CBS has announced its 2009-10 schedule. With CBS doing relatively better than the competition in 2008-9, it’s not surprising that there was effectively no fundamental change in the schedule. Although even the minor juggling of a few veteran series have some commenters in the announcement post twisted in knots.
Compared to 2008 CBS has the same number of new shows, a half-hour more new show time, and no changes at all to its unscripted shows.
Here is a look at CBS’s Fall 2009 Schedule vs. its Fall 2008 Schedule by the Numbers.
New Shows
2009 (5 shows, 4.5 hours): Accidentally On Purpose (1/2 hour), NCIS: Los Angeles (1 hour), The Good Wife (1 hour), Medium (1 hour), Three Rivers (1 hour).
2008 (5 shows, 4 hours): Worst Week (1/2 hour), The Mentalist (1 hour), Gary Unmarried (1/2 hour), Eleventh Hour (1 hour), The Ex-List (1 hour).
Unscripted Shows
2009 (4 hours): Survivor (1 hour), 48 Hours Mystery (1 hour), 60 Minutes (1 hour), The Amazing Race (1 hour).
2008 (4 hours): Survivor (1 hour), 48 Hours Mystery (1 hour), 60 Minutes (1 hour), The Amazing Race (1 hour).
My Ratings Forecast
With a largely status quo schedule, CBS looks to be slightly positive vs. 2008-9. (Taking into account the general drift downward in all broadcast TV audiences). Monday, Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday look to perform on par with 2008-9. Tuesday is likely a net negative (unlikely that The Mentalist’s success will be duplicated, and Without A Trace didn’t do badly). Thursday and Friday both look to be net positives.
For information on other broadcast TV Fall 2009 schedules click here.
| Day/time | 2008 | 2009 |
| Monday | ||
| 8-8:30p | THE BIG BANG THEORY | HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER |
| 8:30-9p | HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER | ACCIDENTALLY ON PURPOSE |
| 9-9:30p | TWO AND A HALF MEN | TWO AND A HALF MEN |
| 9:30-10p | WORST WEEK | THE BIG BANG THEORY |
| 10-11p | CSI: MIAMI | CSI: MIAMI |
| Tuesday | ||
| 8-9p | NCIS | NCIS |
| 9-10p | THE MENTALIST | NCIS: LOS ANGELES |
| 10-11p | WITHOUT A TRACE | THE GOOD WIFE |
| Wednesday | ||
| 8-8:30p | NEW ADVENTURES OF OLD CHRISTINE | NEW ADVENTURES OF OLD CHRISTINE |
| 8:30-9p | GARY UNMARRIED | GARY UNMARRIED |
| 9-10p | CRIMINAL MINDS | CRIMINAL MINDS |
| 10-11p | CSI:NY | CSI:NY |
| Thursday | ||
| 8-9p | SURVIVOR | SURVIVOR |
| 9-10p | CSI | CSI |
| 10-11p | 11TH HOUR | THE MENTALIST |
| Friday | ||
| 8-9p | GHOST WHISPERER | GHOST WHISPERER |
| 9-10p | THE EX-LIST | MEDIUM |
| 10-11p | NUMB3RS | NUMB3RS |
| Saturday | ||
| 8-9p | CRIMETIME SATURDAY RERUNS | CRIMETIME SATURDAY RERUNS |
| 9-10p | CRIMETIME SATURDAY RERUNS | CRIMETIME SATURDAY RERUNS |
| 10-11p | 48 Hours Mystery | 48 HOURS MYSTERY |
| Sunday | ||
| 7-8p | 60 MINUTES | 60 MINUTES |
| 8-9p | THE AMAZING RACE | THE AMAZING RACE |
| 9-10p | THE UNIT | THREE RIVERS |
| 10-11p | COLD CASE | COLD CASE |
Shows in BOLD are/were new, shows in italics are unscripted, 2008 shows in strikethrough did not return.
The shows scheduled to premiere in mid-season or later are: Miami Trauma, The Bridge, Rules of Engagement, Undercover Boss, Arranged Marriage.
It’s not worth the time to compare mid-season schedules. Changes are almost certain between now and January.
Have I mentioned how much I despise CBS?
Oh I have all right then.
Status Quo, nothing interesting, why do people watch this network?
I agree John.
I’ve never watched this network. Ever.
They’ve got some good comedies, and their reality shows are still the best-quality ones I’ve seen.
At least that’s why I watch CBS.
CBS proves once more why they are the old people network.
How I Met Your Mother is okay, and I’ll watch the Amazing Race and even Survivor, but that’s about it. I am so damn sick of procedurals it’s not even funny.
Wow, what a great Tuesday of choices…
ABC:
8PM Dancing With The Stars
9PM Dancing With The Stars
NBC:
8PM Biggest Loser
9PM Biggest Loser
CBS:
8PM NCIS
9PM NCIS 2
FOX:
So You Think You Can Dance
So You Think You Can Dance
Robert, Bill, Julia, Nick C, if any of you can find out anything about “Back,” it would be much appreciated. Was the pilot filmed, tested, and scrapped? Is it still on the docket for any possible use, anywhere?
