Fall 2021 Schedule: CBS

Monday

8:00 - The Neighborhood
8:30 - Bob ♥ Abishola
9:00 - NCIS (New Timeslot)
10:00 - NCIS: Hawaii (NEW)

For the first time in its 18 year run, NCIS will not be airing at 8:00 on Tuesdays. It'll help launch a new spin-off set in Hawaii on Monday nights so that Tuesday can become an all-FBI night.

Tuesday

8:00 - FBI (New Timeslot)
9:00 - FBI: International (NEW)
10:00 - FBI: Most Wanted

With a third franchise in the FBI universe, Dick Wolf will have three consecutive nights (on two different networks) that are entirely comprised of shows he produces: FBI Tuesdays, Chicago Wednesdays, and Law & Order Thursdays. That's insane. I'm also a little surprised International is on the fall schedule, since it hasn't even announced a cast yet (and unlike Most Wanted, it will not air as a backdoor pilot during FBI).

Wednesday

8:00 - Survivor
9:00 - Tough as Nails (New Timeslot)
10:00 - CSI: Vegas (NEW)

I'm elated that Survivor will finally be back on the air after nearly a year and a half hiatus due to the pandemic, but I can't say the same for CBS's strategy of digging up the past with a new iteration of CSI. This will be a sequel to the original series, featuring the original stars. I guess when the only folks watching live TV are over 60, you have to cater to them? I don't know.

Thursday

8:00 - Young Sheldon
8:30 - The United States of Al
9:00 - Ghosts (NEW)
9:30 - B Positive
10:00 - Bull (New Timeslot)

The United States of Al has been a surprisingly steady performer following its late debut this season, so it gets to stay put. Ghosts is the only new comedy on the fall schedule, taking over for the departed Mom. And Bull, displaced from Mondays, will now occupy the problematic Thursday night at 10:00 timeslot where new shows (Evil, Clarice) have failed to garner significant audiences. Considering its age, the expectation for Bull will likely be low.

Friday

8:00 - SWAT (New Timeslot)
9:00 - Magnum PI
10:00 - Blue Bloods

SWAT is on the move twice this season; in the fall, it'll take over for MacGyver on Fridays. This slot makes sense to me, but at midseason, SWAT goes to Sundays and unscripted (unannounced currently) goes here.

Sunday

8:00 - The Equalizer
9:00 - NCIS: Los Angeles
10:00 - SEAL Team (New Timeslot)
10:00 - SWAT (Midseason; New Timeslot)

It was announced yesterday that SEAL Team is migrating to Paramount+, the paid streaming service owned by CBS; honestly, I think that's utterly absurd, since I don't see this show driving subscriptions to the streamer. But regardless, before it moves, SEAL Team gets a five-episode send-off on CBS in the fall in a very difficult timeslot (NFL over-runs frequently push the 10:00 show into the 11:00 hour, sometimes significantly). SWAT then moves there at midseason.

Midseason

No returning shows were held for midseason, but CBS does have a new drama in Good Sam and a new comedy with Smallwood, plus a new dance competition series featuring Jenna Dewan called Come Dance with Me (which seems likely destined for Fridays at 8:00, unless new episodes of Undercover Boss are ready to go).

The Amazing Race was also renewed for a new season, which is somewhat surprising since it hasn't been in production since early 2020 and since host Phil Keoghan has Tough as Nails now. With the state of the globe being what it is, who knows when it'll actually happen? The network has also ordered two original Christmas films to air over the holiday season featuring CBS stars (CSI: Miami's Adam Rodriguez and All Rise's Jessica Camacho) and new "event series," The Activist.

I'm so excited to see a network actually making moves to its schedule rather than stagnating. Even still, this is not a schedule that's likely to excite any kind of broad audience. Younger people are not going to flock to a third FBI series or to a reboot of CSI. The audience that already watches CBS every night will probably tune in, but it's not going to help with growth (or even retention of the few younger viewers the network already has).

I like that they're taking a risk with Ghosts, even though I don't particularly like the concept on paper. I wish CBS would do more along those lines, shows that aren't in their wheelhouse. But with scripted fare becoming so expensive and not drawing in new audiences, it seems unlikely to happen. Look at how all the networks are banking on familiarity and franchises.

