Change will be in the air this fall for the FBI franchise, and we’re not just referring to CBS’s cancellation of two shows in the franchise.
It seemed like CBS’s FBI franchise would keep going strong for seasons to come as the trio of FBI, FBI: International, and FBI: Most Wanted were holding strong and made for a night of amazing TV. When CBS announced it was developing a fourth show in the franchise, this seemed like another positive indication that the network still saw value in the franchise.
Then CBS pulled the rug out from under the feet of fans and unexpectedly canceled both FBI spinoffs, bringing FBI: International to an end after four seasons and FBI: Most Wanted to a close after five seasons. The move took many fans by surprise as no one expected both spinoffs would be canceled. Yes, there were some fears that one of the two shows could be in jeopardy due to the new spinoff needing a place in the lineup, but no one expected CBS would end up canceling both of the FBI spinoffs in one fell swoop.
While FBI: International and FBI: Most Wanted are both coming to an end, CBS did end up deciding to expand upon the franchise and ordered CIA to series. As expected, FBI and CIA will be paired together on CBS’s fall lineup, but the two shows won’t be airing on the weeknight fans had been expecting.
For the first time in the history of the franchise, FBI is on the move to a new night this fall, moving from Tuesday nights to Monday nights, where it will air alongside the Tom Ellis-led CIA spinoff. The two shows will air after CBS’s Monday comedy block, which consists of the final season of The Neighborhood and new comedy DMV to give us the following programming lineup:
8/7c: The Neighborhood
8:30/7:30c: DMV
9/8c: FBI
10/9c: CIA
The move, as shocking as it might be, makes sense now that the FBI franchise is down to just two shows. With the FBI shows no longer taking over the entire Tuesday night lineup, CBS has decided to bring fans its first-ever three-hour NCIS programming block in moving NCIS back to Tuesdays, where it’ll air alongside NCIS: Origins and NCIS: Sydney. Basically, CBS is simply swapping the nights on which its NCIS and FBI franchises air, which will mean fans of FBI will get to enjoy the show a night earlier.
It’ll be interesting to see how the franchises’ ratings fare amid this change to the lineup, but we imagine both franchises will do well under this new schedule and we’re excited to see the FBI block on Monday nights – though we’re definitely going to miss our Tuesday night FBI block!
