Heading into the annual network upfronts, CBS renews six dramas for additional seasons, including Hawaii Five-O, Macgyver, Bull, and more. It’s May, which means the 2018-2019 TV season is coming to an end, and all the big broadcast networks, cable stations, and streaming services will soon be unveiling their plans for the coming season. CBS’ upfront presentation is next week, but they’re already getting a head start on announcing which of their programs will be returning and which will be getting the axe.
CBS has become known in recent years for generally cancelling the least amount of shows year to year, at least when it comes to the big four networks. Smaller fish The CW has also taken to rolling over most of its line-up year to year. Based on CBS’ announcements so far, it again looks like a good 80 percent of its scripted roster will return for the 2019-2020 TV season. Recently, CBS added six veteran dramas to its list of renewals.
Per Variety, the first of those six returning dramas is Hawaii Five-0, a reboot of the classic 1970s series. Hawaii Five-0 will be coming back for season 10, getting it ever closer to its progenitor’s 12-season length. Another reboot on its way back for more is Macgyver, a modern take on the 1980s action-adventure starring Richard Dean Anderson. With Lucas Till now in the title role, Macgyver will return for season 4. Also returning for season 4 is Bull, starring NCIS alum Michael Weatherly. Bull’s renewal comes despite recent controversy surrounding Weatherly’s on-set treatment of former co-star Eliza Dushku.
Following Hawaii Five-0, Macgyver, and Bull on this list of newly renewed CBS dramas is Madam Secretary, starring Tea Leoni as U.S. Secretary of State Elizabeth McCord. Madam Secretary is returning for season 6, and ratings-wise, its renewal is a bit surprising. Madam Secretary is actually one of the lowest-rated scripted series on CBS right now, but then again, CBS owns and produces the show, and another season just makes its syndication package more attractive. Also, to be fair, Bull and Macgyver’s ratings really aren’t much higher. Rounding out the six renewed dramas are Seal Team - starring David Boreanaz - and SWAT - starring Shemar Moore - both heading into season 3.
Elsewhere on the CBS drama front, long-running hit NCIS and its two spinoffs - NCIS: Los Angeles and NCIS: New Orleans - were renewed in April, as was Blue Bloods, while FBI, God Friended Me, and the reboot of Magnum PI were each renewed for second seasons back in January. Finally, serial killer procedural Criminal Minds was picked up for a 10-episode fifteenth and final season, also in January.
More: 5 TV Reboots And Remakes Coming In 2019 (And 15 Possibilities)
Source: Variety