Click after the jump for new series descriptions.

Dramas

CSI: Vegas - The sequel to the Network’s global hit CSI: Crime Scene Investigation opens a brand-new chapter in Las Vegas—the city where it all began. Facing an existential threat that could bring down the entire Crime Lab and release thousands of convicted killers back onto the neon-lit streets of Vegas, a brilliant new team of investigators led by Maxine Roby (Paula Newsome) must enlist the help of old friends, Gil Grissom (William Petersen), Sara Sidle (Jorja Fox) and David Hodges (Wallace Langham). This combined force will deploy the latest forensic techniques to do what they do best—follow the evidence—in order to preserve and serve justice in Sin City. Jason Tracey serves as executive producer and showrunner; Jerry Bruckheimer, Jonathan Littman, KristieAnne Reed, Anthony Zuiker, Carol Mendelsohn, Ann Donahue, Craig O’Neill, William Petersen and Cindy Chvatal are also executive producers. Uta Briesewitz is an executive producer and directed (initial episode only) from a script by Tracey. The series is produced by CBS Studios in association with Jerry Bruckheimer Television. CSI: Vegas stars original cast members William Petersen, Jorja Fox and Wallace Langham, who will reprise their roles as Gil Grissom, Sara Sidle and David Hodges, respectively; Paula Newsome as Maxine Roby; Matt Lauria as Joshua Folsom; Mandeep Dhillon as Allie Rajan; and Mel Rodriguez as Hugo Ramirez. 

FBI: International - From Emmy Award-winning executive producer Dick Wolf, fast-paced drama FBI: International is the third iteration of the successful FBI brand that follows the elite operatives of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s International Fly Team. Headquartered in Prague, they travel the world with the mission of tracking and neutralizing threats against American citizens wherever they may be. Not allowed to carry guns, the Fly Team relies on intelligence, quick thinking and pure brawn as they put their lives on the line to protect the U.S. and its people. Dick Wolf, Derek Haas, Matt Olmstead, Arthur Forney and Peter Jankowski are the executive producers. The series is produced by Universal Television, a division of Universal Studio Group, in association with CBS Studios.

Good Sam stars Sophia Bush (Chicago franchise, One Tree Hill) and Jason Isaacs (Star Trek: Discovery) in a drama about Dr. Sam Griffith (Bush), a gifted heart surgeon who excels in her new leadership role as Chief of Surgery after her renowned boss falls into a coma. When her former boss wakes up months later demanding to resume his duties, Sam is tasked with supervising this egotistical expert with a scalpel who never acknowledged her stellar talent. Complicating matters is that the caustic and arrogant Dr. Rob “Griff” Griffith (Isaacs) also happens to be her father. As Griff defies Sam’s authority and challenges her medical expertise, the big question becomes whether this father and daughter will ever be able to mend their own relationship as expertly as they heal the hearts of their patients. Katie Wech, Jennie Snyder Urman and Joanna Klein serve as executive producers for CBS Studios. Tamra Davis is an executive producer (pilot only) and directed the pilot from a script by Wech. Good Sam stars Sophia Bush as Dr. Sam Griffith, Jason Isaacs as Dr. Rob “Griff” Griffith, Skye P. Marshall as Dr. Lex Trulie, Michael Stahl-David as Dr. Caleb Tucker, Davi Santos as Dr. Joey Costa, Omar Maskati as Dr. Isan M. Shah, Wendy Crewson as Vivian Katz, and Edwin Hodge as Malcolm A. Kingsley.

NCIS: Hawaii - The world’s most successful television series continues on the seductive shores of the Aloha State with NCIS: Hawaii where the first female Special Agent in Charge of NCIS Pearl Harbor, Jane Tennant (Vanessa Lachey), has thrived and risen through the ranks by equal parts confidence and strategy in a system that has pushed back on her every step of the way. Together with her unwavering team of specialists, they balance duty to family and country while investigating high-stakes crimes involving military personnel, national security and the mysteries of the sun-drenched island paradise itself. Matt Bosack, Jan Nash and Christopher Silber serve as executive producers for CBS Studios. Larry Teng is an executive producer and directed (initial episode only) from a script by Bosack, Nash and Silber. NCIS: Hawaii stars Vanessa Lachey as Special Agent in Charge Jane Tennant, Yasmine Al-Bustami as Lucy, Jason Antoon as Ernie, and Noah Mills as Jesse.

