CBS new fall line-up will be both daring and ultra-cautious.
The daring part involves the scheduling itself: “NCIS” – TV’s most-watched show – moves to Mondays …. The best comedy spot (9 p.m. Thursdays) goes to a newcomer (“Ghosts,” shown here) … And the successful cop-and-crook block on Fridays will be one hour shorter, to make room for an unscripted show.
And the meek part involves the shows selected. Taking no chances, CBS will add fresh editions of “NCIS,” “CSI” and “FBI”; it will even put three FBI shows back-to-back on Tuesdays.
That’s one sign of the take-few-chances approach of networks. This fall, viewers can spend three straight nights watching Dick Wolf productions from 8-11 p.m. – “FBI” Tuesdays on CBS, “Chicago” Wednesdays on NBC, “Law & Order” Thursdays on NBC.
The CBS line-up for this fall:
– Mondays: “The Neighborhood” and “Bob (Hearts) Abishola” continue at 8 and 8:30, but “NCIS” moves to 9 p.m., leading into the new “NCIS: Hawaii” at 10.
– Tuesdays: The new “FBI International,” at 9 p.m., is sandwiched by “FBI” at 8 and “FBI: Most Wanted” at 10.
– Wednesdays: After missing an entire season, “Survivor” returns at 8 p.m., leading into another reality competition, “Tough as Nails,” at 9. That’s followed by “CSI: Vegas” – with some of the original “CSI” stars in support – at 10.
– Thursdays: The returning comedies are there, with “Young Sheldon” at 8 p.m., “United States of Al” at 8:30 and “B Positive” at 9:30. But with “Mom” leaving, the 9 p.m. slot will got to the new “Ghost.” Rose McIver, who brought quirky humor to “iZombie,” plays the only mortal who can see the ghosts at her new bed-and-breakfast inn. Also, “Bull” moves to 10 p.m.
– Fridays: At first, this will have the usual all-crime line-up – “SWAT” moving to the 8 p.m. slot, followed by “Magnum P.I.” and “Blue Bloods” at 9 and 10. But later, “SWAT” moves to 10 p.m. Sundays and unscripted shows will start Fridays.
– Saturdays: Reruns and “48 Hours.”
– Sundays: Returning are “60 Minutes” at 7 p.m., “Equalizer” at 8 and “NCIS: Los Angeles” at 9. At first, the 10 p.m. slot will go to four weeks of “SEAL Team”; then that show jumps to the Paramount Plus streaming service and “SWAT” takes the final hour.
Set for mid-season are a comedy (Pete Holmes’ “Smallwood”), a drama (“Good Sam,” with daughter-and-dad) surgeons and a reality show (“Come Dance With Me”). “Evil” is moving to Paramount Plus, with no immediate word on “Clarice.” Cancelled were “The Unicorn” and several long-running shows – “NCIS: New Orleans” (which has its finale Sunday), “Mom” and “MacGyver.”