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.
The Unit was one show that followed not only the charactors in “the thick of action” , and what great suspenceful action, but also let us into the lives “back at home”. Absolutely a shame to lose this compelling program and “TV friends”.
The Ex list and Worst Week were two of my FAVORITE shows 🙁 thanks CBS …
I feel The Unit was a very intense and very interesting program, my family and I would watch all the reruns waiting for the new ones to show up, now we found out that it was not going to renewed, what a true shame, the program you should cancel is Physce, its as bad as the long running Monk
I have been watching all seasons of “The Unit”. I cannot believe that CBS cancelled this great show! It is very disappointing to know that this network is supposed to be one of the best. Yeah, right! I will be watching another network from now on! You definitely do not deserve another loyal viewer helping in your ratings!! Shame on you!!
The unit was a great show. How stupid to cancel a show in it’s final season. CBS you are selfish. You have screwed us loyal viewers out of something special and deserved. We supported this show for 4 seasons and helped your networks ratings and when it was time to show appreciation you spit in our face. Thanks. I moving on to another network as well should everyone else
even tho the last season of The Unit was pretty disappointing,id like to see them sell it to another network to finish off a season 5 and have a conclusion to the show. It was a great show, some episodes dragged but I rated it up there with 24 which Haysbert was also on the show.
I have been watching all the sessons of the Unit i watched every single episode i even own the DVD’S on all sessions. The show has motivated me in many ways, Rather then fearing change i think of it as an exciting aspect of being alive Thanks to our men and women that fight for our country an freedom, they put there lives on the line everyday. I feel that this show has been very educational , it was a big mistake for you to cancel the “UNIT”. ((PLEASE RECONSIDER)).
Cutting The Unit & Without A Trace in favor of stupid shows like Amazing Race & Big Brother are among some of CBS’s more idiotic moments. They should just change their name now to “The Reality Show Network”. I think I’m going to start boycotting their advertisers and downloading the shows off the internet so I won’t add to CBS ratings.
I thought this was so well done. The characters were thoughtful and charismatic. The plots were tight and plausible. I thought it was a great complement to “24”. It also presented the military in a light which showed the sacrifice these people make for us. Instead of exemplifying the negative, it gave a good portrayal of how difficult some of these decisions are. We may not like these choices; but they have to be made.
I think cutting the unit was a big mistake. That was one of the best shows out there you really need to bring it back.
The unit was a great show! I just kept waiting for it to come back on. I still have my DVR set for it. I hope some other net work will pick it up. It was so good and I miss it.
Mike
As usual, CBS is making a big mistake cancelling The Unit. It is by far superior a drama than all of the multi- boring reality and news shows. The Unit was suspenseful and always left you wondering how they would escape this one r where would they go next. It was based on true missions and made you appreciate how tough the military life can be. CBS needs to reconsider this decision and bring The Unit back to its lineup.
I think that the unit should not have been cancelled. It was by far top 5 best shows on CBS. Hopefully the execs at CBS will realize this and bring them back, and take away that stupid show Medium. Borrrrrinnng…..
I dont think they should have canceled the UNIT. In todays military its nice to know there is such a group of guys out there that go the extra mile.I know there are units similar as my neighbor was in special forces. They put so much garbadge on tv. Enough with the csi’s. How many do we need. lets see, las vegas, l.a. miami, new york , ncis, who am I missing. Leave the good shows on and get rid of the crap. the unit was the best. I continue to watch the reruns.
I think you should not cancel Without a Trace. It’s a great show.