CBS Unveils 2018 - 2019 Primetime Lineup Including the Return of MURPHY BROWN, THE BIG BANG THEORY, & More
By: Macon Prickett May. 16, 2018
CBS today unveiled its 2018-2019 primetime lineup featuring three new comedies, five new dramas and the return of the critically acclaimed MURPHY BROWN. The new series will join 24 returning hits to build on the success of America's Most Watched Network.
The five new shows for fall include two comedies, THE NEIGHBORHOOD starring Cedric the Entertainer and HAPPY TOGETHER starring Damon Wayans Jr. and Amber Stevens West. The three dramas are MAGNUM P.I., a modern take on the classic series starring Jay Hernandez and Perdita Weeks; from Emmy Award-winning producer Dick Wolf, FBI, starring Missy Peregrym and Zeeko Zaki; and the humorous and uplifting GOD FRIENDED ME, starring Brandon Micheal Hall and Violett Beane. In addition, the groundbreaking comedy MURPHY BROWN returns, starring original cast members Candice Bergen, Faith Ford, Joe Regalbuto and Grant Shaud.
"When you have a primetime lineup that won the season while competing against the SUPER BOWL and the Winter Olympics on another network, you look to keep your core schedule mostly intact, while making strategic moves to help grow nights," said Kelly Kahl, President, CBS Entertainment. "We've maintained stability across winning nights, while adding some important new pieces to our Monday night lineup. And, next year, we're positioned to build on this success with the addition of these exciting new shows and primetime events, such as 'The AFC Championship Game,' 'Super Bowl LIII,' 'The Grammy Awards' and the NCAA Final Four."
MONDAYS - Bold scheduling moves and new shows highlight CBS' Monday. Two new high-profile comedies with big stars kick off the week, beginning with THE NEIGHBORHOOD at 8:00 PM, followed by HAPPY TOGETHER at 8:30 PM. At 9:00 PM, Thomas Magnum is back on the case in MAGNUM P.I., followed by BULL starring Michael Weatherly, a top 10 broadcast drama for the second consecutive season, on its NEW DAY and time, at 10:00 PM.
TUESDAYS - Two established hits bracket an exciting new drama on the most-watched night of network television. NCIS opens the night at 8:00 PM where it continues to deliver 17 million viewers each week, providing a potent launch pad for new drama FBI, at 9:00 PM. Top 10 series and time-period winner NCIS: NEW ORLEANS starring Scott Bakula caps the evening at 10:00 PM.
WEDNESDAYS - Wednesday's winning schedule remains intact. SURVIVOR once again starts off the night at 8:00 PM, where it consistently wins the time period, leading into the sophomore season of CBS' top new drama, SEAL TEAM, starring David Boreanaz, at 9:00 PM. The hit drama CRIMINAL MINDS returns at 10:00 PM to close out the night.
THURSDAYS - Television's top comedy block is adding another strong player. The evening begins with Thursday's #1 program, THE BIG BANG THEORY, at 8:00 PM, leading into television's #1 new comedy YOUNG SHELDON at 8:30 PM, which grew the time period by +91% in viewers and +78% in adults 18-49. Next at 9:00 PM is time-period winner MOM, starring Anna Faris and Academy Award winner Allison Janney, which grew +17% in viewers and +5% in adults 18-49 this season, providing a robust and compatible lead-in for the revival of the groundbreaking comedy MURPHY BROWN at 9:30 PM. S.W.A.T. with Shemar Moore, which improved its time period over +30% in viewers and demos, anchors the night at 10:00 PM.
FRIDAYS - CBS' winning night returns intact with three time-period winners. MACGYVER starts the night at 8:00 PM, followed by HAWAII FIVE-0 at 9:00 PM. At 10:00 PM, BLUE BLOODS, a top 10 scripted series and Friday's #1 program, caps the evening of top-rated dramas.
SATURDAYS - CBS' Saturday night lineup features CRIMETIME SATURDAY, encore broadcasts of the Network's popular dramas at 8:00 PM and 9:00 PM, followed by 48 HOURS, Saturday's #1 non-sports series, at 10:00 PM.
SUNDAYS - A new drama launches between two hits on CBS' winning night. The acclaimed 60 MINUTES, television's #1 primetime news program for five decades, returns at 7:00 PM, providing a dominant lead-in to the new humorous and uplifting drama GOD FRIENDED ME at 8:00 PM. NCIS: LOS ANGELES, a top 10 broadcast drama that grew its time period by +8% in adults 18-49 this season, returns at 9:00 PM. MADAM SECRETARY starring Téa Leoni grew its time slot by +20% in viewers, closes out the weekend at 10:00 PM.
CBS will once again present original programming throughout the full season, rolling out new dramas THE CODE and THE RED LINE; new comedy FAM, and returning favorites ELEMENTARY, INSTINCT, LIFE IN PIECES, MAN WITH A PLAN, CELEBRITY BIG BROTHER and the award-winning reality series THE AMAZING RACE.
