This morning, CBS announced its Fall 2015 TV schedule and fired a shot across Fox’s bow. The new Supergirl TV series will go head-to-head with Fox’s Batman prequel, Gotham on Monday nights at 9pm.
Considering that both series are based on DC Comics characters, the showdown has the potential to split the audience. CBS’ head of scheduling Kelly Kahl justified the move by saying “I think it’s wrong to think that if there’s another genre show in that time slot, that we can’t succeed.”
Supergirl will join the CBS schedule in November, but The Big Bang Theory and the new comedy series, Life In Pieces will have the Monday 8pm to 9pm timeslot until Supergirl premieres.
The new drama Limitless (based on the 2011 film starring Bradley Cooper) will move into Tuesday night’s 10pm timeslot after the two hour block of NCIS and NCIS: New Orleans. Cooper will be executive producing Limitless and reprising his role from the film as Senator Eddie Mora on a recurring basis. Senator Mora will be mentoring Brian Finch (Jake McDorman), the main character of the Limitless TV series as Finch is forced to use his enhanced mental abilities to help the FBI solve crimes.
CBS also announced that CSI will come to an end after 15 seasons with a two series finale on Sunday, September 27. Original CSI stars William Petersen and Marg Helgenberger will return for the finale, while Ted Danson will move from the main series and join the spinoff series, CSI: Cyber.
Returning CBS series 2 Broke Girls, Mike & Molly and Person of Interest are not on CBS’ fall schedule, but they will likely be used as utility players if any of the new shows fail to bring in an audience. New series The Odd Couple, Rush Hour and Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders will also be held back for a premiere later in the season.
CBS FALL 2015-16 SCHEDULE
(New programs in UPPER CASE; all times ET)
MONDAY
8-8:30 PM The Big Bang Theory
8:30-9 PM LIFE IN PIECES
8-9 PM SUPERGIRL (Starting in November)
9-10 PM Scorpion
10-11 PM NCIS: Los Angeles
TUESDAY
8-9 PM NCIS
9-10 PM NCIS: New Orleans
10-11 PM LIMITLESS
WEDNESDAY
8-9 PM Survivor
9-10 PM Criminal Minds
10-11 PM CODE BLACK
THURSDAY
8-11 PM, ET/ NFL Thursday Night Football (Premieres Sept. 17)
5-8 PM, PT
8-8:30 PM The Big Bang Theory (RTP) (Starting in November)
8:30-9 PM LIFE IN PIECES (Starting in November)
9-9:30 PM Mom (Starting in November)
9:30-10 PM ANGEL FROM HELL (Starting in November)
10-11 PM Elementary(Starting in November)
FRIDAY
8-9 PM The Amazing Race
9-10 PM Hawaii Five-O
10-11 PM Blue Bloods
SATURDAY
8-9 PM Crimetime Saturday
9-10 PM Crimetime Saturday
10-11 PM 48 Hours
SUNDAY
7-9 PM 60 Minutes
8-9 PM Madam Secretary
9-10 PM The Good Wife
10-11 PM CSI: CYBER
