WEDNESDAY
CRAIG: 8:00 Survivor; 9:00 Criminal Minds; 10:00 For Justice
SHILO: 8:00 Survivor; 9:00 Supergirl; 10:00 Criminal Minds
ACTUAL SCHEDULE: 8:00 Survivor; 9:00 Criminal Minds; 10:00 Code Black
SHILO: With Empire staying at 9:00 on Wednesdays, it’s understandable that CBS would want veteran Criminal Minds to take the hit rather than forcing a new show to try to launch against a juggernaut. But I just don’t know if Code Black is the right choice for the 10:00 lead-out. While the show will be following the network’s most female-skewing drama, which should give it an assist, it’s an older-skewing concept that will battle for Nashville’s female viewers while Criminal Minds hopes to bounce back from the Empire effect. Were Criminal Minds a bit healthier, I would be more okay with this move, but it didn’t fully recover from airing against Empire in the spring and therefore might not be able to help something that will skew differently. While Wednesdays at 10:00 is a fairly wide open slot, with the competition being Nashville and Chicago PD, I don’t expect Code Black to decisively pull ahead, at least in terms of the demo.
CRAIG: In the time between when our predictions were written and now, I’ve already forgotten what For Justice even was. But anyway: I’m not really sold on Code Black, but others seem to be positive, so maybe it’ll help CBS Wednesdays. If not… again, POI, where are you?
THURSDAY (AFTER FOOTBALL)
CRAIG: 8:00 The Big Bang Theory; 8:30 Super Clyde; 9:00 The Odd Couple; 9:30 Mom; 10:00 Limitless
SHILO: 8:00 The Big Bang Theory; 8:30 The Odd Couple; 9:00 Mom; 9:30 The Half of It; 10:00 NCIS: Los Angeles
ACTUAL SCHEDULE: 8:00 The Big Bang Theory; 8:30 Life in Pieces; 9:00 Mom; 9:30 Angel From Hell; 10:00 Elementary
SHILO: Even though Life in Pieces doesn’t look compatible with The Big Bang Theory, I’m glad that CBS is leaving the two together after they move from Mondays. Multi-cams haven’t done all that well behind Big Bang recently, so sticking something different there is a worthwhile experiment, especially if CBS is serious about getting into single camera comedy. But leaving Elementary at 10:00 was a definite surprise, given its sagging ratings and the network’s penchant for moving underperformers to Sundays or Fridays in order to finish their run. With CBS needing to rework its Thursday lineup, Elementary seemed poised for a quiet Sunday move and a conclusion after four seasons on the air. Instead, though, it’s thrust against How to Get Away with Murder and NBC’s The Player, with new comedy Angel From Hell forced to lean against it for a ratings assistance. Good luck with that.
CRAIG: Going from trailers alone…. I’m not really that interested in Life In Pieces, nor am I really that jazzed for Angel From Hell, even though both projects have actors that I like. I guess 2 Broke Girls and Mike & Molly need to come back and go somewhere, though… (Man, CBS Mondays without comedies is just weird.) I’m also surprised that Elementary is staying put, as I thought CBS would go with something more high-profile and new at 10PM.
Next: Friday!
