CBS UNVEILS 2020-2021 PRIMETIME LINEUP; 3 NEW SERIES JOIN 23 RETURNING SHOWS
New Comedy B POSITIVE Airs Thursday at 8:30 PM, Out of YOUNG SHELDON and New Drama THE EQUALIZER Follows 60 MINUTES on Sunday at 8:00 PM
CLARICE to Premiere Mid-Season
Network’s Fall Schedule Features Perennial Strength and Stability with Big New Show Launches on Thursday and Sunday
CBS Lineup Includes the Return of #1 Series NCIS, #1 Comedy YOUNG SHELDON, #1 New Comedy BOB (HEARTS) ABISHOLA, #1 New Series FBI: MOST WANTED and #1 News Program 60 MINUTES
Five Freshman Series Return for a Second Season
CBS today unveiled its new 2020-2021 primetime programming lineup featuring one new comedy, two new dramas and 23 returning series. Additional new series will be announced at a later date. For 2019-2020, the Network finished #1 for the 12th straight season, winning 17 of the past 18 seasons.
The two new shows for fall include the comedy B POSITIVE, from award-winning executive producer, writer and creator Chuck Lorre and Marco Pennette, starring Emmy Award nominee Thomas Middleditch and Tony Award winner Annaleigh Ashford, and the drama THE EQUALIZER, starring Academy Award nominee and multi-hyphenate Queen Latifah.
The shows debuting later in the season include the new drama CLARICE from acclaimed executive producers Alex Kurtzman and Jenny Lumet, starring Rebecca Breeds in the title role, and returning favorites S.W.A.T. and UNDERCOVER BOSS.
In addition, CBS will broadcast SUPER BOWL LV on Feb. 7, 2021.
“We’re excited to come off another season as America’s Most Watched Network and, despite the obvious challenges around us, put together another winning lineup,” said Kelly Kahl, President, CBS Entertainment. “Next season, we’ll have five breakout returning freshman series and three compelling new shows placed into a schedule with the incredible stability for which CBS is so well known. Couple that with our broadcast of SUPER BOWL LV next February, and CBS is simply loaded with a lineup that will clearly appeal to both our advertising partners and our loyal viewers.”
CBS’ new fall schedule features perennial strength and stability, plus big new show additions on Thursday and Sunday.
MONDAYS – Monday’s lineup returns intact. The one-hour comedy block of THE NEIGHBORHOOD followed by #1 new comedy BOB (HEARTS) ABISHOLA opens the night from 8:00-9:00 PM, where both shows rank among the top comedies on television, with larger audiences than every comedy on all other networks. At 9:00 PM, one of the top-rated freshman dramas on television ALL RISE returns starring Simone Missick, followed by BULL, Monday’s #1 entertainment program, at 10:00 PM, averaging over 10.5 million viewers.
TUESDAYS – Tuesday’s dominant lineup remains intact, with the three returning dramas delivering +13 million viewers for the night. NCIS, the #1 series on television that averages over 15.33 million viewers, opens the night at 8:00 PM when it returns for its 18th season. At 9:00 PM, FBI, which averages 12.55 million viewers, returns for its third season, followed by #1 new series FBI: MOST WANTED with 10.2 million viewers at 10:00 PM.
WEDNESDAYS – Wednesday’s solid schedule adds more reality and adventure. SURVIVOR hosted by Jeff Probst, again starts off the night at 8:00 PM, where it was watched this season by nearly 10 million viewers and is CBS’ #1 broadcast in key demos. At 9:00 PM, a fall edition of the multiple Emmy Award-winning THE AMAZING RACE hosted by Phil Keoghan begins another trek around the world. Then at 10:00 PM, the fourth season of military drama SEAL TEAM, starring David Boreanaz, returns to close out the night.
THURSDAYS – Thursday’s schedule adds one new notable comedy. YOUNG SHELDON, television’s #1 comedy, again anchors the night and is the lead-in for the new comedy B POSITIVE at 8:30 PM. Next, at 9:00 PM is television’s #2 comedy MOM, starring Anna Faris and Emmy and Academy Award winner Allison Janney, followed by the #2 new comedy, THE UNICORN, starring Walton Goggins at 9:30 PM. At 10:00 PM, award-winning producers Michelle and Robert King continue to examine the origins of evil in the critically acclaimed drama EVIL.
FRIDAYS – CBS’ most dominant night, where the Network is beating all others this season by +3.5 million viewers, returns intact. MACGYVER opens the night at 8:00 PM, leading into MAGNUM P.I. at 9:00 PM. Television’s #3 drama BLUE BLOODS returns at 10:00 PM, to cap one of television’s strongest nights.
