CBS cancels – CBS is cutting four shows from its 2026–2027 schedule, including the long-running “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.” The network says the decisions are financial and based on performance, while executives also point to a “high bar” for renewal as new series
For viewers tuning in out of habit — and for the crews who built those shows week after week — the change came on a schedule announcement day that felt final. CBS said four series will not return for the 2026–2027 season, citing a “high bar” for renewal while making room for new programs.
The most prominent cancellation is “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert,” a cornerstone of CBS late-night programming. Colbert took over the show in 2015 from David Letterman and built a run that lasted 11 seasons under his helm. “The Late Show” in its entirety ran for 33 years. The final episode aired in May and was watched by 6.74 million viewers. CBS data says. marking the series’ most-watched weeknight episode of all time. CBS also says the show averaged 2.69 million viewers in the first quarter of 2026, citing live+7 big data information.
CBS Entertainment President Amy Reisenbach acknowledged the cancellations of “DMV” and “Watson,” saying the shows were “a joy to work on,” but adding, “it’s a high bar on CBS. We aggregate all the numbers, and we have to make those tough decisions in order to make room for new shows.”
The timing landed in the middle of another public flashpoint for the network. The cancellation announcement came after Colbert criticized CBS parent company Paramount for a $16 million settlement with President Donald Trump over a 60 Minutes lawsuit. Colbert called it a “big fat bribe” as Paramount sought approval for its merger with Skydance Media. Paramount and CBS officials responded in a statement saying the cancellation was “purely a financial decision against a challenging backdrop in late night. ” and was not “related in any way to the show’s performance. content or other matters happening at Paramount.”.
On ratings platforms, “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” holds a 7.2/10 rating on IMDb.
Two other series with smaller but still established followings are also leaving. “The Neighborhood” was canceled after eight seasons. Premiering in 2018. the sitcom followed a white Midwestern family as they adjusted to moving into a predominantly black neighborhood in Pasadena. It starred Cedric the Entertainer and Max Greenfield. CBS previously renewed the show in 2025 for an eighth and final season. and Cedric the Entertainer had said earlier that requests for salary raises played a part in the show’s cancellation. On IMDb, “The Neighborhood” has a 6.8/10 rating. Rotten Tomatoes figures listed for the show show a 59–77 percent Audience Score across seasons and a 24 percent Critic Score for Season 1.
“Watson,” meanwhile, ends after two seasons. The medical mystery drama spin-off centered on Dr. John Watson, reimagining the Sherlock Holmes universe in a modern hospital setting. Morris Chestnut starred as Watson. The series follows Watson opening a medical practice after the death of Holmes. and is described as a medical drama with detective elements. On IMDb, “Watson” holds a 5.6/10 rating. Rotten Tomatoes listings show a 34 percent Audience Score and a 53 percent Critic Score.
The fourth cancellation is “DMV,” a workplace comedy set inside a Department of Motor Vehicles office. The show followed staff members forming friendships while navigating bureaucratic chaos. It premiered in 2025 and ran for one season, starring Harriet Dyer and Tim Meadows in an ensemble cast. Rotten Tomatoes listings for “DMV” show a 60 percent Audience Score and a 65 percent Critic Score.
CBS is reshuffling the broader slate as well. The network’s new schedule for the 2026–2027 season includes 19 returning series and four new series. CBS executives said the “bar is high” for renewal. with shows evaluated on overall viewership. and that cancellations are intended to make room for new programs.
Among the newly announced entries is “NCIS: New York” starring LL Cool J. The network’s other three previously announced new shows are “Cupertino. ” a legal drama starring Mike Colter; “Einstein. ” starring Matthew Gray Gubler and Melissa Fumero; and “Eternally Yours. ” a family drama about a vampire couple from the producers of “Ghosts.”.
For CBS. the decision appears to come down to where the network draws the line between what fans built and what the numbers — “all the numbers. ” as Reisenbach put it — can justify as it pursues a fresh lineup for the next season. For the audiences still catching up on the shows being cut, the end won’t arrive with a cliffhanger. It will arrive with the familiar click of a channel guide that suddenly doesn’t offer the same comfort it did last week.
CBS cancellations The Late Show with Stephen Colbert The Neighborhood Watson DMV 2026-2027 schedule Amy Reisenbach NCIS: New York