*So Help Me Todd* has officially been renewed for a second season, following strong ratings. CBS announced that the hit drama, starring Marcia Gay Harden and Skylar Astin, will return for the 2023-24 broadcast season.
The show’s journey has been a true Cinderella story. Early in development, the project faced challenges, including the recasting of its female lead, with Harden replacing Geena Davis opposite Astin. Despite these setbacks, the show gained momentum during pilot season thanks to strong testing results, ultimately securing a series order. Additionally, there was a change in showrunners, with Elizabeth Klaviter taking over from Liz Kruger and Craig Shapiro, who served as showrunners for the pilot only.
Much like NBC’s *This Is Us*, which gained traction after its upfronts trailer went viral, *So Help Me Todd* built momentum quietly last summer, becoming one of the most anticipated fall series. Competing alongside high-profile titles like *The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power* and *Walker: Independence*, the show rose in popularity. Through word of mouth, its ratings steadily increased, reaching series highs for two consecutive weeks.
Since its premiere in September, *So Help Me Todd* has become the top new series on Thursdays, averaging 6.3 million viewers per episode and growing to 7.4 million with live plus 35-day multiplatform viewing, according to Nielsen.
“*So Help Me Todd* has captivated viewers with the incredible chemistry between Marcia Gay Harden and Skylar Astin,” said Amy Reisenbach, president of CBS Entertainment. “The show’s blend of legal drama, humor, and intriguing family dynamics has resonated with audiences, and I’m thrilled that we’ll see more of these two unforgettable characters next season.”
Created by Scott Prendergast, the series centers on the relationship between a talented but aimless private investigator, the black sheep of his family, and his overbearing mother, a successful attorney dealing with a recent divorce. Despite their differences, the son agrees to work for his mother as her in-house investigator.
The cast also includes Madeline Wise, Tristen J. Winger, Inga Schlingmann, and Rosa Arredondo. Executive producers include Prendergast, Klaviter, Dr. Phil McGraw, Stuart Gillard, Jay McGraw, and Julia Eisenman.
*So Help Me Todd*, produced by CBS Studios, is the second CBS drama and freshman series to be renewed for the 2023-24 season, alongside *Fire Country*. CBS has also renewed the comedies *Bob Hearts Abishola*, *The Neighborhood*, and *Ghosts* for the upcoming season.
