CBS’ fall line-up: prequels and familiar crimesolvers

CBS has set a fall schedule filled with the familiar.
It will have two prequels (one of which is also a sequel), two familiar crimesolving names (Matlock and Dr. Watson) and few surprises.
The biggest surprises may be cancellation of three dramas (“NCIS: Hawaii,” “CSI: Vegas” and “So Help Me Todd”) … and the name of the show that takes over the Sheldon space. It’s “Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage.”
That one (shown here) is a sequel to “Young Sheldon,” but still a prequel to “The Big Bang Theory” … and will occupy the same timeslot (8 p.m. Thursdays) both of those shows had. “Ghosts” will remain at 8:30, with “Elsbeth” at 10. Now “Matlock” – with Kathy Bates taking the Andy Griffith role as a folksy old lawyer – replaces “So Help Me Todd” at 9.
“Young Sheldon” had a successful, seven-year run, so CBS is trying a similar idea with a drama: “NCIS: Origins” has Austin Stowell as young Gibbs, with Mark Harmon (the old Gibbs) narrating. Other new shows are:
— “Watson,” with Morris Chestnut as a modern version of Dr. Watson. After Sherlock Holmes’ death, he starts solving medical mysteries. It will wait until mid-season.
— “Poppa’s House,” pairing Damon Wayans and his son Damon Jr. It will be at 8:30 p.m. Mondays after “The Neigborhood,” providing the only CBS comedies that are shot before a studio audience.
— “The Summit,” which follows 16 strangers trekking the Alps. It will follow the fall edition of “Survivor,” with “Amazing Race” arriving in the spring.
— And a reboot of “Hollywood Squares,” now with Drew Barrymore hosting. It will be in a game night (alongside “The Price is Right” and “Raid the Cage”), taking over Wednesdays between the two “Survivor” editions. The schedule:
MONDAYS: “The Neighborhood,” 8 p.m.; “Poppa’s House,” 8:30; “NCIS,” 9; “NCIS: Origins,” 10.
TUESDAYS: “FBI,” “FBI: International,” “FBI: Most Wanted,” 8-11 p.m.
WEDNESDAYS: “Survivor,” 8 p.m.; “The Summit,” 9:30. The second “Survivor” edition will be followed by “The Amazing Race.” Between editions, the night has “The Price is Right at Night” at 8 p.m., “Raid the Cage” at 9 and “Hollywood Squares” at 10.
THURSDAYS: “George & Mandy’s First Marriage,” 8 p.m.; “Ghosts,” 8:30; “Matlock,” 9; “Elsbeth,” 10.
FRIDAYS: “SWAT,” 8 p.m.; “Fire Country,” 9; “Blue Bloods,” 10. However, “Blue Bloods” is wrapping up its 14th and final season; afterward, “NCIS: Sydney” will be at 8 p.m., with “SWAT” moving to 10.
SATURDAYS: Reruns and “48 Hours.”
SUNDAYS: “60 Minutes,” 7 p.m.; “The Equalizer,” 8; “Tracker,” 9. During football season, when those are often delayed by a half-hour or more, they’ll be followed by a rerun hour; after football ends, “Watson” gets the 10 p.m spot.