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.
The Unit was the one and only commercial network program I watched every week. It was a program that my wife and her friends watched as well as me and my friends. I don’t care if I watch any CBS any longer. We have been abandoned by another network. I stopped watching NBC (and have stayed true to my word) since they cancelled E-Ring. I will do the same for CBS. More movie channels and PBS for me.
Cancelling The Unit is exactly what I expect from CBS. Especially after cancelling Jericho and very poorly “trying” to keep it for another season. They truly do not understand loyal viewership. I’m assuming that they did not keep it because they expect to bring in more money from something else. Between their 20 different versions of CSI, reality shows, and now another NCIS spin-off, I can truly say that I’m done with CBS.
Good riddance CBS!!
I mourn the loss of “Without a Trace.” I was a comitted view and feel that Jack,Poppy, MaryAnn and the newly-weds were practically family members. The recent discovery of the kidnapped 11 year old (now 28 0r 29 years old) in CA demonstrates that missing persons remain highly personal and story worthy. Please re-consider!
what clowns cancelled the unit? By and large one of the best shows on TV. Let’s hope a more enlightened network or cable co picks this show up.
this was the worse tv cancellation of a series that cbs has ever made. for ex military and current military family members this show enlightened and gave support to many people besides being thebest program on night time tv. so what are u going to replace it with another retarded comedy or maybe csi: mayberry. I dont gthink that cbs puts much thought behind which shows it cancels because ratings obviously have nothing to do with it since week after week it was in the top 5. im ready along with many people i know to boycott all cbs shows… Read more »
Bring The Unit back. It was about the only non crime scene show you had.
BRING THE UNIT BAAACK !!!! you guys have a positive image of a African American
working with positive white Americans and you @#$% cancel the show! Take some of
those dumb comedy shows off and BRING THE UNIT BAAACK!!!
I cannot believe this network. They are at it again and without any sense of how great The Unit and Without a Trace are. First they dump Jericho and now these two.Keep it up CBS and your going to lose some viewers.
cant mbelieve you cancelled unit and without a trace it is a shame 2 great shows
Taking off the Unit … just another reason to watch TNT or USA during that time slot.
folks…these big name channels forgot where their bread and butter comes from. CBS is not the only one either. They canceled Las Vegas too. The only way they will learn to listen to the viewers is for us to boycott them. There are plenty of other channels out there for us to watch. We are not dependent on NBC, CBS and blah blah. They are not listening to us know but lets see if they listen if we stop watching them. I know I am…I’m tired of them not listening to “US” the viewers….
Don’t cancel the unit. Its the only show CBS has that I watch.
Bring back THE UNIT and WITHOUT A TRACE You cancelled 2 of the best TV shows on CBS. Especially The Unit ! BRING IT BACK
I CANNOT beleive The Unit and Without a trace are being canceled. Does CBS not pay attention to what their views want? These were the only shows I waited for allweek. I am shocked!!!!
I agree to most of the postings about the UNIT. My Dad and I looked forward to every episode of the Unit. Him being retired military and avid fan of special ops and survival shows were easily relatable to him and I just liked the sheer adventure and cunningness of the story and plot. Always something to look forward to. We have a DVR system and we made sure that the UNIT, NCIS and a few others were priority over others. A complaint….we don’t like that the UNIT was canned….we were dedicated and always looked forward to sitting down every… Read more »