"Our goal is to make CBS' big tent even bigger with a broad range of storytelling that speaks to our loyal core audience while opening doors for new viewers too," said Thom Sherman, Sr. Executive Vice President, Programming, CBS Entertainment. "We think we've accomplished that with this slate of new shows. This new programming has inspired stories from CBS' iconic past; unique concepts from both new creative voices and established hit-makers; big stars and fresh on-screen talent; and programming that is inclusive, both in front of and behind the camera."
THE NEW FALL DRAMAS:
From Emmy Award winner Dick WOLF and the team behind the "Law & Order" franchise, FBI is a fast-paced drama about the inner workings of the New York office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. These first-class agents bring all their talents, intellect and technical expertise to tenaciously investigate cases of tremendous magnitude, including terrorism, organized crime and counterintelligence, in order to keep New York and the country safe. Craig Turk, Dick Wolf, Arthur W. Forney, Peter Jankowski and Niels Arden Oplev (pilot only) are executive producers for Universal Television in association with CBS Television Studios. Oplev directed the pilot from a story by WOLF and Turk, and a script by Turk.
FBI stars Missy Peregrym as Maggie Bell, Zeeko Zaki as Omar Adom "OA" Zidan, Jeremy Sisto as Jubal Valentine, and Ebonée Noel as Kristen Chazal.
GOD FRIENDED ME stars Brandon Micheal Hall in a humorous, uplifting drama about Miles Finer (Hall), an outspoken atheist whose life is turned upside down when he receives a friend request on social media from God and unwittingly becomes an agent of change in the lives and destinies of others around him. After repeated pokes by God, Miles' CURIOSITY takes over, and he accepts the ultimate friend request and follows the signs to Cara Bloom (Violett Beane), an online journalist. Brought together by the "God Account," the two find themselves investigating God's friend suggestions and inadvertently helping others in need. Miles is set on getting to the bottom of what he believes is an elaborate hoax, but in the meantime he'll play along and, in the process, change his life forever. Steven Lilien & Bryan Wynbrandt, Greg Berlanti, Sarah Schechter and Marcos Siega are executive producers for Warner Bros. Television and CBS Television Studios. Siega directed the pilot from a script by Lilien & Wynbrandt.
GOD FRIENDED ME stars Brandon Micheal Hall as Miles Finer, Violett Beane as Cara Bloom, Suraj Sharma as Rakesh Singh, Javicia Leslie as Ali Finer and Joe Morton as Reverend Arthur Finer.
MAGNUM P.I. is a modern take on the classic series starring Jay Hernandez as Thomas Magnum, a decorated former Navy SEAL who, upon returning home from Afghanistan, repurposes his military skills to become a private investigator. A charming rogue, an American hero and a die-hard Detroit Tigers fan, Magnum has Juliet Higgins and her Dobermans to keep him in line, as well as his trusted buddies and fellow POW survivors TC and Rick when he needs back-up on a job. With keys to a vintage Ferrari in one hand, aviator sunglasses in the other, and an Old Düsseldorf longneck chilling in the fridge, Thomas Magnum is back on the case! Peter Lenkov, Eric Guggenheim, Justin Lin, John Davis, John FOX and Danielle Woodrow are executive producers for CBS Television Studios in association with Universal Television. Lin directed the pilot from a script by Lenkov and Guggenheim.
MAGNUM P.I. stars Jay Hernandez as Thomas Magnum, Perdita Weeks as Juliet Higgins, Zachary Knighton as Orville "Rick" Wright and Stephen Hill as Theodore "TC" Calvin.
THE NEW FALL COMEDIES:
HAPPY TOGETHER stars Damon Wayans Jr. and Amber Stevens West in a comedy about a 30-something happily married couple who begin to reconnect with their younger, cooler selves when Cooper (Felix Mallard), an exuberant young pop star drawn to their super-ordinary suburban life, unexpectedly moves in with them. Austen Earl, Tim McAuliffe, Ben Winston, HARRY Styles, Michael Rotenberg and Jonathan Berry are executive producers for CBS Television Studios. Phill Lewis directed the pilot from a script by McAuliffe and Earl.
HAPPY TOGETHER stars Damon Wayans Jr. as Jake, Amber Stevens West as Claire, Felix Mallard as Cooper James, Stephnie Weir as Bonnie and Chris Parnell as Wayne.
