Most Surprising Potential Renewal: I don’t think it’s the most surprising renewal, but getting more CSI: Cyber would be a surprise. Granted, it does have the CSI pedigree behind it and if CBS cancels the mothership, they might not want to go completely out of the CSI business; Cyber just hasn’t generated the buzz or put up the numbers necessary for renewal. Shows like this are made for syndication purposes and if Cyber isn’t strong enough to muscle its way onto the fall schedule, thereby ensuring itself 22 episodes, I don’t think CBS will want to continue using it as schedule spackle come midseason. For one, CBS doesn’t really do spackle shows and two, they might decide to simply develop another CSI spin-off vs. dragging one that hasn’t hit for a certain amount of episodes.
Show That Wasn’t Renewed But Should Have Been: I thought The McCarthys had the hook pulled on it way too soon. I’m not sure if I would renew it, but I think it was a victim of some poor scheduling and of being too out of the comfort zone of CBS viewers and too CBS-y for non-CBS viewers. It was a fun show that very quickly found itself creatively and that had some positive ratings momentum (increases in five of its last six episodes) before CBS panicked and pulled it from the schedule. At this point, my only hope is that CBS will make the remaining episodes available and have its comedy scheduling more together next season.
Possible Scheduling Disaster: I worry about CBS reaching beyond their demo and ending up with a bunch of projects that won’t be able to find an audience. Stuff like Super Clyde and Supergirl aren’t in the CBS strike zone and shows that aren’t typical of the CBS brand have struggled in recent seasons. I fully understand the reasoning behind picking up projects like this, as CBS is looking for positive media buzz about their projects just like everyone else, and I do think that both Super Clyde and Supergirl have tremendous upside. What’s troubling is that each could easily falter and leave CBS with some major holes on its schedule.
Possible Biggest Surprise: Supergirl could reverse the curse on atypical CBS dramas and bring a whole new audience to the network. This could be the jolt of energy that the CBS schedule needed and a way to boost Wednesdays while taking a fairly big chance.
Safest Bet: Limitless seems like the safest bet of the new shows. If it gets picked up and put on Mondays, it’s well-matched with Scorpion and different enough from the ABC and NBC offerings on the same night to do some damage. It’s also the type of show that works within the CBS procedural framework while giving viewers something a little different than the norm.
Biggest Need: Comedy organization. CBS was a bit of a mess this season with their comedy lineups and I think that type of erratic scheduling hurt every comedy on its schedule. If there could be more stability, particularly on Thursdays, I think CBS will be able to find their next hit as opposed to having a schedule full of okay performers along with Big Bang Theory. Otherwise, it’ll be another underwhelming, frustrating time for CBS comedy fans and another season will pass without traction being made.
