Third in a sequence on broadcast community sequence renewals. CBS could have some painful cancellation selections to make this spring. With three new drama sequence, NCIS: Origins, Matlock and Watson, on faucet for subsequent season, S.W.A.T. surprisingly uncanceled and the Australian NCIS: Sydney, initially solely supposed as a short lived alternative through the strike, additionally renewed for 2024-25, the community must do some slate purging to make room for the additions.
That can seemingly affect greater than one of many remaining CBS drama sequence whose destiny has not been decided, The Equalizer, NCIS: Hawai’i, Elsbeth, So Assist Me Todd and CSI: Vegas, a gaggle that features the community’s present dramas with a feminine lead. It options sequence that might not be canceled below regular circumstances. CBS’ schedule this season has been performing properly, led by new breakout hit Tracker, and all 5 dramas in limbo rank #22 or increased amongst all non-sports broadcast packages in linear Nielsen most present viewership rankings (2/12 to this point). One of many already renewed CBS drama sequence, S.W.A.T., is just under that at #24.
Some selections are anticipated to return within the subsequent two weeks as CBS would be the first broadcaster to current their fall schedule on Might 2. Some calls, just like the one on Elsbeth, which solely debuted a month and a half in the past, could also be delayed till after the upfronts.
Highest ranked in linear viewership among the many 5 is The Equalizer, at present No.7 amongst all non-sports broadcast packages. The drama starring and government produced by Queen Latifah, comes from NBCUniversal’s Common Tv, which is the lead studio, co-producing with CBS Studios. It’s considered one of 4 drama sequence Uni TV produces for CBS, together with the FBI sequence, all of which had been just lately renewed, the flagship for 3 seasons.
In response to sources, negotiations with Queen Latifah are at present in last levels, and the sequence is anticipated to be renewed for a fifth season contingent on her closing her deal, which I hear is anticipated shortly. (CBS and Uni TV have had tough license payment negotiations however, given the recognition of the studio’s dramas on CBS, significantly FBI and The Equalizer, the 2 sides have discovered a means, which is anticipated to proceed.) Thus far, The Equalizer‘s seasons have been capped at 18 episodes, which is one thing some prime expertise request when signing on for a broadcast drama sequence. I hear below the brand new deal, the variety of episodes might go up subsequent season.
Additionally anticipated to proceed on CBS subsequent season is Elsbeth. Probably the greatest reviewed broadcast drama sequence in years, the present comes from prime CBS/CBS Studios creators Michelle and Robert King, it’s a part of The Good Spouse franchise, giving the crime procedural components a unusual twist, and it’s been doing properly within the early going, particularly in multi-platform viewing.
With solely the sequence premiere factored in due to timing, Elsbeth is CBS’ eighth most-watched non-sports program over its first 35 days throughout linear and digital, forward of Equalizer, the 2 FBI spinoffs and S.W.A.T. Regardless of the restricted quantity of information, the freshman has seemingly confirmed sufficient promise to earn one other shot.
Among the many three remaining dramas which are all on the bubble, NCIS: Hawai’i is the strongest performer with the perfect odds to return again, I hear.
Simply an 12 months in the past, a renewal for Hawai’i would’ve been a no brainer: it’s a part of a storied franchise with stable ranking and crossover potential with the mothership sequence that yielded large rankings in January 2023. However now, CBS already has three different NCIS sequence already locked for subsequent season: the unique sequence, renewed for Season 22, Sydney, returning for a second season, and the upcoming Younger Gibbs prequel NCIS: Origins. There’s additionally the Tony & Ziva NCIS spinoff sequence greenlighted by Paramount+, making for a crowded NCIS area.
There are sturdy arguments for protecting Hawai’i. It’s at present #12 in linear viewership amongst all broadcast non-sports exhibits forward of such TV staples as ABC’s 9-1-1 and NBC’s Legislation & Order: SVU and The Voice, and its multi-platform viewers is also placing Hawai’i above a number of CBS dramas that have already got been renewed, together with FBI: Most Wished, FBI: Worldwide and S.W.A.T.
As CBS Studios President David Stapf mentioned in a current interview concerning the NCIS franchise, Hawai’i is also “wholly distinctive” whereas being a part of the franchise as the primary NCIS sequence with a feminine lead, Vanessa Lachey, and with its Hawai’i locale. “We had been simply coming off Hawaii 5-0, a really profitable present,” he mentioned of the spinoff’s origins. “Individuals love that setting, it performs properly over the globe.”
The counter argument is all about shelf house (or lack thereof) and cash. There’s monetary stress on company degree amongst all conventional media corporations to curb spending amid a mushy advert market. For CBS father or mother Paramount, there’s the extra component of uncertainty over the corporate’s future.
Sources anticipate robust enterprise conversations over NCIS: Hawai’i, which is prone to need to make price range cuts to proceed — one thing most broadcast sequence are subjected to today. I hear the perfect case situation for the spinoff could also be a partial Season 4 of about 13 or so episodes.
Releasing up house on the 2024-25 schedule only a bit is the truth that the ultimate installment of veteran Blue Bloods consists of simply 8 episodes, which can be the scale of NCIS: Sydney‘s seasons. Nevertheless, S.W.A.T. didn’t assist the reason for bubble dramas by unexpectedly taking a slot subsequent season with a 22-episode order.
So Assist Me Todd, a shock breakout final season, is now floating on the backside of the viewership charts for CBS drama sequence, together with CSI: Vegas, now in its third season. They’re the 2 lowest rated CBS dramas in complete viewers (each linear and multi-platform) however once more, they draw extra viewers than sequence on different broadcast networks which were safely renewed.
However at CBS, these viewership numbers are placing each exhibits in grave hazard. Like Hawai’i, CSI: Vegas is a part of a signature CBS/CBS Studios franchise with a protracted historical past on the community, which seemingly might be factored. However broadcast budgets are tight, so CSI and So Assist Me Todd are thought-about closely on the bubble.
CSI producer Bruckheimer Tv has one other CBS drama sequence, scorching sophomore Hearth Nation, which has been renewed for subsequent season and should spawn a Sheriff spinoff which is on a slower growth monitor. There’s additionally the potential Chilly Case reboot from Bruckheimer TV and Warner Bros. TV, which has been in negotiations at CBS.
The community discovered itself in an analogous place in 2021, which was resolved with two CBS dramas, SEAL Group and Evil, shifting to Paramount+ as streaming originals. I hear that isn’t thought-about a viable choice for the community’s bubble sequence this 12 months .
Whereas there’s a whole lot of drama on the drama renewal entrance at CBS, issues have been fairly straight ahead in comedy.
Two sequence are ending this season, Younger Sheldon and Bob Hearts Abishola, and two new ones are becoming a member of subsequent season, the Younger Sheldon spinoff about Georgie and Mandy and Poppa’s Home (together with the renewed Ghosts and The Neighborhood).