THE NEIGHBORHOOD stars Cedric the Entertainer as an opinionated neighbor in a comedy about what happens when the friendliest guy in the Midwest moves his family to a neighborhood in Los Angeles where not everyone looks like him or appreciates his extreme neighborliness. When Dave Johnson (Max Greenfield) and his family arrive from Michigan, they're unfazed that their new dream home is located in a community quite different from their small town. However, their opinionated next-door neighbor, Calvin Butler (Cedric the Entertainer), is wary of the newcomers, certain that they'll disrupt the culture on the block. Dave realizes that fitting into their new community is more complex than he expected, but if he can find a way to connect with Calvin, they have an excellent chance of making their new neighborhood their home. Jim Reynolds, Aaron Kaplan, Dana Honor (Kapital Entertainment), Wendi Trilling, Cedric the Entertainer, Eric Rhone and James Burrows (pilot) are executive producers for CBS Television Studios. Burrows directed the pilot from a script by Reynolds.
THE NEIGHBORHOOD stars Cedric the Entertainer as Calvin, Max Greenfield as Dave, Sheaun McKinney as Malcolm, Tichina Arnold as Tina, Dreama Walker as Gemma, Marcel Spears as Marty and Hank Greenspan as Grover.
Multiple Emmy Award winners Candice Bergen and series creator Diane English reunite for MURPHY BROWN, the revival of the groundbreaking comedy about the eponymous broadcast news legend and her biting take on current events, now in a world of 24-hour cable, social media, "fake news" and a vastly different political climate. Amid a DIVIDED nation, chaotic national discourse and rampant attacks on the press, Murphy returns to the airwaves with her original FYI team: lifestyle reporter Corky Sherwood, investigative journalist Frank Fontana and producer Miles Silverberg. Murphy's son, Avery, shares his mother's competitive spirit and quick wit, and has followed in her journalistic footsteps - perhaps too closely. Now back in the game, Murphy is determined to draw the line between good television and honest reporting, proving that the world needs Murphy Brown now more than ever. Diane English returns as executive producer with Candice Bergen for Bend in the Road Productions, Inc., in association with Warner Bros. Television. English created the series. Pamela Fryman will direct the pilot from a script by English.
MURPHY BROWN stars Candice Bergen as Murphy Brown, Faith Ford as Corky Sherwood, Joe Regalbuto as Frank Fontana, Grant Shaud as Miles Silverberg, Jake McDorman as Avery, Tyne Daly as Phyllis and Nik Dodani as Pat Patel.
NEW SERIES FOR LATER THIS SEASON:
THE CODE is a drama about the military's brightest minds who take on our country's toughest legal challenges, inside the courtroom and out, in the only law office in the world where every attorney is trained as a prosecutor, a defense lawyer, an investigator - and a Marine. Operating out of Judge Advocate General Headquarters in Quantico, these active-duty Marines are attorneys who have chosen to serve their country in pursuit of military justice at home and abroad. Craig Sweeny, Marc Webb, Carl Beverly, Sarah Timberman and Craig Turk are executive producers for CBS Television Studios. Webb directed the pilot from a teleplay by Sweeny, and story by Sweeny and Turk.
THE CODE stars Anna Wood as Major Maya Dobbins, Ato Essandoh as Major Trey Ferry, Phillipa Soo as Lt. Harper Rein and Raffi Barsoumian as Warrant Officer Rami Ahmadi.
FAM stars Nina Dobrev and Tone Bell in a comedy about a woman whose vision of a perfect life with her adoring fiancé and his wonderful parents is radically altered when her 16-year-old, out-of-control half-sister unexpectedly comes to live with her. As THE FAMILY Clem (Dobrev) chose and THE FAMILY she has blend, Clem realizes that this new happy fam may be the perfection she's always been seeking. Corinne Kingsbury, Bob Kushell, Aaron Kaplan, Wendi Trilling, Dana Honor and Scott Ellis (pilot only) are executive producers for CBS Television Studios in association with Kapital Entertainment. Ellis directed the pilot from a script by Kingsbury.
FAM stars Nina Dobrev as Clem, Tone Bell as Nick, Odessa Adlon as Shannon, Brian Stokes Mitchell as Walt and Sheryl Lee Ralph as Rose.
From acclaimed producers Ava DuVernay and Greg Berlanti, THE RED LINE is a drama that follows the lives of three vastly different Chicago families whose stories of loss and tragedy intersect in the wake of the mistaken shooting of an African American doctor by a white cop. As the stories of the Calder, Young and Evans families crisscross and converge, a message of hope appears - it's possible to emerge from tragedy stronger, and it's important to come together with others, not just to survive, but to thrive. Academy Award, Golden Globe and Emmy Award nominee Ava DuVernay, Greg Berlanti and Sarah Schechter are executive producers, and Caitlin Parrish and Erica Weiss are co-executive producers for Warner Bros. Television and CBS Television Studios. Victoria Mahoney directed the pilot from a script by Parrish and Weiss.
THE RED LINE stars Noah Wyle as Daniel Calder, Emayatzy Corinealdi as Tia Young, Aliyah Royale as Jira Calder-Brennan, Noel Fisher as Paul Evans, Howard Charles as Ethan Young, Elizabeth Laidlaw as Vic Renna, Vinny Chhibber as Liam Bhatt and Michael Patrick Thornton as Jim Evans.
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