CBS Adds Four New Series In Primetime; Changes On Three Nights

Traditionally, the broadcast networks start their new TV seasons the third week in September. But the current writers strike means that launch plans will be delayed indefinitely.

Today, CBS announced four new scripted series for next season, They are dramas Elsbeth, Tracker and the reboot of the legal-themed Matlock; and the comedy Poppa’s House.

The Eye network will make changes on three nights of the week: Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday. Veteran reality competitions Survivor and The Amazing Race will each expand to 90-minutes, with Survivor remaining the Wednesday anchor into The Amazing Race at 9:30 p.m. Elsbeth will air in the Thursday p.m. ET hour out of So Help Me Todd and in place of CSI: Vegas (which returns in midseason in the Sunday 10 p.m. ET hour out of Matlock).

Not coming back next season on CBS are freshman dramas East New York and True Lies, and the veteran NCIS: Los Angeles.

“CBS programming across entertainment, news and sports continues to appeal to audiences on all platforms, including Paramount+, the fastest-growing streaming service in the U.S.,” said George Cheeks, president and chief executive officer of CBS in a statement. “It all starts with a winning broadcast network that has an undeniable track record for nurturing long-running franchises and launching new hits every year. The new shows and schedule set to launch next year, combined with the Super Bowl, NCAA Tournament, the Grammy Awards and other network events will make America’s top-rated network an even bigger force next year.”

“Along with our outstanding team at the Network, I am incredibly excited to introduce four new series with big-name talent portraying distinct, bold, engaging characters,” said Amy Reisenbach, president of CBS Entertainment. “These new shows from marquee auspices capture everything our viewers love about a CBS series – unique personalities, suspenseful drama, intrigue, high stakes, and relatable laugh-out-loud comedy with heart and humor. The new additions to our lineup are a stellar complement to our winning slate of returning series and we are confident they will resonate with our viewers on broadcast and streaming platforms.”

The bottom line: CBS should have no trouble maintaining its lead in total viewers. But, mirroring the network’s history, the audience skew will remain older. And, in today’s highly fractionalized media landscape, there is no reason to expect any broadcast network to be on the uptick next season.

Here is the planned CBS primetime line-up (with asterisks next to the new series):

Monday

8:00 p.m. The Neighborhood

8:30 p.m. Bob Hearts Abishola

9:00 p.m. NCIS

10:00 p.m. NCIS: Hawai’i

Tuesday

8:00 p.m. FBI

9:00 p.m. FBI: International

10:00 p.m. FBI: Most Wanted

Wednesday

8:00 p.m. Survivor (90-minutes)

9:30 p.m. The Amazing Race (90-minutes)

Thursday

8:00 p.m. Young Sheldon

8:30 p.m. Ghosts

9:00 p.m. So Help Me Todd

10:00 p.m. *Elsbeth

Friday

8:00 p.m. S.W.A.T.

9:00 p.m. Fire Country

10:00 p.m. Blue Bloods

Saturday

8:00 p.m. Drama repeats

9:00 p.m. Drama repeats

10:00 p.m. 48 Hours

Sunday

7:00 p.m. 60 Minutes

8:00 p.m. The Equalizer

9:00 p.m. *Matlock

10:00 p.m. CSI: Vegas (midseason)

NEW PROGRAM DESCRIPTIONS

Drama

Elsbeth

Elsbeth, featuring Carrie Preston as the character Elsbeth Tascioni from The Good Wife and The Good Fight, is an astute but unconventional attorney who utilizes her singular point of view to make unique observations and corner brilliant criminals alongside the NYPD. The logline: After leaving her successful legal career in Chicago to tackle a new investigative role in New York City, Elsbeth finds herself jockeying with the toast of the NYPD, Captain C.W. Wagner (Wendell Pierce). Working alongside Elsbeth is Officer Kaya Blanke (Carra Patterson), who quickly develops an appreciation for Elsbeth’s insightful and offbeat ways.

Matlock

Matlock stars Emmy and Academy Award winner Kathy Bates as Madeline “Matty” Matlock, a brilliant septuagenarian 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. The logline: Matty is assigned to Olympia (Skye P. Marshall), a senior attorney and key rainmaker with a thirst for justice. Olympia’s ex-husband, Julian (Jason Ritter), the son of the head of the firm, is intrigued by Matty and her clever skills. As Matty endeavors to establish herself in her new high-stakes world, she works alongside the firm’s younger associates – the charismatic Billy (David Del Rio) and the uber ambitious Sarah (Leah Lewis).

Tracker

Tracker features Justin Hartley (This Is Us) as lone-wolf survivalist Colter Shaw, 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.

Tracker will premiere out of the Super Bowl on Sunday, February 11, 2024.

Comedy

Poppa’s House

Poppa’s House, stars Damon Wayans as a 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 dreamer who is trying to pursue his passion while being a responsible father and husband.