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.
The Unit was one of only three TV series we watched, and we looked forward to it every week! With so much drival filling most of the timeslots, I’m amazed CBS cancelled this show. Probably not PC enough for management’s taste.
I am so disappointed that the two CBS shows that I watched, Without a Trace and The Unit are cancelled. They were the highlight of the week. Unfortunately, CBS got this wrong.
The Unit is being cancelled! Way to go! It’s one of the only two show s on TV right now that is any good. It’s got action, romance. It’s actually interesting and exciting. I have taken to getting Netflix to fill in the void when the ridiculous and/or obscene shows are aired. I guess now it’ll be another night of Netflix for me.
L “Uniteave it to the “tiffany” IDIOTS” to cancell a great show like “The Unit” and keep shows like “Suvivor”,”Amazing Race”,”How I Met Your(FREAKIN) Mother”(come on!),”New Adventures of Old Christine”, and “Rules of Engagement”. Are you kidding me? Who’s running that z00? …the three stooges?
I really liked the Unit. Great show! I am so disappointed. The unit should have had better time slots and it would have compared to 24. Big mistake CBS.
I can’t believe CBS dropped The Unit. I’m really ticked. Thanks CBS, go ahead and put on another dark, legal/hospital, forensic show on at 10PM because I can’t find that plot on any other network….. The Unit was like watching a movie each week; the family part was decent enough but, the plots of their assignments etc. made for a great show. It was always on at a bad time. The delays because of sports etc. always messed it up as well.
I loved the show The Unit… It was my favorite show. I bought season one on DVD and I was hooked within the first episode and I now own all the seasons on DVD. I can’t believe they cancelled this show and kept some of the other shows on that should have been cancelled a long time ago! This was a stupid mistake done by CBS….
how could you leave your viewers hanging!! this show should be brought back!! this was a very touching show!!!
Loved the Unit and the Eleventh Hour. Both shows were well written and acted. Good characters that one could identify with. Too expensive! Give us a break! I watch most of my shows on ABC, but would always switch over for these two. CBS just lost another household of viewers.
I LOVED the Unit! If it hadn’t been moved and then delayed each week on Sunday evening, it would have gotten better viewership. Earlier sporting events caused even DVR recordings to be of Cold Case Files or something rather than the Unit! Really think it had heart and will be missed.
It really saddens me to see the unit cancelled it was a show that kept you entertained for a full 60 minutes and with its great storyline and cast ea character was brought to life ( shoot I believe there
Get rid of Old Christine and bring back The Unit!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Boring, boring, boring, boring, boring and terribly acting, especially Wanda Sykes in OLD Christine!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It isn’t going to make a difference in comments made, writers, producers, etc make decisions based on their own reasons, but getting rid of a show that was being watched intently for many years is ASSANINE (sp?), don’t care whether is is spelled correctly at this point and time, you get the IDEA???…or do you understand?…CARE? Doubt it!
three rivers was the best new e.r. show since E.R. ! this show should definatly return along with(without a trace). please!?
Oh my God! I didn’t say anything about Without A Trace, my wife and I so looked forward to watching each week, and set the recorder if we were not at home. I am like so many other commentors: I cannot continue to watch CBS, as they certainly do not care about us as viewers!!!