Watson Moves onto CBS’ Fall Lineup, ‘FBI’ Spinoff ‘CIA’ Pushed to Midseason

CBS is making a change to its fall schedule.

Second-year drama Watson, which had been scheduled for a midseason start, will move up to the fall. It takes the place of CIA, an FBI spinoff that CBS ordered straight to series in April but now won’t be ready in time for a fall launch. CIA, from Dick Wolf’s Wolf Entertainment, Universal Television and CBS Studios, is also changing showrunners: Warren Leight (Law & Order: SVU) is taking over from FBI: Most Wanted’s David Hudgins.

A writers room for CIA is at work, but casting for other roles around lead Tom Ellis hasn’t begun yet. Filming is slated to begin in early fall.

As for CBS’ premiere schedule, the network will once again roll out most of its lineup in mid-October, using the early part of the NFL season as a promotional engine. Unscripted mainstays Survivor and The Amazing Race and CBS News programs 48 Hours and 60 Minutes will go a bit earlier than that, debuting in the final week of September.

The season premieres of Matlock and Elsbeth will follow an NFL doubleheader and 60 Minutes on Sunday, Oct. 12, before settling in their regular Thursday spots four days later. Watson will follow FBI on Monday nights starting Oct. 13, and network TV’s most-watched series, Tracker, is set for an Oct. 19 premiere.

CBS will also air the Primetime Emmy Awards on Sept. 14 and a Grammy special saluting Earth, Wind & Fire a week later — on the 21st night of September.

The network’s fall premiere dates are below. All times are ET/PT unless noted; new series denoted with an asterisk.

Wednesday, Sept. 24
8 p.m.: Survivor

Thursday, Sept. 25
9 p.m.: The Amazing Race

Saturday, Sept. 27
10 p.m.: 48 Hours

Sunday, Sept. 28
7:30 p.m.: 60 Minutes (following NFL doubleheader)
8:30 p.m.: Big Brother 27 (finale)

Wednesday, Oct. 1
9:30 p.m.: The Amazing Race (regular time)

Sunday, Oct. 12
8:30 p.m.: Matlock
9:30 p.m.: Elsbeth

Monday, Oct. 13
8 p.m.: The Neighborhood (final season)
8:30 p.m.: DMV*
9 p.m.: FBI
10 p.m.: Watson

Tuesday, Oct. 14
8 p.m.: NCIS
9 p.m.: NCIS: Origins
10 p.m.: NCIS: Sydney

Thursday, Oct. 16
8 p.m.: Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage
8:30 p.m.: Ghosts
9 p.m.: Matlock (regular time)
10 p.m.: Elsbeth (regular time)

Friday, Oct. 17
8 p.m.: Fire Country
9 p.m.: Sheriff Country*
10 p.m.: Boston Blue*

Sunday, Oct. 19
8 p.m.: Tracker
9 p.m.: The Road*

Friday, Oct. 24
8 p.m.: Sheriff Country (regular time)
9 p.m.: Fire Country (regular time)