SATURDAYS – CBS’ Saturday night lineup features CRIMETIME SATURDAY, encore broadcasts of the Network’s popular dramas at 8:00 PM and 9:00 PM, followed by the law and justice program 48 HOURS, Saturday’s #1 non-sports primetime series, at 10:00 PM.
SUNDAYS – CBS’ winning night adds a new high-profile drama. 60 MINUTES, television’s acclaimed #1 news program, returns for its 53rd season at 7:00 PM, providing a dominant lead-in for the new drama THE EQUALIZER, a reimagining of the classic series, at 8:00 PM. Next, the two most-watched entertainment programs on Sunday air back to back: NCIS: LOS ANGELES at 9:00 PM, followed by NCIS: NEW ORLEANS at 10:00 PM.
THE NEW FALL COMEDY:
B POSITIVE (Thursday, 8:30-9:00 PM)
B POSITIVE is from award-winning executive producer, writer and creator Chuck Lorre and Marco Pennette, and stars Emmy Award nominee Thomas Middleditch (“Silicon Valley”) and Tony Award winner Annaleigh Ashford (“Masters of Sex”). The comedy revolves around Drew (Middleditch), a therapist and newly divorced dad who is faced with finding a kidney donor when he runs into Gina (Ashford), a rough-around-the-edges woman from his past who volunteers her own. Together, they form an unlikely and life-affirming friendship as they begin a journey that will forever impact both of their lives. Chuck Lorre and Marco Pennette are executive producers for Warner Bros. Television and Chuck Lorre Productions, Inc. James Burrows directed the pilot from a script by Pennette.
B POSITIVE stars Thomas Middleditch as Drew, Annaleigh Ashford as Gina, Kether Donohue as Leanne, Sara Rue as Julia and Kamryn Kunody as Maddie.
THE NEW FALL DRAMA:
THE EQUALIZER (Sunday, 8:00-9:00 PM)
THE EQUALIZER is a reimagining of the classic series starring Academy Award nominee and multi-hyphenate Queen Latifah (“Chicago,” “Bessie”) as Robyn McCall, an enigmatic woman with a mysterious background who uses her extensive skills to help those with nowhere else to turn. McCall presents to most as an average single mom who is quietly raising her teenage daughter. But to a trusted few, she is The Equalizer – an anonymous guardian angel and defender of the downtrodden, who’s also dogged in her pursuit of personal redemption. Andrew Marlowe, Terri Miller, Dana Owens (Queen Latifah), John Davis, John Fox, Debra Martin Chase, Richard Lindheim (co-creator of the original “Equalizer” TV series that ran on CBS for four seasons), Shakim Compere and Liz Friedlander (pilot only) are executive producers for Universal Television, a division of NBCUniversal Content Studios, in association with CBS Television Studios. Friedlander will direct the pilot episode from a script by Marlowe and Miller.
THE EQUALIZER stars Queen Latifah as Robyn McCall, Chris Noth as William Bishop, Lorraine Toussaint as Viola “Aunt Vi” Lascombe, Tory Kittles as Marcus Dante, Liza Lapira as Melody Zhao and Laya DeLeon Hayes as Delilah.
NEW DRAMA FOR MID-SEASON:
CLARICE, from acclaimed executive producers Alex Kurtzman and Jenny Lumet, and starring Rebecca Breeds (“Pretty Little Liars”) in the title role, is a deep dive into the untold personal story of FBI Agent Clarice Starling as she returns to the field in 1993, six months after the events of “The Silence of the Lambs.” Brilliant and vulnerable, Clarice’s bravery gives her an inner light that draws monsters and madmen to her. However, her complex psychological makeup that comes from a challenging childhood empowers her to begin to find her voice while working in a man’s world, as well as escape the family secrets that have haunted her throughout her life. Alex Kurtzman, Jenny Lumet, Elizabeth J.B. Klaviter and Heather Kadin are executive producers for MGM Television and CBS Television Studios in association with Secret Hideout. Aaron Baiers is a co-executive producer. Maja Vrvilo will direct the pilot episode from a script by Lumet and Kurtzman.
CLARICE stars Rebecca Breeds as Clarice Starling, Kal Penn as Emin Grigoriyan, Nick Sandow as Murray Clarke, Lucca de Oliveira as Tomas Esquivel, Michael Cudlitz as Paul Krendler and Devyn A. Tyler as Ardelia Mapp.
