CBS has demonstrated a legendary and sustained run of success over the past two decades, consistently ranking as the most-watched broadcaster in prime-time programming for 17 consecutive seasons. The network currently boasts ownership of eight of the top ten best-performing series across television, including the entirety of the top seven, with established juggernauts such as Tracker, FBI, NCIS, and Elsbeth. Furthermore, new series like the Yellowstone spin-off, Marshals, have already become the network's most-watched show of the year, signaling no signs of slowing down.

Despite this continuous success, CBS is implementing significant, even unprecedented, changes to its Fall 2026 schedule, which was officially locked in on Wednesday. One notable shift is the reduction to only two comedies, marking what is believed to be an all-time low for the network. Instead, CBS is strategically dedicating three franchise blocks: FBI on Tuesdays, NCIS on Wednesdays, and Fire Country on Fridays, indicating a strong pivot towards crime-focused programming.

Thursday nights will be helmed by Robert and Michelle King, with their popular murder mystery procedural, Elsbeth, moving to a new 9 p.m. slot, followed by their new legal drama, Cupertino, at 10 p.m. These dramas will be preceded by the comedies Georgie & Mandy's First Marriage and Eternally Yours. Sundays will maintain their strong lineup with Tracker, Marshals, and 60 Minutes. This strategic overhaul underscores the network's intention to "go heavy on crime."

Conspicuously absent from the fall lineup are two CBS mainstays, Matlock and Ghosts, which have been benched until midseason despite their historical fall premieres. NCIS: Sydney will also take the fall off. However, the long-running NCIS franchise will expand with a new series, NCIS: New York, bringing back LL COOL J's Agent Sam Hanna at 9 p.m. on Tuesdays, nestled between the flagship NCIS series and NCIS: Origins. Other returning shows for the 2026-2027 season include Harlan Coben's Final Twist, renewed for Season 2 and joining FBI and CIA on Mondays, reality giants Survivor and The Amazing Race on Wednesdays, and Sheriff Country and Boston Blue on Fridays.

CBS Entertainment President Amy Reisenbach expressed confidence in the new direction, stating that the network will build on its strengths by expanding the powerful NCIS franchise, introducing a new original drama from the creators of The Good Wife and Elsbeth, and a new comedy from the acclaimed duo behind Ghosts. She emphasized that this schedule is "built for launching new hits, scaling audiences and growing content value."

Beyond network programming news, the broader entertainment landscape also offers interactive experiences for fans, such as a recent quiz from Collider that delves into the intricate worlds created by Taylor Sheridan. This exclusive quiz invites users to discover which of four brutal, complicated worlds – Yellowstone, Landman, Tulsa King, or Mayor of Kingstown – they belong in. The quiz, consisting of ten questions, explores various aspects like power, loyalty, conflict, setting, morality, ambition, leadership, how one deals with outsiders, the personal cost of one's position, and the desired legacy.

Each Taylor Sheridan universe presents a distinct profile: a user aligned with Yellowstone is characterized as a Dutton-esque figure, fiercely protecting land and legacy, leading with ferocity and loyalty. Those belonging to Landman thrive in high-stakes negotiations, acting as fixers in the brutal West Texas oil country, sharp, adaptable, and unsentimental. The Tulsa King world is for individuals who have served their time, built loyalty through respect, and adapt to unfamiliar places to build their own influence. Finally, those suited for Mayor of Kingstown carry the weight of a broken system, operating where there are no good options, speaking multiple 'languages' (law enforcement, criminal, political, human) to maintain peace, and accepting the demanding nature of the job.