CBS has renewed four more shows for the 2016-2017 season: “The Odd Couple,” “Undercover Boss,” plus freshman dramas “Code Black” and “Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders.”
“Odd Couple” — a remake of the original series that stars Matthew Perry and Thomas Lennon — has done decently in its second season following a nearly one-year break, but is fumbling away about half of its lead-in from “The Big Bang Theory” on Thursdays. Season to date, it’s averaging a 1.8 rating in adults 18-49 an 8.7 million viewers overall in Live+3 estimates from Nielsen. The show is produced by The Tannenbaum Company, Timberman-Beverly Productions and CBS Television Studios.
With “Odd Couple” renewed, CBS is staging a bit of a “Friends” reunion on the network. Last week, Matt LeBlanc’s comedy “Man With A Plan” was greenlit for the 2016-2017 season. Though CBS’s schedule won’t be unveiled until next week during the net’s Upfront presentation in New York City, it seems like a prime programming — and marketing — opportunity to schedule the two shows back-to-back on the same night.
“Code Black” will return for a second season. The ensemble medical drama, toplined by Marcia Gay Harden, is a favorite of new CBS president Glenn Geller.
“Code Black” started sluggishly, picked up steam in the winter, but never really took advantage of promotion during big events in February to break through and become a hit. It ended up averaging a 2.0 rating in adults 18-49 and 10.2 million total viewers in Live+7. It hails from ABC Studios and CBS Television Studios.
“Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders” is also renewed for Season 2. Starring Gary Sinise, the spinoff of “Criminal Minds” follows the division of the FBI that solve crimes and rescues Americans who are endangered while overseas. The show is produced by ABC Studios in association with CBS Television Studios and The Mark Gordon Company.
Airing behind the original “Criminal Minds” on Wednesday, “Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders” has fared OK during its short first season, averaging a 1.8 rating in adults 18-49 and 9.3 million viewers overall in Live+3, usually placing second in its timeslot in demos and first in total viewers. The flagship show was renewed for Season 12.
“Undercover Boss” is one of CBS’s staple unscripted shows, hailing from Studio Lambert. A big hit when it launched behind the Super Bowl six years ago, “Undercover Boss” is now used pretty much as schedule spackle for CBS. Its first eight episodes this season averaged a 1.5 rating in adults 18-49 and 7.8 million viewers overall in Nielsen’s Live+7 estimates, and the show still has four more episodes to air this month. Next season, it will return for its eighth season.
As for other returning series, CBS renewed freshman comedy “Life In Pieces” earlier this week. The “CSI” franchise is coming to an end with “Cyber” and “Rush Hour” getting the ax. “Supergirl” was renewed — but at the CW.
Rick Kissell contributed to this report.
