THE FATE OF TV: CBS

What I think, feel and hope will happen to the TV shows of each network this season

Throughout the years CBS has been the most consistent network regarding the ratings. It is not usually the network with the most hip and original series, but they have a solid and loyal audience; even when their shows (at least the dramas) feel like 10 different versions of the same thing. CBS is also the network with the most shows I DON’T watch. That’s not to say that they are bad shows necessarily, but my heart lies with serialized dramas and CBS has a preference for procedurals. The only CBS show I like a lot is Person of Interest and I only started watching it because of the cast (Jim Caviezel, Taraji P. Henson and Michael Emmerson) and JJ Abrams’s involvement.

Regardless of my personal preferences, most networks (and most show-runners) would kill for CBS’s ratings and consistency. Here is the scorecard for the network so far (I left out shows that were already cancelled):

	Comedies	Dramas
Chopping block		CSI: NY (cancelled) Vegas (cancelled)
Bubble	Rules of Engagement	The Good Wife (renew.) Golden Boy (cancelled) The Mentalist (renewed)
Reasonably Safe	Mike & Molly (renewed) 2 Broke Girls(renewed)	Blue Bloods (renewed) Hawaii Five-0(renewed) CSI (renewed) Elementary (renewed) Criminal Minds (renewed) NCIS: LA (renewed) Person of Interest (renewed)
Already renewed	HIMYM The Big Bang Theory	NCIS
?	Two & Half Men (renewed)

What my logic says

Let’s start with the comedies. I really don’t know what is going on with Two & Half Men anymore. I’ve heard everything, from Charlie Sheen wanting to return to Miley Cyrus replacing the half-man Angus T. Jones. After a while I lost interest in keeping up with the news so I have no idea if the show is ending or not. If it was up to ratings it would be renewed, but it could [and it should] end after this season. Another endangered comedy is Rules of Engagement. They may decide to cancel it, regardless of what happens with Men. For the dramas, Vegas will be gone after this season. I never got a chance to watch it. I was actually excited for Vegas, but then the ratings came and I knew it was going to get cancelled. I am actually surprised it is still on the air. The second drama headed for cancellation is CSI: NY. On top of those two there is a chance they want to cancel a third drama. It could be The Mentalist or The Good Wife, but most likely it will be the newest: Golden Boy. The recently premiered drama had a 1.8 and 1.6 rating for its first and second episode respectively. If we judge it as a TV show in general those were pretty decent ratings, however as a “CBS show” they were not impressive. I haven’t checked out this show yet, but I heard good comments about it, so I might give it a try this week… but I wouldn’t get too attached.

What my gut says

If Two & Half Men goes, there is a chance they may keep Rules of Engagement. Vegas is absolutely going to get cancelled. I think they might be trying to justify keeping CSI:NY on the schedule. I am 50/50 on this one. CSI:NY is underperforming, but it is part of their brand and who is to say the next drama on Fridays will do better? But they are cancelling at least two dramas and maybe three. I don’t agree with this decision but if one more drama goes, my gut also tells me it will be Golden Boy. I don’t think the show will retain the ratings of the first couple of episodes and that is all CBS needs to decide to axe it.

What I hope would happen in an ideal world where I program all 4 networks (an The CW)

Two & Half Men should go, it should have ended years ago… it is just a shadow of what it was and, amazing as it is that it still gets high ratings, it is just detrimental to the image of everyone involved. Even with my undying love for Neil Patrick Harris, I also feel that HIMYM has been on the air too long and wouldn’t mind it ending, but clearly that is not going to happen. I don’t care about Rules of Engagement. I would like to see a new comedy on its time-slot I guess; hopefully something fresh and not offensive. I haven’t even seen Golden Boy, but I wish they would cancel The Good Wife instead (their ratings are similar). The Good Wife was always an under-performing show that stuck around due to critical acclaim. I do commend CBS for keeping at least one show due to favorable critiques and not only ratings, but I think they have been championing The Good Wife for one too many years. Fans may kill me for this, but I never quite got all the adoration for The Good Wife. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t think it is a bad show at all! Good writing, good acting, good overall… but it isn’t Breaking Bad for god’s sake! Let’s not exaggerate with our love for it.


You may also want to read about the fate of other networks

FOX, ABC, NBC, THE CW 

Update 03/11/2013
I just saw the pilot of Golden Boy and I thought for a CBS show it had an interesting new take on the whole 'cop show', but I am not in love with the show either. So, my feelings remain pretty much the same. Between The Good Wife, The Mentalist, and Golden Boy... I guess it all comes down to whether you want to see Julianna Margulies, Simon Baker or Chi McBride on your screen each week. I lean towards Simon Baker and/or Chi McBride... but that is just a matter of preference (and Pushing Daisies obsession)

Update 03/27/2013
The Good Wife, Elementary, Person of Interest, 2 Broke Girls, NCIS: LA, The Mentalist, Mike & Molly, Hawaii Five-0 and Blue Bloods have been renewed. Everything is going as predicted so far. I am guessing they are going to cancel Golden Boy after all.

Update 04/19/2013
Not much new with CBS lately. Just confirmation of what we were expecting. It looks more likely that CSI:NY will be cancelled. The general opinion is that Rules of Engagement will be gone too, but for some reason I believe it will get renewed. This is more a gut feeling than logic.

Update 04/27/2013
Last Wednesday CBS renewed Two and a Half Men. From a business point of view, I guess that decision makes sense. From an art, integrity, brand image point of view I think it is awful. That show has lost its way and keeping it around is just hurtful to TV, but you know... money rules. Ashton Kutcher and John Cryer are set to return, but they will have to look for a new 'half man'. So let the casting speculation begin! The fact that this show was renewed makes me doubt my previous prediction that Rules of Engagement may get picked up. The remaining drams will certainly be gone, except for Criminal Minds. 

Update 05/08/2013 FINAL PREDICTIONS
One week before upfronts! Here are my last predictions, CBS isn't as hart to predict as other networks.

RULES OF ENGAGEMENT --> Cancelled (with a super minor chance of renewal) (Cancelled May 10th)
CSI: NY --> Cancelled (Cancelled May 10th)
GOLDEN BOY --> Cancelled (Cancelled May 10th)
VEGAS--> Cancelled (Cancelled May 10th)
CRIMINAL MINDS --> Renewed (Renewed May 9th)

After upfronts you are welcome to congratulate me or mock me, depending on how my predictions go.