Unlike its broadcast counterparts, CBS airs a wealth of scripted programming during the 2024-25 TV season.
ABC and FOX have been focused more on cheaper offerings as the TV ad market continues to contract, but CBS has proceeded with its proven hits this season.
After the network stunningly canceled Blue Bloods and NCIS: Hawai’i, it’s difficult not to be concerned about some of its shows as we head into spring.
Some big surprises are on the horizon, and we’ll have to hope for the best but prepare for the worst.
Let’s dive into what we think will become of our favorite CBS series.
Elsbeth – Certain Renewal
Elsbeth is a mediocre performer in Live + Same Day ratings, pulling in 4.4 million viewers and a 0.25 rating.
However, it soars to 7.7 million viewers and a 0.45 rating, proving that many people are enthralled by Carrie Preston’s popular The Good Wife character.
Add in the fact that it gets critical acclaim, and we have another reason for it to stick around for the years to come.
The Equalizer – Likely Renewal
The Queen Latifah-led action drama has faltered this season, dipping to 4.9 million viewers and a 0.31 rating.
However, The Equalizer remains dominant when post-airdate viewing is factored in, reaching 6.5 million viewers.
Given the show’s age, we’d probably have it on the bubble, but CBS’s exploration of spinoff opportunities confirms that it is happy with the show, so we’ll keep it at likely renewal… for now.
FBI – Renewed
The Dick Wolf drama is averaging 6.3 million viewers and a 0.40 rating in the demo, but the show doesn’t experience a substantial lift in post-airdate demo viewing.
Season-to-date, FBI is coming in at 8 million viewers and a 0.51 rating. The numbers are decent, but a shakeup could be on the horizon to make the show make sense financially.
Broadcast TV shows are switching things up on a dime to remain on the air at this point.
FBI: International – Likely Renewal
The newest entry in the FBI universe still pulls in respectable numbers, with 5 million viewers and a 0.32 rating in the demo.
FBI: International does get a bigger jolt of life with a week of DVR factored in compared to some of its CBS counterparts, so there’s no reason to be concerned about it.
That said, CBS expected a lift with former Chicago P.D. star Jesse Lee Soffer taking the reins as the new leader of the Fly Team.
FBI: Most Wanted – Could Go Either Way
Of all the FBI shows, FBI: Most Wanted is the least consistent in ratings and quality.
The series has had so many cast departures that we struggle to get invested in anyone. To date, the season has pulled in 4.4 million viewers and a 0.30 rating.
It gets a moderate boost to over 6 million viewers and a 0.42 rating with a week of DVR factored in.
However, it is getting older, and with numbers on the downside, CBS could cut it loose and try out a new drama on Tuesdays.
Fire Country – Certain Renewal
Fire Country has lost a lot of ground in the ratings this season, with an average of 4.5 million viewers and a 0.33 rating on Fridays.
However, within a week, the show’s numbers rose to 6.4 million viewers and a 0.55 rating, so there’s still an appetite for this show, but much of the audience doesn’t watch live.
At these levels, at the very least, it’s safe for another few years.
Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage – Certain Renewal
A spinoff of a spinoff doesn’t have the best ring to it, but Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage has been a resounding success for CBS.
The latest entry in The Big Bang Theory universe is averaging a robust 6.3 million viewers and a 0.45 rating in the demo.
Within a week, the comedy surged to 8 million viewers and a 0.60 rating. The numbers are just behind predecessor Young Sheldon’s final season averages, which is a huge win.
Ghosts – Certain Renewal
Ghosts has taken a hit this season, but it remains competitive. It currently averages 5.4 million viewers and has a 0.44 rating in the demo.
The numbers leap to 7.5 million viewers and a 0.66 rating, with a week of post-airdate viewing factored in.
The Thursday comedies are not going anywhere because they are so strong.
Matlock – Renewed
The Kathy Bates crime drama has been one of the season’s biggest success stories. Matlock currently pulls in around 6.5 million viewers and has a 0.37 rating in the demo.
The show is experiencing significant gains post-air date, surging to 10 million viewers and a 0.59 rating, so it’s no surprise that it has already scored a pickup for next season.
Hopefully, it will continue to perform well because it has been an intriguing new spin on a tried-and-tested format.
The Neighborhood – Likely Renewal
The Monday comedy is averaging 4.1 million viewers and a 0.38 rating, with the numbers rising to 4.7 million viewers and a 0.46 rating.
The series remains a strong contender, but it is aging, and we saw what happened to Bob Hearts Abishola.
Most of the cast was demoted before the cancellation, so it’s hard to trust that CBS would keep the show running.
Then again, it does have decent numbers, so it will all come down to whether the network wants to nix its Monday comedy block.
NCIS – Likely Renewal
NCIS keeps scoring renewal after renewal despite losing considerable ground in the ratings year-to-year.
The most recent season is averaging 5.2 million viewers and a 0.35 rating. However, it still gets a boost during that crucial first week of viewing, rising to 7.6 million viewers and a 0.52 rating.
However, the continued ratings erosion as the budget balloons is a cause for concern, and we saw how the network treated NCIS: Los Angeles and NCIS: Hawai’i, so we don’t see this lasting much longer without some big changes.
NCIS: Origins – Could Go Either Way
NCIS: Origins’s failure is one of the biggest surprises of the season. The prequel is solid in the storytelling department, but many viewers have rejected it.
Could it be how CBS treated NCIS: Hawai’i? Possibly, but a show about a young Leroy Jethro Gibbs should be a huge draw, and NCIS: Origins isn’t.
The series is currently averaging 3.9 million viewers and a 0.28 rating in the demo.
The numbers rise to around 6 million and a 0.4 rating with a week of DVR factored in, but this has got to be a shocker to CBS. The series isn’t a lock for renewal at all.
Poppa’s House – Likely Cancellation
Poppa’s House has been a decent comedy in terms of creativity, but it hasn’t been doing much of note in the ratings.
Season to date, it has pulled in 3.4 million viewers and a 0.34 rating in the demo.
Unfortunately, it only rises to 4 million viewers and a 0.41 rating within a week, which isn’t an excellent case for renewal.
It will all come down to whether CBS wants to keep the Monday comedy block intact or if it thinks it can replace Poppa’s House with something else.
S.W.A.T. – Likely Renewal
S.W.A.T. fans made a big push to save the show from cancellation last year, and it worked.
The Friday drama is still a decent performer for Friday nights, averaging 5.6 million viewers and a 0.47 rating in Live + 7 metrics.
Given that the demo tally is identical to last season, there’s no reason to believe the Shemar Moore-fronted drama won’t eke out another renewal.
Tracker – Certain Renewal
The Justin Hartley-fronted crime-solver remains a big hit in its second season, with 8.2 million viewers and a 0.53 rating among adults 18-49.
When a week of DVR viewing is factored in, those numbers rise considerably, rising to 11.4 million viewers and a 0.82 rating.
Tracker is a bonafide hit and proves that Justin is a big draw.
What are your thoughts, TV Fanatics? Which of the above shows do you want to be renewed?
Vote in our poll below and aave your say in the comments.