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.
All ask is that CBS keep three rivers, I don’t know where i was not to have watched this show, I find it to be one of the best shows next to House that deals with a team of doctors. Ilove this show so much that I watch it again on demand. If you have not watched this please do, to good to let go!
I just have to say that taking the Unit off the air is one of the biggest mistakes you could make. Being in the military my self it is very refreshing to be able to sit with my wife and watch a show that we can both get in to and have a good laugh one minute then turn right around and say WTF the next minute! The show needs to come back!
I absolutely hate that Without a Trace was cancelled. And if Three Rivers is cancelled,
I may never watch CBS again. The whole world isn’t interested in ridiculous comedies,
which is the direction CBS seems to be going.
You would be in BIG TROUBLE if it weren’t for Big Brother, Amazing Race and Survivor,
since you want to cancel the good drama type shows.
When we heard that they are cancelling the unit myself and my husband were so dissappointed we are just in our early forties so it not just fifty fives watching and we r living in great britian, not to mention the other people who is watching here, these days most of what is on telly cant watch because of the swearing. Anything that is good never last, aint that the case …we are truly dissappointed.
I heard that Three Rivers is going to be cancelled, please don’t, another good show and they want to cancel it. Please DO NOT CANCEL.
I agree with the above, cancelling the Unit and Without a Trace was a big mistake. I look forward weekly to watching both.
Cancelling Worst Week and continuing to focus on cheap reality-like shows makes for a poor choice for CBS … really dumb moves.
Wow CBS is making some real bad choices! First with the cancellation of Guilding Light and now I just learned about The Unit and Without a Trace as I have been waiting for the premiers to come on and decided to investigate. This is just horrible. At least with Guilding Light we all had plenty of time to say goodbye and get over the loss but we are all left hanging with The Unit and Without a Trace. I am very disappointed in CBS.
I am on fire about the unit being canceled I just found out today nov. 4th. I had my dvr set up from last season and kept checking to see when a new episode was coming on. I’m also upset about w/o a trace both shows were FA-BO-LUS.
Why would cbs leave the fans hanging without a series finale. If it wasnt for the csi shows I would stop watching cbs.
the unit was no doubt my favorit show on tv. Also, it was my wife’s fav as well. It was a show with it all. Great actors with 2 to 3 different story lines going on at the same time. They say it was the ages of the viewers that was one of the reasons the show stopped. I am in my early 30’s while my wife in her 20’s. We both have several friends that is around our age that is missing the show. It always seems when finally a good show that is worth watching comes out they… Read more »
It was a BIG mistake to cancel The Unit!! The Unit helps military families understand and cope with their loves ones who are deployed and those who lost loves ones because of the war. It was truly one of the better dramas that has been produced in a long time! I would rather have seen the networks lose the reality shows!
Worst mistake…. cancelling the Uint. I don’t understand why they would be stupid enough to cancel a show that was this well written and exciting to watch.
Best decision: picking up Medium. That other network are fools for letting this show go!
the unit and without a trace were our two favorite tv shows. we looked forward to watching every week!
The Uniy was one of the best shows on TV! Why would you cancell a show that is doing well? Cost savings????How about the executives taking a cut in pay and giving the customer what they want!
Worst Week and The Unit should never have been canceled. CBS may not stay on top if they continue to cancel should good shows.