Below is a table with renew/cancel predictions for CBS followed by analysis. Let us know what you think by leaving a reaction and a comment!
Blue Bloods and SWAT
Since the publishing of the last column, Blue Bloods and SWAT were both renewed. Both were previously listed in the Likely Renew category. Blue Bloods will now enter its 13th season, airing nearly every episode of its 250+ episode run in the Friday at 10pm time slot. It would be a surprise if it aired anywhere else next season. SWAT, meanwhile, has been thrown around the schedule in its first five seasons. Now in the Sunday at 10pm time slot, it is solidly filling a hole in CBS’s schedule.
Since the publishing of the last column, Blue Bloods and SWAT were both renewed. Both were previously listed in the Likely Renew category. Blue Bloods will now enter its 13th season, airing nearly every episode of its 250+ episode run in the Friday at 10pm time slot. It would be a surprise if it aired anywhere else next season. SWAT, meanwhile, has been thrown around the schedule in its first five seasons. Now in the Sunday at 10pm time slot, it is solidly filling a hole in CBS’s schedule.
Good Sam and How We Roll
Both Good Sam and How We Roll have struggled out of the gate. Being midseason entries with some of the lowest ratings on CBS, it’s tough to see either getting a second season. Both remain in the Likely Cancel category.
FBI, FBI: International, and FBI: Most Wanted
FBI is tied with Young Sheldon as CBS’s highest-rated scripted show. Being the first show in a franchise and from Dick Wolf, it likely has a nice run in syndication ahead of it. While FBI’s two spinoffs aren’t doing as well as it is, they still allow CBS to make a cohesive Tuesday night lineup. All three are certain renewals.
The Equalizer
The Equalizer is CBS’s second-highest-rated drama, and the only thing standing in the way of their top six dramas being the FBI and NCIS shows. It started well in its first season after a post-Super Bowl premiere, and proved itself to be a true hit this season. The fact that NBCUniversal has international distribution rights may be what’s holding up the renewal until May, but with its ratings it remains in the Certain Renew category.
Magnum P.I.
Of all the dramas yet to be renewed or canceled, Magnum P.I. is the only one whose fate realistically could go either way. Its ratings are fine for Fridays, but it can’t be of much use on the schedule outside of that. Perhaps they can try to get it a syndication deal, in which case making more episodes is always a good thing. However, if there’s one show that CBS will move over to Paramount+ next season, it’s likely this one.
United States of Al and B Positive
Joining Magnum P.I. as bubble shows are sitcoms United States of Al and B Positive. Neither of these shows are capable of anchoring an hour or launching a new show, so it comes down to if CBS thinks it’s more beneficial to bring back a known property over having to promote a new show from scratch. In other words, their fates are likely tied to how much CBS likes their 2022-23 sitcom pilots. With How We Roll underwhelming, there’s still hope for at least one of these shows on next season’s schedule. United States of Al gets the edge due to it having a higher episode order this year and less behind the scenes issues.