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 63 and CBS is about the only station we watch as the shows generally targeted our age group. The Big Bang is a stupid show and should be cancelled an leaving without a trace and the unit in tact.
Your choice to target a younger crowd is going to lose our age group. All the other networks target them so that should tell you why CBS stayed at the top. You will be losing us.
We loved both The Unit and Without a Trace and will really miss those shows.
Please tell me they at least finished off the mystery of Harper’s Island. I didn’t expect it to last for more than one season because the premise is so cut and dried. There’s a wedding party with a past, there’s a presumed dead killer, killer kills wedding party, survivors struggle to find out who the killer is before they meet their maker. Dragging it on beyond that is ridiculous. I figured this was a summer filler show, though very entertaning and edge of your seat. It’s falling off because they stopped hyping it and moved it to date/ party night,… Read more »
wish CBS would reconsider the Eleventh Hour It was smart, making you think, while still witty. Chartacters were good and the plots were “believable”. This kind of formula should be a winner, and it sems to have been with the audience. Hope the CBS management reconsiders. We’ve got enough Reality TV and night time soap operas on the other channels, and w/ CBS cutting good shows, there’s not much worth watching on regular TV ( forcing viewers to the cable stations, or something other than TV altogether).
Please Re-Consider.
CBS won’t stay at the top making decisions like this. I hadn’t gotten over them canceling Moonlight and now they take away The Unit, Without a Trace AND Eleventh Hour. The best shows on TV. What are they thinking!!!??? Please CBS – Reconsider.
Please bring back the great TV show The Unit. Air this show on another night of the week, not Sunday. It is a show that has a lot of intrigue and a “sit on the edge of your seat” drama. So much better than lots of other shows. The cast on the show are all very enjoyable to watch.
Eleventh Hour, The Unit, & Without A Trace were freaking awesome show, CBS has definitely made a HUGE mistake.
Why was the unit canceled. It was a amazing show. Please put it back on
We were looking forward to seeing the greatest american dog again this summer. But i dont see it listed anywhere. without a trace and worst week are good shows that shouldn’t go away
Sheesh…….I pay more for television than ever before and have more opportunity for bad shows………..WOthout a Trace was one I looked forward to. I am so tired of sit coms with nerdy young men who never grow up. Why is that funny? It is pathetic.
I am so disappointed to the cancellation of The Unit. It was one of the best shows on television. CBS definitely made a mistake by taking this show off the air. Highly doubt they will be able to replace it with a new show that is half as good. Wish they would change their minds about this one.
I really liked the show The Unit. CBS did not do the show any favors when it put scheduled it for a Sunday night, and then continuously aired awards shows and other special events shows. I have been a fan of The Unit since it first aired. It is well written, has great actors, and kept me on the edge of my seat each time it aired. Please reconsider cancelling this show and at least pick it up mid season again. Give it one more chance.
I cannot believe that CBS cancelled The Unit. That was a great pro-American show. It was so relevant for our country today. Please bring it back and cancel something else like Flashpoint.
WHAT!!!!!!! IS CBS CRAZY? How could they cancel the best show on tv-the UNIT. I love the entire cast, writing, action, family and special forces stories. It is fast paced and keeps you riveted. Someone save it!
PS. Dennis Haysbert rocks!
CBS is making a big mistake taling off such a good drama as Without A Trace. It’s a very excellent one.