CBS has just unveiled its highly anticipated 2025–26 primetime schedule, and it’s loaded with strategic placements, franchise power moves, and a few surprises that are already lighting up TV fan communities. With the FBI universe anchoring Mondays, NCIS dominating Tuesdays, and a revamped Blue Bloods presence on Fridays under the prestigious Bruckheimer banner, the network clearly intends to start strong and stay competitive across the broadcast week.
Here’s a complete breakdown of CBS’s primetime lineup — and what the new schedule means for audiences, franchises, and the network’s long-term strategy.
🔹 Monday Night: The FBI Block Returns in Force
CBS is doubling down on its procedural powerhouse by giving The FBI and its spinoffs a dedicated Monday night block. This move puts multiple FBI franchise entries in one evening, designed to offer sustained action and build appointment viewing for fans.
Confirmed Monday Lineup:
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8:00–9:00 PM: FBI (Flagship)
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9:00–10:00 PM: FBI: Most Wanted
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10:00–11:00 PM: FBI: International
This three-hour spread strikes at the heart of CBS’s branding: reliable, intense, and tightly serialized crime drama. The strategy plays to FBI’s strengths — loyal audiences and cliffhanger endings that encourage tune-in week after week.
Why this matters:
By clustering all three FBI shows together, CBS creates a Monday destination block that competes directly with live sports and streaming premieres on other networks.
🔹 Tuesday: NCIS Holds Its Ground
Fans of military and law enforcement drama will have another reason to celebrate — Tuesdays continue to be ruled by the NCIS franchise.
Confirmed Tuesday Lineup:
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8:00–9:00 PM: NCIS
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9:00–10:00 PM: NCIS: Hawaiʻi
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10:00–11:00 PM: NCIS: Sydney
This lineup is a subtle but strategic reinforcement of what CBS does best: franchise strength. While competitors experiment with limited series and reality blocks, CBS stakes its claim with long-form characters audiences have grown to trust and invest in.
What to expect:
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Crossovers between NCIS titles are likely
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Character arcs may span multiple Tuesday slots
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Shared story threads to drive viewing retention
🔹 Wednesday and Thursday: Comedy and Variety
CBS’s midweek evenings balance drama with lighter fare and variety programming.
Although the complete Wednesday–Thursday schedule is still forthcoming, insiders confirm that comedies and special event episodes will fill these nights. Audience expectations lean toward refreshed sitcom lineups, limited reality specials, and high-profile guest stars to keep the momentum rolling.
🔹 Friday Night: Bruckheimer Power Move — Donnie Wahlberg Back in the Blue Bloods Slot
Friday nights are getting a major boost in 2025–26 with the introduction of a new lineup under the Bruckheimer banner — a programming block designed to combine high-octane drama with legacy-leading talent.
The centerpiece of this lineup?
Donnie Wahlberg in a Blue Bloods-related role occupying the historic Friday 8 PM slot.
Friday Preview:
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8:00–9:00 PM: New Blue Bloods-adjacent drama starring Donnie Wahlberg
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9:00–10:00 PM: Companion crime drama under the Bruckheimer umbrella
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10:00–11:00 PM: Rotating block of specials, guest-hosted variety, or limited series features
This is a significant pivot for Fridays, traditionally a more experimental night for broadcast networks. By centering the evening around one of CBS’s most beloved stars and pairing him with other high-profile scripted content, the network is signaling a renewed commitment to making Fridays a destination night for drama.
Why this matters:
Donnie Wahlberg’s move into the Friday slot — especially in a Bruckheimer-backed series — could reinvigorate a timeslot that has seen viewership erosion in recent years.
🔹 Weekends and Syndication: Strategic Retention
CBS isn’t neglecting its weekend audience. Syndicated staples — including re-airings of franchise hits and themed marathon nights — will fill select weekend primetime slots, catering to casual viewers and new fans alike.
Veteran procedural reboots and nostalgic throwbacks are also expected to surface, though full weekend details are not yet finalized.
📺 What This Schedule Says About CBS’s Strategy
1. Franchise Reinforcement Is Priority One
CBS is leaning hard into what works. Instead of constantly cycling in new pilots, the network is giving tried-and-true franchises space to breathe and dominate.
Whether it’s the FBI engine on Mondays or NCIS rallying Tuesdays, consistency is the headline.
2. Big Names + Big Blocks = Appointment TV
By pairing big talents like Nathan Fillion, Donnie Wahlberg, and the NCIS ensemble with night-specific blocks, CBS is doubling down on appointment viewing — a strategy designed to attract live viewers and social buzz.
3. Risk Balancing
Comedy and variety are positioned where risk can be absorbed midweek; heavyweight dramas anchor the start and end of the week. It’s a classic CBS balance between stability and experimentation.
4. Streaming Integration Still Key
While the schedule highlights broadcast primetime, CBS is expected to lean further into cross-platform synergy, with new episodes available next-day on Paramount+ — a dual strategy to court younger viewers while retaining traditional broadcast audiences.
📣 Fan Reaction: Social Media Is Lit
Within minutes of the schedule release, fan communities lit up:
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“FBI Mondays?! Yes please!”
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“NCIS all night Tuesday — don’t change a thing!”
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“Donnie Wahlberg Friday is a game-changer!”
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“CBS is finally putting strategy behind the schedule!”
Some fans even hinted at hopes for crossovers between FBI, NCIS, and Blue Bloods-related programming — something that would be unprecedented on the network.
🎬 Final Thoughts: CBS Looks Poised for a Dominant 2025–26
With a lineup that clearly emphasizes reliability, star power, and franchise strength, CBS’s 2025–26 schedule is shaping up to be one of its most cohesive in years.
Whether you’re tuning in for procedural drama on Mondays and Tuesdays, comedy midweek, or dramatic premieres on Fridays, the new slate promises plenty of reasons to keep watching — live or streaming.
In a television landscape crowded with streaming exclusives and short-lived series, CBS is betting on consistency, depth, and strategic block-building — and this schedule shows exactly how valuable that approach can be.
