CBS has announced their new schedule for the 2009 – 2010 season. The network has the most viewers overall so they don’t have to make a lot of changes. But, because they’re in such good shape, they can still afford to shake things up a bit. That means dumping some shows whose ratings weren’t too bad.
The network has also picked up Medium which was cancelled by NBC. CBS says that they’re targeting a younger demographic next season but their choice of new shows doesn’t wholly reflect that philosophy.
With the largest number of returning shows of all five networks, CBS has renewed 48 Hours, 60 Minutes, The Amazing Race, The Big Bang Theory, Cold Case, Criminal Minds, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, CSI: Miami, CSI: NY, Flashpoint, Gary Unmarried, Ghost Whisperer, How I Met Your Mother, Medium, The Mentalist, NCIS, The New Adventures of New Christine, Numb3rs, Rules of Engagement, Survivor, and Two and a Half Men.
Returning this Summer are Big Brother and Million Dollar Password (which is unlikely to return for season two). New series for the Summer months include Do You Trust Me? and Jingles.
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Next season, the Tiffany network has a fair number of new shows on the way as well. They include Accidentally on Purpose, Arranged Marriage, The Bridge, The Good Wife, Miami Trauma, Three Rivers, and Undercover Boss. You can also expect the NCIS spin-off, NCIS: Los Angeles.
And now, for the shows that won’t be back next season. Interestingly only a couple of these had really bad ratings. When you’re at the top of the heap, you can be choosy.
Eleventh Hour
A brilliant biophysicist helps the government investigate strange cases. The ratings weren’t too low and the show has a devout following but CBS execs cancelled it after 18 episodes.
The Ex List
A psychic tells a young woman that she’s already dated the man of her dreams and, if she doesn’t marry within a year, she’ll always be alone. The series was pulled after four installments but all 13 episodes were completed for a possible DVD release.
Game Show in My Head
A hidden camera show from Ashton Kutcher in which everyday people perform crazy stunts in public to try to win up to $50,000. The show enjoyed a brief eight episode run in January and won’t be back with more.
Harper’s Island
This murder mystery show started out pretty strong but quickly lost viewers. CBS is burning off the existing 13 episodes on Saturday nights. If there was going to be another season, it would have revolved around a new mystery.
Swingtown
A drama that follows three families in the swinging seventies. CBS ran it during the summer months and it attracted a small but devoted audience. The network tried to find another outlet for season two but couldn’t.
The Unit
This beloved military drama followed the lives of both a special forces team as well as their family members at home. A victim of cost-cutting measures, Dennis Haysbert and company won’t be returning to fight again.
Without a Trace
This venerable crime drama about the FBI’s New York Missing Persons Squad is about to go missing itself. Due to budget cuts and sinking ratings, the show won’t be back for season eight.
Worst Week
Thankfully, we got to see unlucky Sam and his bride have their baby together. Unfortunately, we’ll never get to see if Sam’s klutziness is hereditary. The show has been cancelled after 15 episodes. There was talk of renewing the show as a cheaper, multi-camera sitcom but it didn’t work out.
Will you miss any of these cancelled shows? Has CBS made any mistakes or have they gotten these right? See any they shouldn’t have renewed but did? Please don’t forget to leave your comments below!
Note: CBS later changed the name of new series Miami Trauma to Miami Medical.
Here are updated cancelled/renewed listings for the five networks: ABC | CBS | The CW | FOX | NBC
Images courtesy CBS.
Just goes to show that most of the really good programs as “The Unit” and “Eleventh Hour” would have lasted longer on cable.
Wish Eleventh Hour and Without a Trace were great! Hate to see them leave…BRING THEM BACK!
My family’s favorite network is CBS, because of its history of good programming that stimulates intellect, such as Criminal Minds, Numbers, The Mentalist and our very favorite show of last year, Eleventh Hour. I cannot believe that CBS did not give this fantastic show another season to develop a bigger following. Who is making your programming decisions? Do you really need shows like Medium? The average American family is not into the occult, so why do you make irresponsible decisions such as picking up Medium? I expect trash TV on the other networks; I don’t expect it on CBS. Very… Read more »
CBS has always had a reputation for getting their shows cancelled by moving them around to a different day/time and then saying it is “due to lack of ratings”. I lost respect in CBS years ago, but they had me back for a few hours a week to watch “The Unit” and “CSI”. I am still somewhat of a CSI fan, but those shows are just getting stale. I really like the show “Medium”, but now that it is on CBS, it is off my radar. It is a surprise anyway that CBS would pickup such a great show as… Read more »
CBS… WHAT were you thinking???? The unit is one of the best show! Just because you are on top…you think that you don’t have to keep shows that we all love? Wake up and smell the coffee……Bring back this show!!!! Thanks
I am VERY SORRY to see that CBS has dropped Eleventh Hour and The Unit. My son and I always enjoyed watching both of those shows. I will really miss them!
Considering that Eleventh Hour had a devout following not understanding why CBS execs cancelled it after 18 episodes!!! ELEVENTH HOUR WAS A GREAT SHOW! BRING IT BACK!
Glad that CBS picked up Medium!
what!!!! the unit was one of those shows where you were you anticipated watching it week after week. it’s hard to believe this is the show being cancelled. PPPLLLEEAASE cbs, or some smater network, please bring it back.
are you nuts! the unit was one hell of a show… i kept on waiting for seson 5 and now CBS cancelled it… CBS made abig big mistake… i’m so disappointed…
The Unit was an intense and some what realistic verge of military drama… You will not find a show like that on TV. I believe CBS has made a big mistake, because this show has tons of potential. I hope that CBS will change there minds or that some other network will pick the show up
I agree with everyone else. How could you possibly have canceled ‘the Unit’!!! I believe that would have just got more popular, a kind of sleeper like the old X Files were. You basically have most of the best shows, which included The Unit. Eleventh Hour was another good show.
Cancelling The Unit was a big mistake. One of the most creative shows of all time. Fan loyality must not concern CBS.
“The Unit” should never been cancelled. The show was well written, and the action and actors – superb! This show was a favorite of mine, my son who serves in the military and the favorite of many veterans of the armed forces who are huge fans. It is a disservice of CBS to cancel such a great, popular, well loved show.
CBS should have given Eleventh Hour one more season to catch on.
CBS should never have cancelled The Unit. That was an awesome show. I sure hope they decide to bring it back.
I am very disappointed “The Unit” was cancelled. I hope the execs will re-eval after reading these comments. Lots of loose strings that need to be enededon the show.