(Jeff Neira / CBS)
Despite predictions to the contrary, the Instinct TV show has been renewed for a second season on CBS. In season one, the ratings for the procedural TV series rose from the first week to the second, before dropping off pretty sharply, then rallying some. Based on the demo numbers alone, a cancellation seemed more likely, but like many CBS TV series, its average total audience size seems to have gotten Instinct past the finish line.
A CBS crime thriller, based on the James Patterson novel, Murder Games, Instinct stars Alan Cumming, Bojana Novakovic, Daniel Ings, Naveen Andrews, and Sharon Leal. The drama centers on Dr. Dylan Reinhart (Cumming), a former CIA operative who is lured out of his peaceful retirement as a university professor and author, to help NYPD Detective Lizzie Needham (Novakovic) catch a serial killer.
Instinct: A Look at the Ratings
The first season of Instinct averaged a 0.81 rating in the 18-49 demographic and 7.859 million viewers. Find out how Instinct stacks up against the other CBS TV shows.
CBS Cancellations and Renewals
All told, today CBS cancelled two TV shows: Superior Donuts and Scorpion. The network also renewed five series: Criminal Minds (season 14); Man With a Plan (season three); Life in Pieces (season four); Instinct (season two); and Big Brother: Celebrity Edition (season two).
UPDATE: CBS has cancelled Kevin Can Wait and has renewed Elementary for season seven.
Deadline has confirmed the Instinct renewal.
What do you think? Did you expect CBS to cancel or renew its Instinct TV series for a second season? Did they make the right call? Let us know, below.
My husband and I both love this show and look forward to viewing it each week! Sunday night TV is much more interesting with this show in the line up and are soooo disappointed for the delay of Season 2. We love the plot, the characters and the actors. The only draw back is the love interest between Det. Lizzie and Julian- not feeling it for some reason- yet love them both individually.
love this show-we need more LGBTQ themes to show the lives of real people
I love this show and the characters! Was waiting for season two to start this Fall but read it won’t come back until early 2019…..bummer. These shows are so much better than the reality shows, which stink…don’t understand why people find them entertaining..
I would like to see numerous seasons of instinct. I really like the characters, the stories, suspense. The intelligence. It’s a great show. I am now watching reruns waiting for season two.
I want very much to like this show. However, the writing or the acting (or both) seem off. Maybe over-acting is the issues, like everyone is trying too hard. Even Whoopi Goldberg leaves me feeling flat, and I adore Whoopi. I wish I could figure it out so then I could console myself with “oh that’s just whatever.” I’m sticking with for the next season in the hopes that the problem will settle out and disappear. Good luck to everyone. I hope you guys succeed with the show.
One of my very favorite tv shows. I watch it for the actor Allan Cumming and the story line. One of the few network shows that I make an effort to watch.
Love the show and Alan – read the book after seeing the first couple shows and recognized it -well done and follows the book very well – so glad it is back -I’ve Been waiting for the next show
I LOVE this show!
Thanks for renewing this show, I’ve gain back a little faith! I also agree with my fellow posters about the reality shows. I want to be either scared, intrigued, or made to laugh.
Definitely glad to hear that Instinct has been renewed. It beats the current 8PM Sunday night show, i.e., Big Brother. Such a stupid show – can’t believe people actually watch that nonsense.
Bring back Instinct. Better than all the reality crap shows on CBS.
Yes – so much better
I really wanted to like this show but Alan Cummings is just not believable as a tough ex-CIA op. Lizzie is too cutesy and her colleagues are one-dimensional. The only one I bought into is Julian.
Maybe the second season will be better.
It’s lighter fare with good banter and main character development, and I’m enjoying it immensely. I agree with folks that the other characters need more inclusion, and it does stretch credibility at rare times, but the lack of gore, the off-camera violence, the eclectic mix of characters is refreshing after CBS’ heavier menu like criminal minds and NCIS. For me, it provides the same escape factors that Numbers and Perceptions did.
This is an o.k. TV show. I like the main characters, Dylan, lizzie and Julian and Dylan’s husband. But the show hasn’t quite clicked for me. I think they are trying too hard to be cute and that sometimes makes it hard to really get into. It has the potential to grow into something better. I would like to see them develop the secondary characters in the police office. Those characters made a huge difference in similar shows like Major Crimes and Castle. It would also be great if they could occasionally do something really serious. Perhaps better writers would… Read more »
I so agree with you on this! I also think the actress who plays Lizzie is not a good actress at all. I can see her trying to sell her lines. I hope they are able to improve it in season 2 because I love Alan Cummings!
I totally agree with you, I don’t want to give up on it yet, but I sincerely hope for better writers.
My husband and I are thrilled that this program was not canceled. One of our favorites.