Why Are Many CBS Shows Facing Major Shakeups? Fall Lineup Changes Explained
The fall 2026 lineup is going to look a little different for CBS after some shows went through surprising changes.
CBS announced its schedule on Wednesday, April 15, with viewers noticing some substantial changes. Ghosts, Matlock and NCIS: Sydney received a shakeup by having their premieres moved to 2027 for midseason. They will join the new show Einstein, which is finally premiering in 2027 as well.
Matlock‘s timeslot will be given to Elsbeth to allow Cupertino to premiere on the same night. NCIS: Sydney, meanwhile, is moving to midseason as NCIS: Origins - which received a shorter episode order - takes over to pair off with NCIS: New York.
The network originally announced a spate of early renewals in January, with only Watson and DMV left in limbo. CBS ultimately renewed 12 dramas for its next season, including all four freshman shows: Marshals, CIA, Sheriff Country and Boston Blue. The network also previously picked up two new shows for 2026-27: Robert and Michelle King's Cupertino and Matthew Gray Gubler‘s Einstein.
In March, Watson and DMV were canceled after Eternally Yours and The Tillbrooks were expected to proceed beyond the pilot stage. The Tillbrooks, however, ultimately didn't receive a series order.
CBS also found success with new additions such as Yellowstone spinoff Marshals, which was picked up for season 2 after its premiere was watched by 20.6 million viewers within seven days. It marked the most-watched network original series premiere without a football lead-in since 2017.
"Marshals delivered a breakout performance, capturing a massive audience across platforms and quickly establishing itself as one of TV's most powerful new series," CBS Entertainment president Amy Reisenbach said in a statement. "The overwhelming viewer response speaks to the strength of the Yellowstone world, the bold, character-driven storytelling from the creative team and the dynamic cast performances led by Luke Grimes."
According to a press release, CBS had several wins with Marshals and Justin Hartley‘s Tracker. Both shows came out as the top two most‑watched during their premiere week. The debut of Luke Grimes‘ spinoff, meanwhile, ranked as CBS' most-streamed episode ever on Paramount+.
Boston Blue and Sheriff Countryalso scored quick season 2 pickups, with Sheriff Country averaging 7.6 million viewers and Blue Bloods bringing in 8 million viewers and winning "every Friday night in total viewers."
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This story was originally published April 16, 2026 at 11:43 AM.