If you look at the list of canceled TV shows in 2024, CBS stands out with a significant number of casualties. It was a tough year for the Eye Network, and while CBS Studios head David Stapf expressed regret, it was clear their hands were tied. Among the high-profile cancellations were NCIS: Hawai’i, So Help Me Todd, and CSI: Vegas.
Initially, much of the attention was on fan reactions, like those rallying to save So Help Me Todd, but months later, it’s come to light that CBS Studios actually tried to keep some of these shows alive. In an interview with Deadline, Stapf revealed that the network, not the studio, made the call to cancel, and there were efforts to move the shows to “new homes.” Unfortunately, those attempts were unsuccessful.
At the time, there was speculation that some of these shows could move to Paramount Plus, following the precedent of SEAL Team, which successfully made that transition. Other canceled network shows, like Lucifer being picked up by Netflix, added hope that CBS shows could find a similar fate. However, complications from Paramount’s potential sale, as mentioned by So Help Me Todd star Marcia Gay Harden, may have played a role in derailing those plans. Stapf also pointed out that streaming platforms are facing their own struggles, tightening their content budgets, which made finding new homes for these canceled shows even harder.
In the end, none of the three popular shows from the 2024 TV schedule found a new platform. While it’s a small consolation that CBS Studios did try, there simply wasn’t enough interest or financial justification to keep them going—especially with the high cost of filming NCIS: Hawai’i on location.
While CBS has new content lined up for the fall, the network’s decision to ax these fan-favorite shows is still being talked about months later, leaving many to wonder if it was the right call.
