Photo: Sergei Bachlakov/CBS ©2026 CBS Broadcasting, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
CBS is making some big moves for next season. Four of the network’s biggest dramas will have shortened seasons during the 2026-27 season to make room for more programming.
According to Deadline, Fire Country and Matlock will have 13-episode seasons, and NCIS: Origins and NCIS: Sydney will have 10-episode seasons.
The NCIS programs will share the Tuesday night 10pm slot. Matlock will return at midseason, and Fire Country will remain on Friday nights.
CBS released no statement about the episode orders for next season. The following was revealed about the rest of CBS’ lineup:
“The episode count reductions are understandable given the size of CBS’ scripted roster for next season. While most broadcast networks are largely keeping the volume of scripted series consistent year-to-year amid ongoing broadcast business challenges in the streaming era, CBS is going for a sizable increase in 2026-27.
With the majority of its current slate performing well, the network is not bringing back only one drama, Watson, and two comedy series, The Neighborhood and DMV. At the same time, CBS is adding three new drama series, Cupertino, Einstein and NCIS: New York, and one comedy series, Eternally Yours. Cupertino and NCIS: New York, which are on the fall schedule, will produce a full-season load of 20 episodes each; Einstein, which will debut in midseason, has a 13-episode order.”
Premiere dates for CBS’ fall lineup will be announced later.
What do you think? Are you surprised by these shortened seasons for CBS’ most popular dramas?
Urbota dumt!!! Förstår inte varför ni minskar ner en så populär serie. Det är enda anledningen till att jag tittar på CBS o försämrar ni NCIS Origin serie genom att förkorta säsongerna (= ändra hela konceptet på serien) för att trycka in fler program – då förlorar ni mitt intresse att fortsätta titta på den kanalen!!!
Worst move ever by far with this network. Shorten series of 2 NCIS shows to bring on a 4th is stupid
When you have a hit show — shorten the season or cancel it. This logic I hope cancels CBS
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I’m extremely disappointed at all announced information in this shortened seasons article. Shortening your best shows does not increase TV station likes; in fact, it does quite the opposite as demonstrated by a lot of comments already posted. I’ve already been paying astronomical fees for your CBS Paramount + network just to ensure I get full copies of episodes if 60 minutes runs over its time slot due to sports running into that program’s slot, which is frequent, especially during March Madness sports. Then you go and cancel another awesome program, Watson. Blue Bloods being cancelled last year was a… Read more »
CBS had been the only network to broadcast the kinds of series that made me want to watch every episode. If Ellison is going to make them cheap out and start copying the streaming services, there really isn’t any point in my bothering to watch broadcast at all.
CBS had been the only network to broadcast the kinds of series that made me want to watch every episode. If Ellison is going to make them cheap out and start copying the streaming services, there really isn’t any point in my bothering to watch broadcast at all.
Typical move by the least intelligent network execs around. But they can’t manage Sunday at all when sports are going. Pathetic.
Very irritating. I don’t like their strategy at all. Shortening the seasons of the proven great shows is discouraging to hear. CBS has a long history of taking away the viewers’ favorite shows.
13 ipisodes per season i consider excellent too long stories get to drag out plus with only 13 episodes u get to watch other series
I’m a little disappointed by the shortened seasons but my biggest complaint is that CBS cancelled Watson. The best medical show I’ve watched since ER. Some of the tripe that’s on TV now and a quality show like Watson is taken down. What are you people thinking? CBS you’re slipping.
I don’t like it at all.
So disappointed and angry. Guess I will stream even more next season.
Very disappointed in the shortened seasons of some of your best shows. Get rid of some of the stupid (but not funny) “comedy” shows and leave the good shows alone!! Please!!!
I was initially thrilled to see LL Cool J in the new NCIS New York but I am not thrilled they reduced the episodes of the other shows to compensate! We already have too few episodes now in my opinion! I could handle an 18 Episode Season but 10 episodes is ridiculous
The seasons are too short now, why make them even shorter?