NCIS: Everywhere.
Among a number of scheduling shifts this fall, CBS has decided to uproot their most-watched series, “NCIS,” after 18 years in the same slot. Instead of Tuesday at 8pm, the gritty crime procedural will kick off your TV drama week on Monday at 9pm. That’s so CBS can devote its entire Tuesday lineup to their newer FBI franchise, including the newest entry, “FBI: International.”
This pairing of franchises has been a popular development in network TV for a few seasons, most notably on NBC with their “One Chicago” Wednesday and the “Law & Order” offshoots on Thursday.
The new fall schedule just announced include three new dramas (all spinoffs of their established dramas “NCIS,” “CSI,” and “FBI”), and one new comedy, “Ghost” (a remake of a British show). The new “NCIS: Hawaii” will follow old fave NCIS on Mondays at 10pm. After a COVID-19 stoppage, “Survivor” returns to Wednesday night, along with “Tough As Nails,” giving the network a block of reality.
More reality seems to be in the network’s plans, as “S.W.A.T.,” on Fridays at 8pm, will eventually move to Sunday nights, and be replaced on Friday by as unyet announced reality property. After the first four episodes of “SEAL Team,” the military actioneer will be leaving CBS for the Paramount+ network for the rest of its 5th season to make room for NFL doubleheaders.
According to Deadline, “This is the first time in six years that CBS has had more than one hour of reality programming on the fall schedule, and the first time in 12 years the network has had a two-hour unscripted block on.” CBS seems to be balancing its books, offering costly, shot-on-location action dramas alongside cheaper reality concepts.
Another new-ish drama, “Bull,” has been moved to the network’s iffy Thursday 10 p.m. slot, which seems to have less to do with “Bull” and more to do with shoring up the network’s once strong Monday night lineup by adding on the two NCIS shows behind recent well-received sitcoms, “The Neighborhood” and “Bob Hearts Abishola.”
That’s not just your head spinning. CBS has initiated the most fall programming moves of all four major TV networks. CBS Entertainment president Kelly Kahl called the moves, “bold, strategic scheduling moves designed to strengthen nights and maximize flow across the week… We are looking at this as a long-term scheduling move. How do you help a night? You help a night by moving the No. 1 drama there and use that drama to launch another show. Instantly, our Monday night becomes very very strong. Our Tuesday night becomes very strong.”
See the full CBS schedule for fall 2021-2022 below.
MONDAY
8-8:30 PM — The Neighborhood [Watch on Paramount+ or Amazon]
8:30-9 PM — Bob Hearts Abishola [Watch on Paramount+ or Amazon]
9-10 PM — NCIS [Watch on Paramount+ or Amazon]
10-11 PM — NCIS: Hawai’i
TUESDAY
8-9 PM — FBI [Watch on Paramount+ or Amazon]
9-10 PM — FBI: International
10-11 PM — FBI: Most Wanted [Watch on Paramount+ or Amazon]
WEDNESDAY
8-9 PM — Survivor [Watch on Paramount+ or Amazon]
9-10 PM — Tough As Nails [Watch on Paramount+ or Amazon]
10-11 PM — CSI: Vegas
THURSDAY
8-8:30 PM — Young Sheldon [Watch on Paramount+ or Amazon]
8:30-9 PM — United States of Al [Watch on Paramount+ or Amazon]
9-9:30 PM — Ghosts
9:30-10 PM — B Positive [Watch on Paramount+ or Amazon]
10-11 PM — Bull [Watch on Paramount+ or Amazon]
FRIDAY
8-9 PM — S.W.A.T. [Watch on Paramount+ or Amazon]/Unscripted
9-10 PM — Magnum P.I. [Watch on Paramount+ or Amazon]
10-11 PM — Blue Bloods [Watch on Paramount+ or Amazon]
SATURDAY
8-9 PM — Saturday Encores
9-10 PM — Saturday Encores
10-11 PM — 48 Hours [Watch on Paramount+ or Amazon]
SUNDAY
7-8 PM — 60 Minutes [Watch on Paramount+ or Amazon]
8-9 PM — The Equalizer
9-10 PM — NCIS: Los Angeles [Watch on Paramount+ or Amazon]
10-11 PM — SEAL Team [Watch on Paramount+ or Amazon]/S.W.A.T.
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