CBS Fall Schedule Hits All-Time Low for Comedies with Franchise-Heavy Lineup
- CBS has unveiled its fall 2026-27 television schedule, marking a significant strategic shift toward procedural dramas and franchise blocks while drastically reducing its commitment to half-hour comedies.
- The network is introducing a lineup featuring only two half-hour comedies, a figure believed to be an all-time low for CBS.
- The new schedule is anchored by four primary franchise blocks.
CBS has unveiled its fall 2026-27 television schedule, marking a significant strategic shift toward procedural dramas and franchise blocks while drastically reducing its commitment to half-hour comedies.
The network is introducing a lineup featuring only two half-hour comedies, a figure believed to be an all-time low for CBS.
Franchise Blocks and Programming Shifts
The new schedule is anchored by four primary franchise blocks. The FBI franchise will occupy Tuesdays, while NCIS will hold Wednesdays. Fridays will be dedicated to the Fire Country block, and Thursdays will feature a pairing from Robert and Michelle King.
Significant changes are coming to the Monday night lineup. The 8 PM hour, previously occupied by the comedy block consisting of the departing The Neighborhood and the canceled DMV, will now be taken over by FBI. This move slides FBI up one hour, followed by CIA at 9 PM, and concluding with Harlan Coben’s Final Twist.
CBS Entertainment President Amy Reisenbach described the strategy as relying on a strong foundation of returning hits who are early in their cycle
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Returning Hits and New Additions
Sunday nights will maintain a consistent structure with 60 Minutes leading into Tracker, and Marshals. These two series have alternated as the most-watched series each week, with Tracker now entering its third year and Marshals completing its freshman run.
The Friday night lineup will remain stable, bringing back the 2025-26 slate consisting of Sheriff Country, Fire Country, and Boston Blue. Reisenbach noted that CBS has maintained its position as the number one network in viewers on Friday nights for the past 16 years.
Wednesday nights will continue to feature the duo of Survivor and The Amazing Race, with the latter returning for one cycle per season.
The network is also introducing several new dramas for the upcoming season, including:
- NCIS: New York
- Cupertino
- Einstein
Benched Series and Cancellations
Several previous fall staples are missing from the new schedule. Ghosts and Matlock have been benched, and NCIS: Origins is also absent from the fall lineup.
The removal of the Monday comedy block follows the departure of The Neighborhood and the cancellation of DMV.
Additional industry reporting indicates that while the vampire comedy Eternally Yours, created by the team behind Ghosts, was ordered to series, it has not yet been assigned a clear-cut spot on the schedule as of April 12, 2026.