You’d think after decades of streaming wars and the supposed "death of cable," the Eye Network would be slowing down. Honestly, it's kinda the opposite. CBS is currently leaning harder into its "universes" than Marvel. If you’re looking at a list of CBS TV shows right now, you aren’t just seeing a bunch of random procedurals. You’re seeing a highly calculated web of spin-offs, reboots, and surprisingly gutsy new swings.
The 2025–2026 season is a weird one. We’re losing titans like Blue Bloods (sorta) and The Neighborhood, while the network bets the farm on "new" shows that feel remarkably familiar. It’s a strategy of comfort food, but with a higher budget.
The 2025–2026 CBS Lineup: The Heavy Hitters
Most people think CBS is just NCIS and FBI. They aren't totally wrong, but the sheer volume of these franchises is staggering now. For the first time ever, the network actually dedicated an entire night—Tuesday—to just one franchise.
👉 See also: What Movies Are in Theaters Now: The Mid-January 2026 Guide
Here is what the current primetime slate looks like as of early 2026:
- NCIS (Season 23): The flagship is still chugging. It’s basically the North Star of the network.
- NCIS: Origins: A prequel following a young Leroy Jethro Gibbs.
- NCIS: Sydney: The international flavor that somehow caught on better than NCIS: Hawai'i (RIP).
- FBI, FBI: International, and FBI: Most Wanted: Dick Wolf's trio remains the backbone of Tuesday nights, though FBI: International has seen some casting shakeups recently that have fans a bit rattled.
- Tracker (Season 3): Justin Hartley’s "reward seeker" show is currently the #1 drama on TV. It’s basically Reacher but for people who prefer network TV lighting.
- Matlock (Season 2): Kathy Bates basically saved the "reboot" genre. It’s not just a remake; it’s a meta-commentary on the original show that actually works.
New Blood and Strange Experiments
CBS is trying to prove it can still launch a brand-new hit without a colon in the title. Kinda. Even the "new" stuff often has strings attached to existing hits.
Take Sheriff Country. It’s a spin-off from Fire Country starring Morena Baccarin. They literally launched it by having her character show up in the parent show for a "backdoor pilot." It’s smart business. Then you have Boston Blue. Donnie Wahlberg is essentially keeping the Blue Bloods spirit alive there, playing Danny Reagan in a new setting. Fans weren't ready to say goodbye to the Reagan family dinners, so CBS basically just moved the table.
There’s also DMV, a workplace comedy that is surprisingly funny. It’s a bold move for a network that usually sticks to multi-cam sitcoms with laugh tracks.
The Reality Sector
You can’t talk about a list of CBS TV shows without mentioning the unscripted giants.
- Survivor 50: This is the big one. Season 50 is a massive "All-Stars" event that’s been years in the making. Jeff Probst is still the hardest working man in Fiji.
- The Amazing Race (Season 38): Still going, still stressful, still great.
- The Road: This is a new singing competition executive produced by Taylor Sheridan, Blake Shelton, and Keith Urban. It’s a gritty, docu-style take on the genre.
What’s Actually Leaving Us?
This is the part that hurts. The Neighborhood is wrapping up its eighth and final season in 2026. Cedric the Entertainer has been the king of Monday nights, but the network is pivoting.
Also, the late-night landscape is shifting. The Late Show with Stephen Colbert is reportedly eyeing an end date in May 2026. It’s a massive blow to the network's prestige, but with the way people watch clips on TikTok instead of full episodes at 11:35 PM, the financial math for these big-budget talk shows is getting harder to justify.
Why This Strategy Works
Critics love to dunk on CBS for being "old-fashioned." But look at the numbers. According to Nielsen’s 2025 data, CBS remained the most-watched network for the 17th consecutive season. They know their audience doesn't want "prestige" shows where nothing happens for six episodes. They want a mystery solved in 42 minutes. They want characters they can rely on.
Even the new entries like Watson (a medical drama with a Sherlock Holmes twist) or Sheriff Country follow this "procedural-plus" formula. It’s episodic enough for casual viewers but serialized enough for the binge-watchers on Paramount+.
How to Stay Updated
If you're trying to keep track of the schedule, it changes more often than you'd think. Sports—especially the NFL—often bump shows to weird time slots on Sunday nights.
Pro-tip: Don't trust your DVR implicitly on Sundays during football season. Always check the CBS social media accounts for "start-time" updates. Also, almost everything on this list of CBS TV shows is available for next-day streaming on Paramount+. If you’re a die-hard fan of a specific show, that’s usually a safer bet than relying on a local affiliate that might cut to a weather report in the middle of a cliffhanger.
The best way to manage your watchlist is to focus on the "blocks." Monday is for comedy and Dick Wolf. Tuesday is the NCIS marathon. Thursday is the "New Matlock" night. Once you understand the rhythm, the schedule makes a lot more sense.