What’s the saying, “Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery?” Or, “When you’ve got a good thing going”…?
Whatever the case, CBS aka America’s Most Watched Network — perhaps more than any other broadcast (or cable, or streaming…) outlet — is a firm believer in taking what works and making more of it, by spinning off its most popular or beloved series.
Hell, the NCIS franchise alone has sired five offshoots to date (two of which are still with us, in addition to the mothership), with another one yet to premiere (Paramount+’s NCIS: Tony & Ziva). Similarly, there have been at least five total CSI series, and the Eye Network is now eyeing a third spinoff of FBI.
In the wake of the recent FBI: CIA and Boston Blue news, TVLine could not resist taking stock of exactly how many spinoffs, ongoing and new, might be airing on the CBS broadcast network next TV season. Which of the new offshoots are you most rooting for?
Boston Blue
A SPINOFF OF: Blue Bloods (which ended its 14-season run in December 2024)
PREMISE: Donnie Wahlberg’s Detective Danny Reagan leaves New York City and his family to take a position with the Boston Police Department. There, he will be partnered with Detective Lena Peters, the eldest daughter of a prominent law enforcement family.
CAST: Donnie Wahlberg, thus far
STATUS: Ordered to series on Feb. 18, to premiere during 2025-26 TV season
Elsbeth
A SPINOFF OF: The Good Wife (ended May 2016) and The Good Fight (ended November 2022)
STATUS: Season 2 is currently airing Thursdays at 10/9c; already renewed!
The Equalizer spinoff
A SPINOFF OF: The Equalizer (currently airing Season 5 Sundays at 10/9c, and yet to be renewed)
PREMISE: Titus Welliver’s Hudson Reed is connected to Latifah’s Robin McCall through an old mentor, but there’s more to the “former CIA operative with a dark secret” than meets the eye. Juani Feliz will play his daughter Samantha, who was trained by Hudson in martial arts, weaponry and the ability to blend in like a chameleon — while apparently “hiding a mysterious past.
CAST: Titus Welliver (Bosch) and Juani Feliz (Harlem), thus far
STATUS: Not yet ordered to series; backdoor pilot will air as Episode 16 of The Equalizer‘s current season.
FBI: CIA
A SPINOFF OF: FBI (currently airing Season 7 Tuesdays at 8/7c, and renewed through Season 9)
PREMISE: A dedicated, strait-laced FBI agent and a street-smart CIA agent join forces as part of a new, clandestine task force charged with solving and preventing domestic terrorism in and around New York City.
CAST: TBA
STATUS: Not yet ordered to series; backdoor pilot will air this spring as an episode of FBI.
FBI: International
A SPINOFF OF: FBI
STATUS: Season 4 is currently airing Tuesdays at 9/8c; not yet renewed.
FBI: Most Wanted
A SPINOFF OF: FBI
STATUS: Season 6 is currently airing Tuesdays at 10/9c; not yet renewed.
Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage
A SPINOFF OF: Young Sheldon, which ended in May 2024 and itself was a spinoff of The Big Bang Theory (which ended in May 2019)
STATUS: Season 1 is currently airing Thursdays at 8/7c; already renewed!
