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.
CBS has made a big mistake in cancelling Without a Trace. I’ve been waiting for weeks for the show to debut and just discovered that it was cancelled last May 09. I am disappointed. It was a must see weekly!!
Yes CBS has made a mistake in cancelling both The Unit and Without a Trace.
We were avid viewers of both shows and have been wondering where they have
gone. Big disappointment!!!!!!!
The unit was one of the best shows on……it had a great storyline and cld have went on for years, sad to c it go
I couldn’t for the life of me figure out why my DVR wasn’t taping new episodes of Without a Trace. I knew I had it listed to record all new episodes, just like it’s done for many many years. Then I couldn’t even find it manually on DVR or with the guide on my dish. I then go to CBS to see what the heck is going on and find out they cancelled it. What the heck. That show was awesome. I was really looking foward to another season full of drama and “who done it’s”. They finally marry Danny… Read more »
As a military veteran, I am disappointed that CBS cancelled The Unit. I think it helped to keep Americans aware that we have men and women serving our country in ways that cannot be appreciated, acknowledged or understood. Shame on CBS. Such a great cast with great connectivity. Bring it back or at least develop another good military show, not NCIS/CSI/crime drama wanna be’s, but a show truly about military life. The entertainment industry/media needs to do more to raise respect and awareness of our troops on primetime TV.
CBS has made a huge mistake cancelling The Unit. It is, in my opinion, the equivalent of FOX’s 24. The unit is all around an amazing show. It has great acting, great storyline, and every episode always keeps me on edge. I never missed a single episode. I’m 17 years old, and since it has been on for 4 seasons, that must mean that I was about 13 years old when I began watching it. It was my favorite show then and it is my favorite show now. How’s that for demographics there CBS?
Personnally I think you could have done without taking up the show “Medium”, this show just seems to get worse. Sorry but the characters are just not watchable.
The Unit is a great show.Really disappointed about it being cancelled.great acting.
The Unit was the most unique show on tv. With an outstanding cast I looked forward to watching the Unit every week to see what would be next. I am really disappointed that CBS cut the most anticipated and best show of the week for me. I can’t believe that CBS picked up Numbers (boring) the Medium not much better, to replace the Unit. Other networks have a lot better shows on now. “How It’s Made” “Extreme Loggers” and “Deadliest Catch” are three of them. I never explored a lot of other channels. I have sattelite tv now and luckily… Read more »
The Unit was the best series on TV. We are shocked it was cancelled. Without a Trace is also a great program. What is CBS thinking. NCIS LA is lousy, even Linda Hunt can’t bring this up to parr. It’s just so unbelieveable and corny. We just turn the channel. The Good Wife is a good program but still can’t get over losing the Unit and Without a Trace. This just forces us to go to cable channels and see what they have on.
They cancelled the only shows we watched, The Unit and Without a Trace. So much for watching CBS.
Very disappointed that The Unit and My Name is Earl have been cancelled. Two of our favorite shows!!!!
Cancelling the Unit and Without a Trace was a big mistake for the Net work. Where these shows were scheduled was the problem not the Shows. Many people recorded them. They were good television!
Are the execs at CBS crazy? The Unit and Withoug a Trace were two of the best (if not the best) shows on TV. Very disappointed with CBS. Guess I will watch Jay Leno and boycott the network.
I loved Without a Trace and cannot believe it was cancelled and Cold Case was kept. You never knew what to expect on Without a Trace. I wish it was back this season!!!!!!!