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.
 Loading ... |
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 think that whoever makes the decision on what shows to be cancelled needs to be cancelled themselves! How utterly stupid to cancel The Unit, Eleventh Hour and Without a Trace. If CBS keeps this up- they are going to be losing more and more of their audiences. GET RID OF THE STUPID Comedy shows and get the good stuff back on-Ya listening-CBS!!!!
I just found out the Unit was not coming back. Dumb move CBS. This show gets more exciting each year. I think they have underestimated the viewer ship.
I can’t believe The Unit has been cancelled. I looked forward to every series & so did some of my friends & family members. CBS you have lost me.
I can’t believe they kept The Big Bang Theory over The Unit and Without aTrace.
What morons are in charge of their decision making. I suppose they will come out with another biggest looser series. Because thats what they are.
The Unit was one of the best shows on t.v. you made a mistake on this one and if another network picks it up you are going to lose a lot of veiwers because I know a lot of people watched that show
We are really disappointed in the cancelling of The Unit. It was one of the best on TV.
Some of the new shows are crap and I am sick of the reality shows. I don’t know why they can’t stay with shows that are successful instead starting these new ones that probnably won’t last
I cannot believe The Unit was cancelled or Without a Trace…and I completely agree with whoever wrote that about keeping stupid shows like Gary Unmarried, and the New Adventures of Old Christine…I watch Medium and love it so I am glad CBS brought it on..but to get rid of the other 2 I mentioned is just ridiculous!!!!!
The Unit Should have lived for several more seasons.
I agree! CBS blew it by cancelling The Unit! It was the best show on TV. I can’t believe they kept a few of the dud shows like Gary Unmarried. I do think Without a Trace was ready to end. I also found The Eleventh Hour much more interesting than another CIS show. I’ve watched the two episodes of the new NCIS Los Angelas and don’t really like it so far. I’m not fond of the side characters. The two main characters have good chemestry, but the rest aren’t very good. Bring back the Unit!!!
Cancelling the Unit, Without A Trace and the new one last season The Elventh Hour is really disappointing. Does there have be soo… many CSI Drama. I mean, I really enjoyed the orginal but come on, can’t there be some variety.
The Unit was the best show on TV. I am going to stop watching CBS now, even though I enjoy some of their other shows.
Wow… I have been waiting patiently for my fall shows to reappear, when some didn’t, I came here to look. I can’t believe that CBS took the Unit or Eleventh Hour or Without a Trace off the air! I agree with other comments that CBS had the Unit on Sunday night following football and other sports which always run over, if it wasn’t for tivo, I couldn’t have watched it because of it being so late! This was an awesome show and I am really going to miss it! Eleventh Hour was great , just to see the science of… Read more »
How Stupid!! The network killed the ratings by changing the time slot then cancelled the best show on TV!!
I cannot believe that CBS would cancel Without A Trace, add Medium, and keep some of the “stupid” shows like, How I Met Your Mother, Gary Unmarried, The New Adventures of Old Christine. I hope they decide to bring WAT back.
What….? I can’t believe they cancelled “The Unit” I don’t watch too much tv, but I really enjoyed that show because it different, and showed some of the reality of the military, and the impact it has on the military families.