CBS has announced the renewal of 11 shows, including 7 scripted projects, 2 reality competitions, and 2 pieces of their news programming.
Included in the mass renewal, their latest since they began renewing large swaths of their lineup at once, are Blue Bloods, Bull, Hawaii Five-0, Madam Secretary, MacGyver, NCIS: Los Angeles, NCIS: New Orleans, Survivor, The Amazing Race, 48 Hours, and 60 Minutes. They join previously renewed The Big Bang Theory, Young Sheldon, Mom, NCIS, SEAL Team, and SWAT on the network’s 2018-19 schedule, which will be announced about a month from now.
While none of the shows that were renewed are a surprise, based on some combination of ratings, syndication value, ownership, or brand value, what’s notable is what wasn’t included here. On the drama side, Criminal Minds, Instinct, and Scorpion are the only current series still on the bubble, with the latter two having poor ratings arguments to continue and the former’s fate likely tied to the financial discussions between CBS and series co-producer ABC. Decisions on each will be made closer to upfronts, with Elementary and Code Black still to premiere.
Still lingering in comedy renewal limbo are the network’s Monday comedies (Kevin Can Wait, Man with a Plan, Superior Donuts, 9JKL, Living Biblically), as well as Thursday mainstay Life in Pieces. This likely points to CBS considering a major shakeup regarding their comedy presence, with Deadline indicating that the freshman comedies are unlikely to continue and none of the veterans is a lock going forward.
The CBS Monday comedy block has faced some big declines this year, but with two shows halfway to syndication in Man with a Plan and Kevin Can Wait, one of which they own, and FOX-produced Thursday comedy Life in Pieces needing one more renewal to make it to syndication itself, it’d be a major shock if the network were to cut down on comedy hours or clean house apart from its freshman duds.
