After Tracker became a huge hit, will CBS use Justin Hartley’s show to try to save another series from cancellation?
This Is Us alum Justin Hartley is back in primetime TV in 2024 as the star of CBS’ Tracker, which got off to a strong start in its post-Super Bowl slot and hasn’t slowed down yet. The network wasted no time renewing the series for Season 2 in early March. In the weeks since, most of the network’s shows have either been renewed for the 2024-25 season or canceled, with The Equalizer being one of the last to wait. While I was watching CBS on Tuesday night, a Tracker ad with a specific message kept playing, and it made me wonder: Was it designed to get more people to watch The Equalizer?
At the time of writing, The Equalizer is one of two major CBS dramas still on the list of major shows that are up for renewal or cancellation, along with NCIS: Hawai’i. Considering that it was less than a week ago that the network axed CSI: Vegas and So Help Me Todd, it’s hard not to speculate about the shows that haven’t gotten the news yet. So when I tuned in to CBS to watch the FBIs—that is, FBI, FBI: International, and FBI: Most Wanted—on April 23, I couldn’t help but notice that all the ads for Tracker also mentioned The Equalizer.
Here’s a look at how Tracker’s ads end each Tuesday: Honestly, I can’t be 100 percent sure whether Tracker’s ads emphasize that the new episodes that air after The Equalizer on Sunday are new, or whether that’s part of the advertising throughout the season. What can I say? I’m not always glued to the TV during commercial breaks. But during the cancellation/renewal season, I definitely noticed Tracker constantly promoting The Equalizer on FBI night. Tying Queen Latifah’s show to CBS’s latest hit in a Tracker commercial that aired during FBI’s primetime success could only help The Equalizer, right?
After all, the other four shows were already guaranteed a second season, as all three FBI shows were renewed in one go. Of course, The Equalizer’s delayed fate may not have had anything to do with more people tuning in through Tracker’s promotion. According to Deadline, The Equalizer was actually a ratings success, too, though not to the same numbers as Tracker or FBI. In mid-April, the network reported that the show was expected to be renewed for Season 5, after negotiating a new deal with lead actress Queen Latifah.
Furthermore, a new deal could also result in an increase in the total number of episodes to 20, compared to the 18 episodes of the second and third seasons. So viewership may not be an issue if The Equalizer isn’t renewed as early as the FBIs, and the inclusion of the Tracker ad may have nothing to do with boosting the odds of a new show premiering on Sunday nights for another season.
For now, while we await the fate of The Equalizer (and NCIS: Hawai’i, which may be in for a major change for a fourth season), you can watch Queen Latifah’s series streaming with a Paramount+ subscription. Tracker and all three FBI shows can also be found on Paramount+.
