CBS Schedule Shake-Up Ousts 'Matlock,' 'Ghosts,' and more
The CBS Fall 2026-2027 lineup has been unveiled — and it's missing several of the network's biggest names.
The lineup (per Deadline) shows four FBI on Mondays, NCIS on Tuesdays, Elspeth on Thursdays, and Fire Country on Fridays in the primetime slot. Pushed off the spot are CBS heavy-hitters Matlock, starring Kathy Bates, as well as the comedy series Ghosts, an American remake of the BBC show of the same name.
The two titles have been fall mainstays since their launches in 2024 and 2021, respectively. However, both shows are set to return midseason — to the disappointment of much of its viewership, most likely.
The absence of Ghosts in particular has raised a common complaint about CBS over the last year — a dwindling number of comedies on the network. Workplace sitcom DMV was cancelled a few weeks ago, along with The Neighborhood, which will air a finale on May 11. However, the network has claimed this is not a permanent evolution for CBS.
“We feel like CBS will continue to have a lot of laughs on our schedule,” CBS Entertainment President Amy Reisenbach stated during the presentation of the network's fall schedule. Moreover, she stated new comedy projects will debut in the near future. “We’re continuing to develop comedies as well.”
The gender-swapped remake of Matlock, which averages 17 million multiplatform viewers on linear and streaming (per Paramount Press), does not currently have an episode order confirmed for Season 3, which was announced back in January. This often hints at trouble for TV shows, especially when episode orders get significantly cut as the seasons progress. However, Matlock fans should take comfort in the fact that the Kathy Bates-led series was the #1 new broadcast series and #2 overall series across the 2024-2025 season, in addition to a 100% Rotten Tomatoes score.