CBS’s 2023-24 season is starting to come into focus.
The network has opted to cancel the last two remaining bubble shows, True lies And Eastern New York, both of which ran a single season. true lies, a reboot of the movie of the same name, will air the last episode of the series on May 17, while it is procedural Eastern New York will conclude May 14.
CBS representatives declined to comment.
The decisions come as CBS is about to announce series orders for the upcoming 2023-24 broadcast season on Tuesday, with the fall schedule to be announced on Wednesday. For the first time in recent memory, CBS and parent company Paramount Global have pulled out of their traditional pre-presentation to ad buyers on Madison Avenue as that slot is taken by Netflix.
The decision to cancel Eastern New York, starring Amanda Warren and produced by Warner Bros. TV and creators William Finkelstein and Mike Flynn, and true lies, starring Steve Howey and Ginger Gonzaga and from creator Matt Nix, comes after CBS reversed its decision to cancel veterans’ drama SWAT after six seasons. Earlier Monday, CBS announced that it had actually extended SWAT for a seventh and final season consisting of just 13 episodes.
SWAT is a co-production between Sony Pictures Television and CBS Studios, which means that Paramount Global owns a piece of Shawn Ryan’s series (The Night Agent) and starring Shemar Moore. Eastern New York And true lies, meanwhile, both were wholly owned by outside studios (Warners and Disney’s 20th Television), which meant CBS had to pay a licensing fee to both studios.
As linear ratings continue to fall, networks are increasingly seeking to fully own most of their scripted originals in an effort to keep costs down. CBS, it’s worth noting, owns Blue blood but slashed cast and creative salaries by an estimated 25 percent to keep the show on the air. Meanwhile, the Chuck Lorre-produced comedy Bob Harten Abishola — which comes from Warners — reduced all but two cast members from regular series to recurring in yet another cost-cutting measure.
CBS’s recurring series for 2023-24 are Blue Bloods, Bob Hearts Abishola, CSI: Vegas, The Equalizer, FBI, FBI: International, FBI: Most Wanted, Ghosts, NCIS, NCIS: Hawai’i, SWAT, The Neighborhood, Young Sheldon And Fire country And So help me Todd. CBS either wholly owns or carries a co-producer with the exception of Young Sheldon And Abishola as Warners doesn’t do co-productions on shows produced by the prolific Lorre.
In terms of CBS’ rookie class, the network went 2-for-4, with Fire country And So help me Todd return after the cancellations of Eastern New York And True lies.
The network already has Justin Hartley drama Follower on tap for next season with additional pick-ups this week. CBS has two comedies (Quick start and the self-titled Wayans entry) and a few dramas (The good fight offshoot Elsbeth and a sequel to Matlock) conflict.
Keep track of all broadcast extensions, cancellations and new series orders with The Hollywood Reporter’s handy scorecard.
