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 was very disappointed to see “The Unit” cancelled. A very original show that attracted a wide range of audiences. Men, women, young men, young women, veterans and more. The combination of action and drama along with the development of the families and their difficulties with the military gave a new perspective on life in the service. I did not think the involving of the wives in the terrorist plan was plausible. That would never happen in real operations. The actions sequences were well thought out and the character of “Snake Doctor” was the zenith of a military leader. Dennis… Read more »
I am absolutely disgusted that The Unit has been cancelled!! I’m in shock!! That was, by far, the best show on CBS, and on television…PERIOD!! I’m with the other people on here, enough with the CSI spin offs!! It’s great show, but seriously quit!!! BRING BACK THE UNIT!!
Please bring the Unit back. This show had an appeal for families that care about the military and what they do to support our country.
Cancelling The Unit is a huge mistake for CBS, all you did was give your audience one more reason to watch another channel. I don’t know where you get your ratings from, but I didn’t know anyone who did not enjoy the series. All you need to do now is cancel Cold Case and you can close up shop. “Medium” give me a break!
CBS–We will give you a simple solution: Go Fish!! WE will give you MEDIUM and NCIS: LOS ANGELES for another “great” season of THE UNIT and WITHOUT A TRACE. Now, it’s YOUR TURN!! Better yet–we would be willing to give up the entire “new” FALL season line-up…just for two of our beloved old shows…seems like a fair trade…
The Unit was THE best show on television. I can’t believe CBS would cancel it while keeping the CSI spinoffs. And I am not 55+. Sometimes the ratings and demographic research is wrong. Many of my friends watch this show and are shocked to say the least. Also, Without A Trace was quality. I know CBS has the number 1 network but, don’t be arrogant and forget about what made people watch your network in the first place. Keep the variety going. Bring back The Unit and Without A Trace.
I’m sorry that CBS cancelled The Unit. We are not the only one who will miss this show, we and are friends refuse to watch the stupid comedy shows that insult our intelligence.
Personally, my husbnd and I think this is a mistake. We loved the series and never missed an episode. If we were going somewhere when it was on, we would set our DVR and watch it later. It was one of our CBS favorite shows.
I am so tired of seeing really good shows pulled off the air, without any closure, while more “reality” tv and cookie cutter shows remain. The Unit was a great show and never should have been cancelled. I stopped watching fox for similar reasons, cbs and 60 minutes don’t interest me.
Please bring back “Without a Trace”. We don’t need anymore CSI, NCIS shows. The original ones are good enough. Stop cancelling decent shows.
I can’t believe “The Unnit” was cancelled. It was original and the hour went by in the blink of an eye. Please bring it back. Enough with the reality shows and how many CSI’s do there need to be.
I am extremely disappointed that CBS cancelled The Unit and Without A Trace. Two of my favorite shows.
I think that is a huge mistake!
I can’t believe they cut Without a Trace & the Unit! Those were excellent shows! I also just started watching Worst Week and was truly enjoying it for it’s good clean humour. Yet all these mindless reality shows remain!? What were they thinking!
We have been waiting for the Unit to come on and wondering if we had missed it. Our whole family watched it and none of us are in our 50’s! It was a fun entertaining show that we all enjoyed and will truly miss. Wish you would change your minds!
It is very disappointing to see “The Unit” gone! It was one of the BEST TV shows on air!
Television is simply going down the tubes!
Bring back “The Unit!!”