The television landscape at CBS has been described by industry insiders and shell-shocked staffers as a “blood bath” following a series of ruthless cancellations heading into the 2025-2026 season. As the network shifts its strategy toward newer spinoffs like Sheriff Country and CIA, six long-standing fan favorites have been sent to the chopping block, leaving the flagship FBI as one of the few survivors of a devastating programmatic cull.
The “Slashed” Six: Who Didn’t Make the Cut?
The list of cancellations represents a significant portion of CBS’s established primetime identity. From long-running dramas to newer experiments, the following six shows have officially been axed:
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Blue Bloods: After 14 seasons, the Reagan family dinners are coming to an end. While a spinoff, Boston Blue, is in development, the original series will conclude its legendary run.
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S.W.A.T.: Despite multiple previous “saves” from cancellation, the Shemar Moore-led action drama has finally hit its limit after eight seasons.
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FBI: Most Wanted: In a shocking blow to the Dick Wolf universe, the high-rated spinoff starring Dylan McDermott was canceled after six seasons.
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FBI: International: Joining its fellow spinoff, the Budapest-based series was cut after four seasons as the network consolidated the franchise.
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The Equalizer: Queen Latifah’s Robyn McCall will take her final bow after five seasons, a move that left fans of the reimagined procedural stunned.
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Poppa’s House: The Damon Wayans-led sitcom struggled to find an audience and was canceled after just one season.
Additionally, the late-night scene was not spared, with the shocking announcement that The Late Show with Stephen Colbert will end its 11-year run in May 2026 due to financial pressures and a challenging advertising market.
‘FBI’ Flagship: The Lone Survivor?
Amidst the carnage, the original FBI series stands as a rare beacon of stability. While its sister shows were dismantled, the flagship was granted a massive multi-season renewal that ensures it will remain on air through the 2026-2027 broadcast season (Season 9).
However, “surviving” the cull has come with major changes:
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The Monday Move: For the first time, the “All-FBI Tuesday” block is no more. FBI has been moved to Monday nights at 9:00 PM, acting as a lead-in for the brand-new spinoff, CIA.
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Leadership Vulnerability: As mentioned in previous reports, the character of Isobel Castille faced a significant health crisis and leadership challenge in Season 8, reflecting the high stakes both on and off-camera.
Why the “Bloodbath”?
Industry analysts point to a “strategic pivot” by CBS parent company, Paramount. The network appears to be clearing out older, more expensive veteran series to make room for a new generation of “universe expansions.” This includes Sheriff Country (a Fire Country spinoff) and CIA, which CBS hopes will capture the same audience at a different price point.
The layoffs within Paramount’s “Race and Culture” unit and the cancellation of streaming news programs further underscore a network-wide mandate to trim redundancies and refocus on “growth-aligned” priorities.
The Road Ahead: 2026 and Beyond
As fans mourn the loss of the Reagans and the Most Wanted team, the focus shifts to February 23, 2026, when the new-look Monday night lineup—featuring The Neighborhood, DMV, FBI, and CIA—will debut. While the “bloodbath” has been painful for viewers, CBS is betting everything on this revamped schedule to carry the network through the end of the decade.
