CBS unveiled its fall schedule today and while it is a very stable schedule, it is risky in the sense that it's not pandemic-proof. Both FOX and the CW largely built their schedule on getting through the fall without having to film new originals aside from a few exceptions but CBS is optimistically planning to get back to shooting in the summer and is almost entirely dependent on shows that will need to film new episodes. They did acknowledge that fall may not mean September, it might mean October or November depending on when shows can go back into production. So here we go!
MONDAYS
8:00 The Neighborhood (3rd season)
8:30 Bob Hearts Abishola (2nd season)
9:00 All Rise (2nd season)
10:00 Bull (5th season)
Monday nights are one of four nights staying the same in a quest for stability. This night worked for the most part. The Neighborhood has quietly become one of the stronger comedies on TV. Bob Hearts Abishola was low coming out of the gate but then stayed quite steady through the season. All Rise was probably the most questionable renewal with pretty low ratings but it will get another chance in the same time period. It seems likely it wouldn't have retained this prime slot in a normal year. Bull continues at 10pm where it has become a fairly reliable performer in that hour.
TUESDAYS
8:00 NCIS (18th season)
9:00 FBI (3rd season)
10:00 FBI: Most Wanted (2nd season)
Tuesday nights are keeping the same schedule as this spring with NCIS, FBI and the recent FBI spinoff, FBI: Most Wanted. One thing being discussed is how safe older actors will be as production resumes and that's definitely a concern for CBS with Mark Harmon (68) on NCIS and Tom Selleck (75) on Friday's Blue Bloods. It was a little bit of an up and down year for FBI: Most Wanted, but it mostly fit well and CBS wants to be in the Dick Wolf franchise business.
WEDNESDAYS
8:00 Survivor (41st edition)
9:00 The Amazing Race (32nd edition)
10:00 SEAL Team (4th season)
One of the changes in the fall comes on Wednesday nights where CBS is adding the delayed The Amazing Race and saving S.W.A.T. for midseason. The Amazing Race has one full edition in the can so it can air in the fall no matter what. Future filming of Survivor and The Amazing Race will be interesting to monitor as their international locations will make things complicated. CBS is still hoping both can film this summer. I think Survivor is more likely to be able to resume filming sooner. SEAL Team will slide back an hour to 10pm.
THURSDAYS
8:00 Young Sheldon (4th season)
8:30 B POSITIVE
9:00 Mom (8th season)
9:30 The Unicorn (2nd season)
10:00 Evil (2nd season)
Across all five broadcast networks, only one pilot was completed before the industry shutdown in March and that was B Positive. As a result, it gets itself on the fall schedule and can actually release a trailer. It will be surrounded by returning anchors Young Sheldon and Mom. The Unicorn did not do very well at 8:30pm this season but it got a renewal and will slide back an hour to 9:30pm so CBS is going with single cam comedies to bookend the block. Evil returns at 10pm after airing just a 13 episode season last fall. Although the ratings were low, it did get some buzz and awards chatter which is not something most network shows can say.
FRIDAYS
8:00 MacGyver (5th season)
9:00 Magnum P.I. (3rd season)
10:00 Blue Bloods (11th season)
Fridays are staying the same as they were to end the season. With Hawaii Five-0 gone after ending its decade-long run, the trio of MacGyver, Magnum P.I. and Blue Bloods will continue. It is a lineup that is old-skewing but still delivers a pretty good total viewer count.
SATURDAYS
8:00 Crimetime Saturday
10:00 48 Hours (34th season)
SUNDAYS
7:00 60 Minutes (53rd season)
8:00 THE EQUALIZER
9:00 NCIS: Los Angeles (12th season)
10:00 NCIS: New Orleans (7th season)
CBS is only premiering two new series in the fall, one comedy and one drama. The drama is the reboot of The Equalizer starring Queen Latifah and it will inherit the God Friended Me timeslot. Although the pilot did not get completed, the auspices of the title and Latifah helped it get a slot. It will have a chance to succeed assuming football can happen as it will get an indirect NFL lead-in off and on in the fall and seems more appealing to NFL fans than God Friended Me. The two NCIS spinoffs close out the night with NCIS: New Orleans returning at 10pm, where it moved this spring. In the fall of course that will mean the occasional very late start.
MIDSEASON: CLARICE, S.W.A.T., Undercover Boss
As of now CBS only has three shows on the bench for midseason, one being the new sequel to Silence of the Lambs, Clarice - another high profile pilot that did not get completed. They will also have new seasons of S.W.A.T. and Undercover Boss. It is very possible that other new shows could join this list if they can film their pilots at a later date.
CANCELLED/ENDED: Broke, Carol's Second Act, Criminal Minds, God Friended Me, Hawaii Five-0, Madam Secretary, Man with a Plan, Tommy
No comments:
Post a Comment