Analyzing the 2016 Fall Schedule: CBS

WEDNESDAY

SHILO’S PREDICTIONS: 8:00 Survivor; 9:00 Criminal Minds; 10:00 Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders
CRAIG’S PREDICTIONS: 8:00 Survivor; 9:00 Criminal Minds; 10:00 NCIS: Los Angeles
ACTUAL SCHEDULE: 8:00 Survivor; 9:00 Criminal Minds; 10:00 Code Black

SHILO: For the majority of upfronts, the word about CBS was that they would be choosing between Code Black and a well-testing medical pilot, which turned out to be Pure Genius. Given that precarious position, I assumed that the show wouldn’t be returning to the same slot, especially since CSI: Cyber and Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders put up similar numbers while adding more to the CBS bottom line. However, Code Black made it back to its fall 2015 slot and dispatched Beyond Borders to the hinterlands of midseason; while Code Black was very steady in the ratings, staying within a four tenths of its series premiere rating for 17 of its 18 episodes, I didn’t think it was going to be this much of a priority for CBS.

But Code Black returning to Wednesdays might say less about Code Black and more about Beyond Borders, as I assumed that part of the sticking point for renewal was a full season order that was negotiated along with the renewal of Criminal Minds. Beyond Borders not getting a full season tells me that its renewal was more marginal than I thought it would be and that the show, for all its association with the mother ship, could very well go the way of CSI: Cyber if it doesn’t overperform next season.

CRAIG: I noticed that Code Black was getting a decent amount of traffic here at KSiteTV, which implies to me that there may be some interest and a fan base that hasn’t been quite as exploited. By renewing the show and keeping it in the same slot, I think CBS is hoping to grow that audience. Good for them, really.