Rick Eid is stepping down as showrunner of CBS’ FBI, after having launched the hit drama six years ago.
Eid will stay on as an executive producer on the franchise’s mothership, which recently netted a three-season (!) renewal, as well as continue as showrunner on NBC’s Law & Order (which is already renewed for Season 24).
“After six years of running two, or more, shows, and CBS now picking up FBI for three more years, this was the perfect time for me to step back and focus my efforts on running Law & Order and developing new projects,” Eid said in a statement. “I’m extremely proud of FBI, and couldn’t be happier for the cast, crew and producers. While I will no longer be the day-to-day showrunner, I intend to remain involved with the show going forward.”
Season-to-date, FBI is averaging north of 9 million total viewers and a 0.7 demo rating (with Live+7 playback), down just a tick from its year-ago numbers. It stands as TV’s third-most watched entertainment program (trailing only Tracker and NCIS), and among the 14 dramas CBS has aired this TV season, it ties NCIS for second in the demo (behind Tracker).
Eid’s credits also include serving as Chicago P.D. showrunner for four-and-a-half years, until fall 2021.
Dick Wolf, the prolific producer behind the FBI, Law & Order and #OneChicago franchises, said in a statement, “Rick has been a core member of the Wolf family for two decades. We thank him for all the work he did on FBI to get the series launched and look forward to continuing our creative partnership on Law & Order and beyond.”
