)
Official synopsis: Harlan Coben’s Final Twist brings the world’s best-selling mystery author into the true-crime television genre for the first time. With over 90 million books sold globally and scripted series (Fool Me Once, Safe, The Innocent), Harlan Coben is known for his twisting narratives and intricate plots. In each one-hour episode, Harlan will guide audiences through gripping tales of murder, high-profile crimes and life-altering surprises, each meticulously unraveled to reveal hidden truths, deceptions and lies. With exclusive interviews and never-before-seen archival materials, the series will provide an in-depth look at stories where nothing is as it seems.
T’s Take: Harlen Coben is having a moment over on Netflix where it feels like one of his books is being turned into an inexpensive limited series every time I turn around. Anyway, here he is hosting a true crime series.
Title
(Video to come)
Official synopsis: America’s Culinary Cup, from Emmy-nominated food expert Padma Lakshmi (Top Chef) is a new cooking competition series. Lakshmi serves as creator and host of this new culinary showdown featuring a cast of the nation’s most decorated chefs as they embark on a one-of-a-kind, high-stakes competition designed to challenge their creativity, endurance, presentation, leadership and more.
T’s Take: Top Chef, network flavored.
Cancellations
- Blue Bloods
- The Equalizer
- FBI: International
- FBI: Most Wanted
- Poppa’s House
- S.W.A.T.
Renewals
- 48 Hours
- 60 Minutes
- The Amazing Race
- Big Brother
- Elsbeth
- FBI
- Fire Country
- Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage
- Ghosts
- Matlock
- NCIS
- NCIS: Origins
- NCIS: Sydney
- The Neighborhood
- Survivor
- Tracker
- Watson
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