Why Are They Ending?
CBS says it’s about:
- Scheduling constraints
- Ratings and financial performance
- Making room for new shows in the 2025–26 season
These aren’t political cancellations. But it’s not hard to be suspicious in a climate where public trust in institutions is being constantly undermined, especially under the second Trump administration.
I liked all three shows, with some caveats.
FBI is a solid entry for its genre—well-structured and consistent. FBI: Most Wanted brings a different kind of intensity and has always been fun to watch, though it’s felt a bit offbeat. FBI: International is odd in its own way. I enjoyed it but always figured it wouldn’t last—it’s filmed in Europe, after all, and that can feel a little foreign to American audiences. Personally, I liked the foreign setting and even if fiction, to see the FBI internationally.
Both shows being cancelled seemed to have trouble. Both swapped out their leads. From FBI: Most Wanted, I've known of Dylan McDermott, who replaced Julian McMahon, since his days on The Practice (a curiously scheduled show, and I liked that show, but it seemed to act as filler for the network until finally getting its own slot). His tough guy agent character now has always not quite worked for me. FBI: International swapped out Luke Kleintank for Jesse Lee Soffer.
Well, they're all onto other projects now.
What about Dick Wolf who created these? Wolf recently ventured into streaming with On Call, his first scripted series designed specifically for a streaming platform. I watched it, I liked it and was looking forward to season two. But the show premiered on Prime Video on January 9, 2025, and was then canceled after one season in May 2025.
The series aimed to provide a grounded, real-time look at modern policing, emphasizing the challenges faced by officers on patrol. Despite its innovative approach and initial popularity—ranking as the most-watched show on Prime Video in the U.S. shortly after its release—it received mixed reviews from critics.
While On Call marked a significant step for Dick Wolf into the streaming arena, its cancellation suggests that the transition from traditional network television to streaming platforms presents new challenges, even for seasoned producers.
Personally, I don't know what the critics (or studio execs) were thinking. I liked it. Apparently, many did.
What's Replacing Them?
CBS is launching a new show:
CIA starring Tom Ellis. Just CIA? No, there is a wrap up end of this blog.
It focuses on an FBI agent and a CIA operative working together to stop domestic terrorism in New York City.
Why That’s a Problem for Some Viewers (Including Me)
This is part of a broader trend that’s troubling:
Shows I’m OK With:
FBI: Focused on domestic law enforcement, due process, and oversight.
While one could claim problematic itself, SEAL Team (as example), as Military operations abroad, not policing U.S. citizens.
Shows I've Avoided:
SWAT: "Glorifies" militarized police in American cities, blurring the line between law enforcement and military force. Admittedly, I never watched CBS’s S.W.A.T.—just didn’t care for taking Shemar Moore from the thoughtful Criminal Minds and throwing him into a glorified tactical cop show. Turns out it does what I assumed: sells militarized policing as heroism, with action and firepower as the solution. Not the direction I usually look for in crime dramas.
CIA-in-the-U.S. shows: The CIA is meant for foreign operations. Bringing them into domestic narratives normalizes the idea of covert surveillance and black ops inside the U.S.—a dangerous message. Honestly, I like Shawn Ryan (The Shield, The Night Agent), but not so much the work of Aaron Rahsaan Thomas (Friday Night Lights, CSI: NY, though I did like the original "CSI")
The Bigger Issue:
We're being fed dramatizations that shift the public’s perception of acceptable government behavior.
It’s one thing to enjoy good storytelling. It’s another when entertainment quietly justifies the erosion of civil liberties, due process, and jurisdictional boundaries. Take the show 24—I liked it at the time, but looking back, it was massively problematic. I doubt it holds up well today.
📺 New CBS Shows for Fall 2025
1. Boston Blue
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Premise: A spinoff of Blue Bloods, this series follows NYPD detective Danny Reagan (Donnie Wahlberg) as he relocates to Boston, partnering with Detective Lena Silver (Sonequa Martin-Green) to tackle crime in a new city.
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Airing: Fridays at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT.
2. Sheriff Country
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Premise: A spinoff of Fire Country, starring Morena Baccarin as a sheriff navigating challenges in a rural community.
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Airing: Fridays at 8:00 p.m. ET/PT.
3. The Road
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Premise: A country music competition series from Blake Shelton and Taylor Sheridan, featuring aspiring artists touring with a major superstar.
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Airing: Sundays at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT.
4. DMV
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Premise: A workplace comedy set in a Department of Motor Vehicles office, exploring the humorous dynamics among employees and customers.
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Airing: Mondays at 8:30 p.m. ET/PT. Wikipedia
🔄 Returning CBS Favorites
Alongside these new series, CBS is bringing back several popular shows:
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FBI (Season 8)
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NCIS (Season 23)
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NCIS: Origins (Season 2)
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NCIS: Sydney (Season 3)
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Matlock (Season 2)
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Elsbeth (Season 3)
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Ghosts (Season 5)
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Fire Country (Season 4)
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The Amazing Race (Season 38)
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Survivor (Season 49)
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Tracker (Season 3)
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Watson (Season 2)
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The Neighborhood (Final Season)
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Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage (Season 2)
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Hollywood Squares (Season 2)
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48 Hours (Season 37)
Compiled with aid of ChatGPT
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