CBS has officially renewed Sherlock drama Elementary for a seventh season, the network confirmed today.
Elementary was in an interesting position headed into upfronts, as it was one of CBS’s lowest rated series, needed to resign its leads to new contracts, and was set to air well into the summer. It seemed like the writing was on the wall for a quiet cancellation some months from now, but the series has always brought home a major windfall for CBS thanks to international and streaming deals and as we’ve seen this upfronts, vertical integration is the engine that keeps broadcast television moving now.
It’s as yet unclear how long the seventh season of Elementary will be or when it will air, but it seems likely that season six’s late spring premiere with the bulk of the show’s order airing in the summer with less linear pressure will be replicated once again. The show can air without enormous scripted competition and generate a heck of a lot of profit for CBS while filling out their summer schedule with something scripted.
Elementary‘s renewal is one of a number of upfronts surprises this year, with CBS having cancelled Kevin James comedy Kevin Can Wait earlier today chief among them.
Elementary airs Mondays at 10:00 on CBS.
