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.
I am not over 40 or 50 & I watched the Unit every week. I even changed my dvr to record for 2 hours on Sundays so I could see the whole episode. It seems asinine to cancel such a worthy show. If CBS isn’t smart enough to bring it back, I hope another network will pick it up. It was well thought, entertaining, and showed a realistic picture of what it’s like for todays military(opinions given to me by previous & current military personnel.) To me it was a great way to show suppor for our military. It was… Read more »
There was only one show that I looked forward to every week and this is “The Unit” finally a show with amazing actors and stories. I am deeply disappointed in CBS for canceling this show, you really need to listen to the fans and put the show back on air. Its not just 20-30 years olds that watch TV, I would think there would be more 40-50 year old at home watching your show, you need to have get perspective on your viewers!!!
heh! they cancal the unit – unbealiable. someone will defenitly get fired for that mistake.
I’m glad you took on the medium both my husband and I love it. The whole family it’s nice to have a show that focused on family no swear words or nudity what a breath of fresh air.
please please please put the unit back on every time you have a good show it always get canceled there is a lot more shows out there you could get rid of
Why would u not renew the Unit? Thats like the best show you’ve got! So get the UNIT back up already.
What have you people done? I can
OMG… Say it isn’t so… Not
I am very disappointed that “The Unit” was canceled while keeping some real dogs like 60 Minutes and picking up that P.O.S. “Medium”. I believe the decision was a political decision, can’t have the general public actually thinking! The big 3 just want sheep. I quit the commies at NBC, et al, and have gotten disgusted with much of ABC as well. I mistakingly thought that CBS had their act much better together. Well let’s see what is on Discovery, History, A&E or just turn off the TV all together and do something productive like read a relevant book say,… Read more »
they should have dropped flashpoint and kept the unit but on a weeknight the ratings would have been much better
I am very disappointed that you canceld THE UNIT That show was AWESOME!!!!!!
THE UNIT WAS ONE OF MY FAVORITE SHOWS. IT WAS ONE THAT LEFT ME WANTING MORE. SO I MOVED ON TO FIND A NEW FAVORITE. THE SONS OF ANARCHY ON FX. I HAVE DECIDED NOT TO TRY ANY OF THE NEW SHOWS ON THE “BIG 3” NETWORKS. YOU’LL JUST END UP CANCELING THEM ANYWAY. I ABSOLUTELY DETEST THOSE REALITY SHOWS, THE BUBBLE GUM COMEDIES WITH THEIR POTTY HUMOR AND TALK SHOWS. I WANT GROWN UP ENTERTAINMENT, SOMETHING I CAN SINK MY TEETH INTO AND REALLY ENJOY. SHAME ON YOU FOR FOR ONLY THINKING WITH YOUR POCKETBOOK!!!
Canceling “The Unit” and “Without a Trace” was a dumb move. As you can see from all these comments there are quite a few people who feel the same. “The Unit” was well written and very clever. It is offensive to me that since it appealed to the ‘over 50’ crowd CBS decided it was no longer a viable series. Who do you think pays the bills for the under 30 bunch who want to watch such stupid shows as “How I Met Your Mother”?
Please bring back THE UNIT! It was the best show in your line-up.
How in the world could you renew that dog of a show Flashpoint and then cancel The Unit?