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
Get our free email alerts on TV shows in this article:
Images courtesy CBS.
I believed that CBS was actually learning what the TV audiences LOVE. It seems that when any network produces “intelligent, throught-provoking “shows — especially those which project “clandestine government activities” (such as the Unit, Eleventh Hour, Jericho, Mr. Sterling, E-Ring,etc.), they cancel these shows. In addition, they don’t even give the shows a decent, believable ending. I understand that there is a “recession”, but, for the networks to continue to “hook audiences” and then leave them dangling is definitely a reason to totally “unplug” the TV. Please understand that there are intelligent viewers who enjoy thinking about a show. Thank… Read more »
my husband and i became huge fans of swingtown and now we are left wondering what happens to trena with the baby and susan and roger . i hate the fact that it never fells that i become so involved with a show and then it gets taken from me. im very disappointed with the network because our network is cbs all the time. one of my alltime favorite shows is how i met your mother and if that show ever went off the air i would just as sad as i am now about swingtown. please give it anyother… Read more »
I cannot believe they are cancelling The Unit – Dennis Haysbert and company bring so much to the table with their brilliant acting.
The powers that be must have been on vacation when deciding which shows to cut.
When another station picks it up, It will then be my favorite station.
My wife and I (as well as my parents) are really ticked that The Unit has been cancelled. My wife especially got into the show over the past 3 years and sometimes couldn’t finish her dessert because she was so into the show. It’s one of the few shows that we both enjoy watching with intense scenes and great storylines. Most of the other shows that are on or coming out are not very funny and sometimes very crude. Plus why do we have “sequels” of other shows that are all too similar, but cannot keep the ones that are… Read more »
The Unit, Without a Trace, and Eleventh Hour all gone !! What are they thinking??? These are 3 of the best shows on TV and instead we get ANOTHER Crime scene show, that makes FIVE on this one network. ENOUGH already!!! And Medium?? don’t you think there was a reason NBC canceled it? These execs need to get back in the real world!!
bring back without a trace
Please bring back The Unit! It is the only reason I watch your network!
i DON’T KNOW IF ANY OF YOU HAVE A BRAIN OVER THERE AT CBS BUT COME ON,,,,, THERE IS NO WAY SO MANY PEOPLE ARE GOING TO COMPLAIN SO BAD ABOUT ONE SHOW. FROM WHAT I CAN SEE ” THE UNIT ” SHOULD NOT BE CANCLED FOR ANY REASON. ALMOST EVERYONE POSTED SO FAR LOVES THAT SHOW (INCLUDING ME)… I ALSO ALONG WITH MANY OTHER PEOPLE HAPPEN TO LOVE “WITHOUT A TRACE”….. TWO OF THE BEST NIGHT TIME SHOWS AND THERE THEY GO LIKE A BIG **** GOING DOWN THE FLUSH, AND WHY? IS IT TRUE THAT YOU TAKE IT… Read more »
I can’t believe you are cancelling Without A Trace that is one of my favorite shows.
TV execs are CRAZY! NBC canceling “My Own Worst Enemy” which is my all time favorite TV show! I hate that they canceled “Eleventh Hour” and “Without a Trace”. I hate “fluff” shows and that’s all they seem to want to shove down our throat. Canceling Medium was stupid, glad CBS picked it up, maybe they should also consider picking up “My Own Worst Enemy”!
Please bring back The Unit.It is a great show with terrific plot lines and well developed characters. I have watched it since the beginning. There are very few quality shows left to watch. I wait all week for Sunday night to see it. Perhaps it would do better if it was in a better time slot. I am so disappointed in CBS to let a quality TV show leave the line up.
Watch The Unit & on the off-season watch Without a Trace. Both so much better than other shows that remain. Very glad that CBS picked up Medium; one of our favorites.
I knew the Unit was in trouble when they moved it to Sunday. They wanted to cancel the show before the season even began, which is why I always made a point of watching the show before the night was over. I loved it. I hope they reconsider. I am happy the saved Medium but did it have to be at the price of the Unit.
I cant believe CBS has cancelled Eleventh Hour. It was a good show with a great lead actor. The only problem was his assistant. All of her lines sounded like she didnt know how to deliver them. CBS should have just replaced her, not cancelled the show.
CBS will pick up Medium since it produces it, but no one would pick up Boston Legal. The one show that actually revolved around real life situations with a twist. What a joke the “Media Braintrusts” are sometimes.