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.
I miss seeing
shame on them- the unit was one of the best shows on tv almost like NCIS.
I’m very disapointed with the cancellation of the Unit. Looked forward to the fall premiers and to my surprise it wasn’t there. I have unanswered questions. Sunday tv viewing has far to many un-interesting programing. I am sooooooooooo tired of reality tv, guess I’ll return to reading and lisening to music, probably better for me anyway!
I think it’s a bunch of cheapa- – networks execs who keep forcing shortened seasons on all of us, who by the way are paying their bloated salaries!! Whatever happened to keeping the core audiance happy? I was dismayed that about 3-4 years ago these networks started doing 10 -12 episodes and then filled in the rest of the “next” season with crappy voyeristic shows called reality television!! I would love to see shows that actually go from fall to spring without inccessant re-runs!!
I think that CBS made a big mistake to cancel The Unit and Without a Trace, both of these shows were outstanding. I enjoyed watching both of them a lot more then some of the ones they decided to keep. They should reconsider bringing these back and focusing on making cuts elsewhere. Thanks
It never ceases to astound me when shows that are thought provoking, well written and engender dedicated viewers are cancelled. The Unit, Without a Trace, The Good Wife and the Eleventh Hour are among the newest victims; when will the preferences of the viewers come first? Sporting events that continually change the viewing times of the scheduled shows don’t help. Sunday on CBS is a nightmare, esp. if you’ve chosen to record a show for later viewing. Where has the stability of yearly shows disappeared to? Shortened seasons, continual time changes and a lack of commitment to the shows by… Read more »
The Unit and Without a trace were, in my opinon, better than some shows retained. Survivor and the Amazing Race should be cancelled. Survivor is another Big Brother only at a remote location. The Amazing Race is an overplayed version of scaveger hunt. Both seem expense to produce and many have lost interest.
Worst week was a great show! Bring it back!!
Why in the world did you cancel Without a Trace? This is one of greatest shows ever. My husband and I have watched this show from the beginning. Please dont do this to us. CBS if you have any heart left you will bring this show back. It has a great cast and the best story lines that keep your attention. PLEASE BRING IT BACK !!!!!!!
Well no, the unit didn’t have bad ratings. For some stupid reason, the people in suits didn’t believe it’d be a good show.. I mean, the unit had almost 10 million viewers during season 4, 10 MILLION. seriously and they cancel it? Just pisses me off that they keep cancelling the good shows and keep running with crap. I mean seriously, both CSI NY and CSI miami sucks ass, was always crap. And they keep that running? I mean.. and NCIS LA? That’s just crap as well. NCIS is **** without Gibbs and DiNozzo. Oh well, back to not watching… Read more »
I will definitely miss The Unit and Without a Trace. I’m not replacing shows that I’ve watched with new ones this gives me more non tv time. Big mistake on the Unit. I’m very sad!
Okay I understand most of these shows should be cut but without a trace and the unit are the ratings that bad. Both of these shows are outstanding. There is too many reality shows that are bad why can’t we cut those first.
Not a happy camper!!
I think they should have kept the unit and got rid of survivor and bury any trace the show ever existed it waas the beginning of really bad television
I cannot believe you cancelled the Unit! I love that show and all is actors. I did not know it had been cancelled until now i just knew i couldn’t find it in its weekly timeslot. Please bring the Unit back with its regular cast, they are who make the show!!
I am so disappointed the netwoork decision in not returning the Unit. It was one of the reasons I watch CBS.