One day after picking up “The Big Bang Theory” for THREE additional years, CBS decided that the Chuck Lorre comedy and the previously renewed “Survivor” needed some company, so the network announced a whopping 18 series renewals for the 2014-2015 season.
CBS now has at least 17 hours of primetime programming already in place for next season. The 18 renewals announced on Thursday (March 13) include nine dramas, five comedies, two reality shows and two news programs.
“The best way to launch new shows in the fall and throughout the season is to surround them with a strong and stable lineup of successful series,” blurbs Nina Tassler, Chairman of CBS Entertainment. “The shows we”re picking up today cut across every night of the week and feature genre leaders, time-period winners and the most-watched shows on broadcast television.”
Let's start with the nine dramas renewals, none of which constitutes even a minor surprise.
“NCIS” and “NCIS: Los Angeles” are the two most-watched dramas on TV and they'll both be back next year. For the second straight year, CBS will have a potential “NCIS” spinoff, with a New Orleans-based crew getting an introduction this spring, though “NCIS: Red” was snubbed last year.
Also earning drama renewals are regular time period champs “Person of Interest,” “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation,” “Hawaii Five-0” and “Blue Bloods.” “Criminal Minds” and DVR favorite “Elementary” were also sure-things to be back and, indeed, they've been renewed. Based solely on ratings, struggling Sunday drama “The Good Wife” might have been on the bubble, but the Emmy-winning drama is easily CBS' most acclaimed series and it will also return.
On the comedy side, there was probably a little bit more ambiguity, though none of today's renewals were huge shockers. “The Millers” has been hugely boosted by “The Big Bang Theory” and it will return, along with “2 Broke Girls,” which already has a syndication deal, “Mike & Molly” and “Mom,” which has the weight of Chuck Lorre, as well as some critical supporters. “Two and a Half Men” has gotten a major bump thanks to its recent time period swap and it will also return.
Conspicuously unrenewed, at least for now, is the Robin Williams comedy “The Crazy Ones,” which hasn't exactly tanked since moving to 9:30 and will spend the next few weeks on the bubble.
Emmy-winning favorite “The Amazing Race” and Friday success “Undercover Boss” were both no-brainer renewals, as were “60 Minutes” and “48 Hours.”
As you already know, CBS is TV's most watched network for the 11th time in 12 years, averaging 10.84 million viewers in primetime.
Stay tuned for more updates as the spring progresses.
Yay? Boo?