Comedies

Ghosts - A single-camera comedy about Samantha (Rose McIver) and Jay (Utkarsh Ambudkar), a cheerful freelance journalist and up-and-coming chef from the city, respectively, who throw both caution and money to the wind when they decide to convert a huge rundown country estate they inherited into a bed & breakfast—only to find it’s inhabited by the many spirits of deceased residents who now call it home. The departed souls are a close-knit, eclectic group that includes a saucy Prohibition-era lounge singer, a pompous 1700’s Militiaman, a ‘60s hippie fond of hallucinogens, an overly upbeat ‘80s scout troop leader, a cod-obsessed Viking explorer from 1009, a slick ‘90s finance bro, a sarcastic and witty Native from the 1500s, and a society woman and wife of an 1800’s robber baron who is Samantha’s ancestor, to name a few. If the spirits were anxious about the commotion a renovation and B&B will create in their home, it’s nothing compared to when they realize Samantha is the first live person who can see and hear them. Based on the BBC Studios distributed format. Ghosts stars Rose McIver as Samantha, Utkarsh Ambudkar as Jay, Danielle Pinnock as Alberta, Brandon Scott Jones as Isaac, Richie Moriarty as Pete, Asher Grodman as Trevor, Sheila Carrasco as Flower, Román Zaragoza as Sasappis, Devan Chandler Long as Thorfinn, and Rebecca Wisocky as Hetty.

Smallwood based on professional bowler Tom Smallwood’s life, stars Pete Holmes as Tom, a stoic Midwest husband and dad who gets laid off from a car assembly line and makes the extraordinary decision to provide for his family by following his dream of becoming a professional bowler. As a skilled player, Tom knows that in bowling you get two chances; no matter what you do with the first ball, you get another one to make it right—the ultimate second chance. Keeping that in mind, Tom begins his new career with the loving okay from his wife, Jen (Katie Lowes), and the unfaltering support of Archie (Chi McBride), his mentor and the proud owner of Archie’s Lanes: Home of the Curly Fry. It remains to be seen if Tom will strike it big on the Pro Bowler circuit, but right now, the pins are set, he’s taking his second shot and it’s 300 or bust! Mark Gross, David Hollander and Brian D’Arcy James serve as executive producers for CBS Studios. Mark Cendrowski directed the pilot from a script by Gross. Smallwood stars Pete Holmes as Tom, Chi McBride as Archie, and Katie Lowes as Jen.

Unscripted

The Activist is a competition series featuring six inspiring activists teamed with three high-profile public figures working together to bring meaningful change to one of three vitally important world causes: health, education and environment. Activists go head-to-head in challenges to promote their causes, with their success measured via online engagement, social metrics and hosts' input. The three teams have one ultimate goal: to create impactful movements that amplify their message, drive action, and advance them to the G20 Summit in Rome, Italy. There, they will meet with world leaders in the hope of securing funding and awareness for their causes. The team that receives the largest commitment is celebrated as the overall winner at the finale, which will also feature musical performances by some of the world's most passionate artists.

Come Dance with Me - In Come Dance with me, exceptionally talented young dancers from across the country invite one inspirational, untrained family member or other adult who has supported their dance dreams, to become their dance partner for a chance to strut their stuff for a grand prize. The series is hosted by Philip Lawrence with judges Jenna Dewan, Tricia Miranda and Dexter Mayfield. Each week, these aspiring kids will share their love of dance with their mother, father, grandparent or other hero on an uplifting and emotional journey to learn and perform challenging routines, with the assistance of professional choreographers, in a competition with other duos. Come Dance with Me is produced by CBS Studios and 3 Ball Productions. LL COOL J, Chris O’Donnell, Reinout Oerlemans, Ross Weintraub and Jeff Altrock, Jeff Thacker, Nick Florez and RJ Durell are executive producers.