CBS’ usual fall fare is getting off to a later start this season, and as a result, the episode orders for some of its series are a bit shorter.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, CBS has decided to run no more than 16 episodes of Blue Bloods, Bull, Magnum P.I., NCIS, NCIS: New Orleans, and SEAL Team in the 2020–2021 season, and 18 episodes of NCIS: Los Angeles and The Neighborhood. As scheduled, episode 13 of The Unicorn’s second season will air. All of these programs are made by CBS Studios.
These shorter episode orders can be attributed to the new protocols in effect to film due to the coronavirus pandemic, including testing and social distancing. It’s more expensive and takes more time to produce an episode as a result.
Exact episode counts for the rest of the network’s primetime lineup (like FBI, its spinoff FBI: Most Wanted, and Mom) haven’t been announced yet but will reportedly be along the same lines.
This news comes as CBS’ scripted shows are set to begin premiering in early November. Premiere dates for all of its planned “fall” schedule have not yet been announced; we’re still waiting to find out when Blue Bloods, The Equalizer, Evil, MacGyver, and Magnum P.I. will return.