CBS formally announces their 2015-2016 schedule in just two weeks, and continuing our string of schedule prediction articles, today is the day we play “fantasy schedulers” for what we think they might do.
As always, our schedules are not based on any insider information; we’re just two guys (Craig and Shilo) who love TV and like playing these guessing games every year. If your favorite show – or the one you’re working on – is not mentioned; don’t take it as a slight… this is all in fun.
If you’re curious to read our CBS predictions for last year, you can find them here.
SUNDAY
SHILO: 7:00 60 Minutes; 8:00 Madam Secretary; 9:00 The Good Wife; 10:00 Elementary
CRAIG: 7:00 60 Minutes; 8:00 Madam Secretary; 9:00 The Good Wife; 10:00 Doubt
SHILO: Probably the weakest drama CBS will renew for 2015-2016 will be Elementary and I don’t know if they would be willing to leave it where it is, even with the logistical nightmare that will be their post-football Thursdays. It’s upscale enough to join Madam Secretary and The Good Wife on Sundays, whereas I think there’s more dissonance between it and something like Blue Bloods, while Sundays at 10:00 will minimize the ratings damage it does. This will help get Elementary to syndication in the most pain-free way possible and keep CBS from having to premiere a new drama on a night that hasn’t been the kindest to their new series in a while. What would be interesting, though, is if this happens to be the final season of The Good Wife and both it and Elementary are off the schedule come 2016-2017 – what would CBS do then?
CRAIG: The most I can say for my Sunday night is “woman power.” Madam Hillary seems to do all right for CBS on Sunday nights, even when football makes the night go late; The Good Wife is a good female alternative to the Walking Deads and the Games of Thrones of the world. For 10:00 I slotted Doubt, partly because it’d be a good female legal drama to go with the Good Wife, but also because casting Laverne Cox is a bold move that I think could only get CBS (and by default, the show) good press. It would also improve the representation of the T part of LGBT on television… also a good thing.