I’m not just a Skeet fangirl/Jericho nut here. I really liked the idea of John C. McGinley in a dramatic role, and I figured the post-ER Sherry Stringfeld would bring some drama power too. I seriously wonder if the pilot’s been filmed yet, and if it’s a confirmed “no pickup” or still possibility.
Thanks much!
LOL @Andrea
Good catch Andrea. Although that should give us numbers types a lot of data on HUT between 8 & 9.
I like CBS and its procedurals. In fact those are all I watch on CBS although I am not a fan of the spin-offs, e.g CSI Everywhere Else. Not holding out much hope for the second NCIS either. Criminal Minds is my favourite.
Tuesdays do look like a good time to go out.
WHY WOULD YOU CANCEL THE UNIT? Big mistake!!!!!!
I think Sundays will go down.
Three Rivers doesn’t sound very good and cbs has had a hard time with medical shows.
vsaint, discounting the general drift downwards for broadcast audiences, for CBS Sunday ratings to be about equal only requires that Three Rivers match The Unit’s ratings. That’s not a big hurdle.
Tuesdays may actually be on par with last year. Of course it depends on how the spinoff is received, but I would guess it will be compatible and should at least hold NCIS’s audience. The Good Wife would only have to do a little bit better retention-wise to keep 09-10 even with 08-09.
your right, matching The Unit shouldn’t be too hard.
In the fall Three Rivers would go against Desperatve Housewives, Sunday Night Football and Fox’s comdedies.
i don’t see how they gain any ground, so either Three Rivers matches the Unit or it goes down.
The Unit aired at 10, not 9 this year, Bill.
I like NCIS. Don’t know yet about the spin-off.
I like The Unit – silly decision.
I used to like all 3 CSI shows, but have stopped watching the original one. The spinoffs are much better.
CBS actually has the best shows of the 4 big networks. NBC has L&O and nothing else. Fox has American Idol, Lie to Me and Bones. ABC has Brothers and Sisters. I’ve given up on Lost.
The non-network stations seem to be gaining ground – Army Wives/Lifetime, The Closer/TNT, Burn Notice/USA and OF COURSE the SYIFI channel with things like Eureka and the upcoming Stargate Universe.
NFL starts SOON! Now that’s TV!
I only watch Survivor and the Amazing Race in CBS because those are not procedurals LOL
at Andrea, Dancing with the Stars starts at 9- Shark Tank is at 8
For the most part, CBS (the C.S.I.-Broadcasting System as I call it) has always been the most crafty network when it comes to scheduling over the years. Smart move moving the Mentalist to Thursday to sure up the night just when it appears CSI might be on the verge of waning, especially with another NCIS waiting in the wings to take its place on Tuesday. Sundays not so sure but Fridays should definitely be a lock now with the addition of Medium. But something tells me (call it my little voice) CBS is getting a little too cocky playing it so close to the vest this year. It seems like all their reliable hits are at the vulnerable stage were they could grow tired all at once. When NBC had all the big hits, they played that same game then as the fortunes of Friends, Fraiser, ER, etc. fell so did the network until they found themselves left with nothing. They better cross their fingers one of these new programs explodes out of the gate like the Mentalist and they are not just coattail shows (like NCIS 2 might be) or CBS could be find themselves in a very similar position.
My predictions: NCIS Los Angeles will easily win its time slot in total viewers, and could eek out a victory in 18-49. I don’t know about its compatability with ” The Good Wife”. As for Accidently on Purpose it should do well in its cushy time slot, and Big Bang Theory should retain Two and A Half Men’s audience better the Worst Week or Rules of Engagement. Three Rivers has some potential on Sundays, especially with Desperate Housewives declining. Cold Case will likely best Brothers and Sisters in total viewers.
Moving the Mentalist to Thursdays could allow it to end up as Thursdays highest rated show in total viewers. It should also help CBS have a chance to win the night in 18-49 even if Flash Forward does well on ABC. Medium will probably do better on Fridays after Ghost Whisper than Flashpoint, and should win its timeslot in viewers and 18 to 49. Overall CBS looks good going into next season.
What happened to Flashpoint????? I liked that show
No future has been officially announced for Flashpoint, but rumor has it that it may be a future summer show.
What happened to Without A Trace????
Steven – Without a Trace has been officially cancelled after 7 seasons.
Bill – I’m pretty sure Flashpoint has been renewed for midseason. http://www.thefutoncritic.com/news.aspx?id=8122 CTV has already renewed it, and it des moderately well for CBS, so its likely to turn up somewhere on next years schedule. I expect NCIS: LA to get a full season, Three Rivers to do well, with additional episodes, and The Good Wife to tank.
Andrea – It seems Tuesdays will have a lot of consistency. But if you don’t like reality shows or NCIS, then it may not be the best night. Also don’t forget
CW
8:00 90210
9:00 Melrose Place
Personally I’m waiting for Scrubs and Better off Ted in December.
For 2008 CBS Sunday you have 9 – 10 P.M. The Unit
and 10 – 11 P.M. Cold Case
I believe that these are reversed.. I always set my machine to capture The Unit
at or near 10 PM (Serious time shifts during NFL season) and it was always followed by local news.