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.
Cutting WITHOUT A TRACE and THE UNIT was an assinine move! Now I will watch less of your network crap. BRING BACK MY SHOWS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Please bring back Without A Trace! Great show and great actors.
I can not believe that The Unit ( I LOVE ) and Without a Trace (also like allot) have been cancelled! Is CBS crazy? I was wonderwing why the new seasons for both have not been on and now I know. Very Sad especially about the UNIT. Most of the new shows are crap and I have not cared to watch any of them except for The Good Wife (love it so far) Please bring back THE UNIT!!!!!!!! That show always kept me on edge of my seat, very suspensful. Also Without a Trace is a very good show because… Read more »
I agree with everyone who thinks Without a Trace should come back. One of my favorite shows on TV, I can’t believe CBS cancelled this. I know LOTS of people who watch this and it’s a topic at work the day after a show.
Whereas picking up ‘Medium’ is a stroke of genius, cancelling ‘Without a Trace’ in favor of ‘Cold Case’ is not. ‘Cold Case’ rarely airs in it’s time slot because of football,football, football at all costs. If CBS is going to schedule shows for the Sunday night time slot, then it should stick to the schedule. Otherwise, show nothing but football so viewers can adjust. It is ridiculous to go straight from one football game to another before airing 60 Minutes. No one wants to stay up until midnight to watch your ‘delayed’ shows. It’s all about the almighty dollar and… Read more »
The unit was the best military series ever made it is a great loss there was a lot of followers and lovers of the shows (including me) plz bring the show back.
I am so ssad that The Unit will not be back on for this season. I am shoked to see that CBS also cancelled Without a Trace. These are two great shows that had more years left for entertaining. Too bad no one else picked up the shows.
I am very upset that without a trace has been canceled. This show had a differant spin to it instead of them trying to find a killer there focus was missing people.I wish they would consider returning it.
I like every one else am sad to see without a trace and the unit cut from the line up. I hope the network comes to its senses soon!
Two of the best show’s on TV, Without a Trace and The Unit, and they’re gone??? … I hear money, but that can’t be, the show’s were too strong! … In fact, The Unit, no doubt the best show on TV!!! … It’s network screwups like this push me away from the big 4!!! … Bring back both show’s before you lose more audience!!!
Without a Trace was a great show. The ending was never predictable. CBS has made their usual mistake of cancelling a good show. I am sure they will replace with another stupid sitcom.
I will miss The Unit and Without a Trace. Please bring them back!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I can’t believe they canceled The Unit!!! I so looked forward to watching that show! it was one of the last great dramas on TV. Instead they will probably replace it with some stupid reality TV ugh so tired of that stuff. They should bring The Unit back especially after that cliff hanger of a season finale!! PLEASE CBS BRING IT BACK 🙂
Moral of the story, don’t take any good TV ideas to CBS, they won’t be valued. Go to USA or TNT, your show might actually have an ending.
Two shows they cancelled that both have a HUGE cult following are Jericho, and Las Vegas. CBS is showing absolutely no sense in cancelling these two shows. Both shows were cancelled in the middle of a season, and they didn’t have an ending that made sense. They didn’t even put the shows on a decent time slot to see if they would have good ratings. Makes me think that maybe the other shows they cancelled might be worth checking out.