CBS TELEVISION NETWORK 2020-2021 PRIMETIME SCHEDULE
(N=New, NTP=New Time Period)
All Times ET/PT
MONDAY
8:00-8:30 PM THE NEIGHBORHOOD
8:30-9:00 PM BOB (HEARTS) ABISHOLA
9:00-10:00 PM ALL RISE
10:00-11:00 PM BULL
TUESDAY
8:00-9:00 PM NCIS
9:00-10:00 PM FBI
10:00-11:00 PM FBI: MOST WANTED
WEDNESDAY
8:00-9:00 PM SURVIVOR
9:00-10:00 PM THE AMAZING RACE (NTP)
10:00-11:00 PM SEAL TEAM (NTP)
THURSDAY
8:00-8:30 PM YOUNG SHELDON
8:30-9:00 PM B POSITIVE (N)
9:00-9:30 PM MOM
9:30-10:00 PM THE UNICORN (NTP)
10:00-11:00 PM EVIL
FRIDAY
8:00-9:00 PM MACGYVER
9:00-10:00 PM MAGNUM P.I.
10:00-11:00 PM BLUE BLOODS
SATURDAY
8:00-9:00 PM CRIMETIME SATURDAY
9:00-10:00 PM CRIMETIME SATURDAY
10:00-11:00 PM 48 HOURS
SUNDAY
7:00-8:00 PM 60 MINUTES
8:00-9:00 PM THE EQUALIZER (N)
9:00-10:00 PM NCIS: LOS ANGELES
10:00-11:00 PM NCIS: NEW ORLEANS
What shows are ALREADY cancelled this season? Check the official cancelled shows 2021/2022 list.
What shows are ALREADY renewed for next season? Check the TV shows renewed 2022-2023 list.
About The Equalizer TV Show
CBS RENEWS SUNDAY'S #1 SCRIPTED SERIES "THE EQUALIZER," STARRING QUEEN LATIFAH, FOR TWO MORE SEASONS
CBS announced today that it has renewed the hit drama THE EQUALIZER, starring Queen Latifah, for two additional years, beginning with the 2022-2023 broadcast season. THE EQUALIZER is Sunday's #1 scripted series. The series originally premiered Feb. 7, 2021, following the Super Bowl. Additional renewals will be announced in the coming weeks.
"THE EQUALIZER continues to pack a powerful punch on Sunday nights, and we're thrilled to have it back for two more seasons," said Thom Sherman, senior executive vice president of programming at CBS Entertainment. "The success of THE EQUALIZER is due to the sum of its parts - an outstanding cast led by the superb Queen Latifah, plus the exceptional creative team that has continued to evolve their storytelling with a compelling mix of everyday justice, family dynamics and real-world issues that connect and resonate with audiences."
THE EQUALIZER (8:00-9:00 PM, ET/PT) is Sunday's #1 scripted series, averaging 9.46 million viewers. Season to date, the show has amassed 1.2 billion potential social media impressions. This renewal brings THE EQUALIZER through its fourth season.
Queen Latifah, Lorraine Toussaint, Tory Kittles, Adam Goldberg, Liza Lapira and Laya DeLeon Hayes star. Andrew Marlowe, Terri Edda Miller, Dana Owens (Queen Latifah), John Davis, John Fox, Debra Martin Chase, Richard Lindheim (co-creator of the original "Equalizer" TV series that ran on CBS for four seasons), Shakim Compere and Joseph C. Wilson are executive producers for Universal Television, a division of Universal Studio Group, in association with CBS Studios. As previously announced, executive producers Joseph C. Wilson and Adam Glass will be the co-showrunners next season.
THE EQUALIZER joins the previously announced renewals of the CBS original series THE AMAZING RACE, BLUE BLOODS, BOB โฅ ABISHOLA, CSI: VEGAS, GHOSTS, NCIS, NCIS: HAWAI'I, NCIS: LOS ANGELES, THE NEIGHBORHOOD, SECRET CELEBRITY RENOVATION, SURVIVOR, S.W.A.T., TOUGH AS NAILS and YOUNG SHELDON.
Keep track of the cancel/renew status of all your favorite TV shows. Discover and bookmark our cancelled shows 2021 list and renewed shows 2021-2022 database.
Wondering how your other CBS shows are doing? Check out the CBS 2021 TV scorecard page, where you can find the cancel/renew status of all CBS TV shows!
How do you feel about this latest The Equalizer news? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below and don’t forget to stay tuned for all the renew/cancel 2021-2022 and beyond news!
J says
ROFL. The Equalizer goes WOKE. You can’t get anymore woke than this, or perhaps you can. I with the best for QL, but perhaps they should move this show to the lifetime channel.