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CBS has reduced the number of episodes for various television series as it prepares for the fall 2026 lineup.
Notably, the network has rescheduled the premieres for Ghosts, Matlock, and NCIS: Sydney, pushing them to debut in 2027 during the midseason period. These shows will be joined by the much-anticipated new series Einstein, which is also set to make its debut in 2027.
The timeslot initially reserved for Matlock will now be occupied by Elsbeth, making way for Cupertino to launch on the same evening. Meanwhile, NCIS: Sydney will transition to a midseason slot as NCIS: Origins — which will have a reduced episode count — steps in to complement NCIS: New York.
Beyond NCIS: Origins, other series, including Fire Country, will also experience a significant decrease in their episode numbers.
Fans of CBS will notice a revamped look for the fall 2026 schedule, following unexpected adjustments to several of its shows. The network shared its revised lineup on Wednesday, April 15, highlighting these notable shifts. Ghosts, Matlock, and NCIS: Sydney are among those affected, with their premieres now slated for a 2027 midseason launch, joining the upcoming series Einstein.
CBS also found success with new additions such as Yellowstone spinoff Marshals, which was picked up for season 2 after its premiere was watched by 20.6 million viewers within seven days. It marked the most-watched network original series premiere without a football lead-in since 2017.
“Marshals delivered a breakout performance, capturing a massive audience across platforms and quickly establishing itself as one of TV’s most powerful new series,” CBS Entertainment president Amy Reisenbach said in a statement. “The overwhelming viewer response speaks to the strength of the Yellowstone world, the bold, character-driven storytelling from the creative team and the dynamic cast performances led by Luke Grimes.”
According to a press release, CBS had several wins with Marshals and Justin Hartley‘s Tracker. Both shows came out as the top two most‑watched during their premiere week. The debut of Luke Grimes‘ spinoff, meanwhile, ranked as CBS’ most-streamed episode ever on Paramount+.
Boston Blue and Sheriff Country also scored quick season 2 pickups, with Sheriff Country averaging 7.6 million viewers and Blue Bloods bringing in 8 million viewers and winning “every Friday night in total viewers.”
Keep scrolling for a breakdown of which shows are getting their episode counts cut — and by how much:
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‘Fire Country’
The first responder series will air 13 episodes in season 5, which is down from its usual 20.
‘NCIS: Origins’
The prequel will air 10 episodes are after 20 in prior seasons.
‘NCIS: Sydney’
NCIS’ other spinoff, meanwhile, will roll out 10 episodes instead of 18.
‘Matlock’
The legal drama will air 13 episodes in season 3 after airing 16 this season.