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.
I am so glad you pick up medium, and all the shows you said your keeping i love all of them!!!! i think nbc is going to lose a lot of vewiers, because i know ill be watching medium on cbs and all the other shows you are keeping. thanks so much for keeping all the shows you are keeping because i love them all. Looking forward to next season. ps my son will switch if you pick up my name is earl he loves the show.
I love the unit . It was a really great show. I will miss dennis’s voice. U can close yiour eyes. I am really sad to c it go!!!!!!! But thk you for picking up medium. This is my favorite show. CBS. Thk can you do me a small favor and pick up pushing daisy!!!!! I will love you for it.!!!!!!!!!
I echo exactly all the sentiments I’ve just read –
Unit was the best and 11th Hour and W/O a Trace,
next in that order –
Thank Goodness for Medium pickup though
I love The Unit and do not want to see it cancelled. Please reconsider bringing this show back.
How in the world could CBS renew Flashpoint? The series has an all white cast (all of the guys look alike) with only one young African American regular who says about two words during each episode?!?!? Of course, the perpetrators on many of the shows are, guess what, African Americans! I guess that’s how they are diversifying the show! Maybe, just maybe, that’s the reason the Unit has been cancelled -Dennis Haysbert is quite a presence – isn’t he………. and, in the field, he is the boss! Now, I hope CBS doesn’t slowly start removing diversification from its schedule as… Read more »
CBS may have been shortsighted enough to cancel Eleventh Hour, but the Campaign to bring it back is not over. If you love EH like we do, check out this new link at our new site. There are still possibilities to save this show but we need each and every fan to help!
http://www.planet-hood.net/campaign
I forgot to mention in my last note that MEDIUM is a great show, as is NUMBERS. I am glad that CBS has intelligent attentive management that sees the need for some intelligent shows. CBS gets my vote and I will watch more CBS next season and skip over NBC. I wish there were more shows without extreme violence and intelligent scripts. Not all of us have low IQ’s
It is a great mistake to cancel Without a Trace. It was one of the best shows with greater actors, good scripts and not too much violence. I know a lot of people that watch it and if is cancelled I will certainly miss it. It has just the right mix of the personal lives of the characters and the action. We are all tired of the lousy comedy shows, the totally violent shows and a lot of junk reality shows with the exception of Dancing with the stars and the Apprentice. You know there is so much junk on… Read more »
The Unit is canceled?? WHY?!?! The show was riveting. If I had know this would happen or was even being considered, I would have been writing and rallying all my fellow “Unit enthusiasts” to do the same. It is a great show. I hope that, like Medium, some other network picks it up (Thanks to CBS for THAT, by the way!). I hate leaving it on the final note that I saw recently. No fair!!
I am absolutely devastated that the The Unit and Without a Trace are being cancelled!!!!! The one I will miss the most is The Unit! It was so wonderful with a diverse cast and nail biting episodes!!! Again, I’m just devastated!!! What is wrong with you CBS?!?!?
CBS,
Thank you, thank you, thank you for saving Medium.
Tara
NBC programming is getting stupid. I’ve have been a Medium fan since season one. I’m glad CBS picked it up for another season. NBC is replacing Medium with Jay Leno. Although I was not impressed with Leno as a stand-up, he has done a decent job with Late Nite. I’ve never found Conan O’ Brian funny. In fact, he is obnoxious. Jimmy Fallon wasn’t impressive on SNL.
I agree with JW. It is terrible that they canncelled The Unit & Without a Trace, and they kept Cold Case?? – yuck!! I liked Eleventh Hour too, but oh well, it happens.
I am ecstatic that they picked up Medium though.
Hate that The Unit is being cancelled. Watch it every season. Without a Trace is good too. Both so much better than others that remain. Glad CBS picked up Medium. Love it.
Thank you CBS for picking up Medium!!!!!!!!