2020 TV Upfronts: CBS announces 2020-2021 schedule; see photos and videos

May 19, 2020

by Carla Hay

Annaleigh Ashford and Thomas Middleditch in “B Positive” (Photo by Pamela Littky/Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc.)

CBS officially announced its 2020-2021 schedule. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the network’s upfront presentation, which traditionally takes place at Carnegie Hall in New York City, was cancelled. Instead, the announcement was made online. Most of the existing shows had previously been announced as renewed. Most of the existing shows had previously been announced as renewed. However, the upfront presentation made it official that the following shows have been cancelled: “Broke,” “Carol’s Second Act,” “Tommy,” “Hawaii Five-O,” “Madam Secretary,” “God Friended Me” and “Man With a Plan.” New scripted shows include “B Positive,” “The Equalizer” and “Clarice.”

Some of actors starring in these new programs are known for starring in past long-running hit shows. They include “B Positive” co-stars Thomas Middleditch (formerly of “Silicon Valley”) and Annaleigh Ashford (formerly of “Masters of Sex”); “The Equalizer” star Queen Latifah, who co-starred on “Living Single,” and “The Equalizer” supporting actor Chris Noth, who is best known for his stints on “Sex and the City” and “Law & Order”; and “Clarice” co-star Kal Penn, who is best known for previous roles on “House” and “Scrubs.”

Please note that shows picked up but not listed on the schedule below will debut at other times in the 2020-2021 season. They include new show “Clarice” and renewed shows “Undercover Boss,” “S.W.A.T.” and “Celebrity Big Brother.” Season premiere dates for all of these shows are to be announced.

The following is an excerpt from a CBS press release:

CBS FALL 2020 SCHEDULE

All times listed are Eastern/Pacific Time.

MONDAY

8-8:30 p.m. “The Neighborhood”
8:30-9 p.m. “Bob ♥ Abishola”
9-10 p.m. “All Rise”
10-11 p.m. “Bull”

TUESDAY

8-9 p.m. “NCIS”
9-10 p.m. “FBI”
10-11 p.m. “FBI: Most Wanted”

WEDNESDAY

8-9 p.m. “Survivor”
9-10 p.m.  “The Amazing Race”
10-11 p.m. “SEAL Team”

THURSDAY

8-8:30 p.m. “Young Sheldon”
8:30-9 p.m. “B Positive”
9-9:30 p.m. “Mom”
9:30-10 p.m. “The Unicorn”
10-11 p.m. “Evil”

FRIDAY

8-9 p.m. “MacGyver”
9-10 p.m. “Magnum P.I.”
10-11 p.m. “Blue Bloods”

SATURDAY

8-9 p.m. Crimetime Saturday
9-10 p.m. Crimetime Saturday
10-11 p.m. “48 Hours”

SUNDAY

7-8 p.m. “60 Minutes”
8-9 p.m. “The Equalizer”
9-10 p.m. “NCIS: Los Angeles”
10-11 p.m. “NCIS: New Orleans”

NEW DRAMA SERIES

“THE EQUALIZER”

“The Equalizer” star Queen Latifah

THE EQUALIZER is a reimagining of the classic series starring Academy Award nominee and multi-hyphenate Queen Latifah (“Chicago,” “Bessie”) as Robyn McCall, an enigmatic woman with a mysterious background who uses her extensive skills to help those with nowhere else to turn. McCall presents to most as an average single mom who is quietly raising her teenage daughter. But to a trusted few, she is The Equalizer – an anonymous guardian angel and defender of the downtrodden, who’s also dogged in her pursuit of personal redemption. Andrew Marlowe, Terri Miller, Dana Owens (Queen Latifah), John Davis, John Fox, Debra Martin Chase, Richard Lindheim (co-creator of the original “Equalizer” TV series that ran on CBS for four seasons), Shakim Compere and Liz Friedlander (pilot only) are executive producers for Universal Television, a division of NBCUniversal Content Studios, in association with CBS Television Studios. Friedlander will direct the pilot episode from a script by Marlowe and Miller.

THE EQUALIZER stars Queen Latifah as Robyn McCall, Chris Noth as William Bishop, Lorraine Toussaint as Viola “Aunt Vi” Lascombe, Tory Kittles as Marcus Dante, Liza Lapira as Melody Zhao and Laya DeLeon Hayes as Delilah.

NEW DRAMA SERIES

“CLARICE”

“Clarice” star Rebecca Breeds (Photo by Dave Kotinsky/Getty Images for Hulu)

CLARICE, from acclaimed executive producers Alex Kurtzman and Jenny Lumet, and starring Rebecca Breeds (“Pretty Little Liars”) in the title role, is a deep dive into the untold personal story of FBI Agent Clarice Starling as she returns to the field in 1993, six months after the events of “The Silence of the Lambs.” Brilliant and vulnerable, Clarice’s bravery gives her an inner light that draws monsters and madmen to her. However, her complex psychological makeup that comes from a challenging childhood empowers her to begin to find her voice while working in a man’s world, as well as escape the family secrets that have haunted her throughout her life. Alex Kurtzman, Jenny Lumet, Elizabeth J.B. Klaviter and Heather Kadin are executive producers for MGM Television and CBS Television Studios in association with Secret Hideout. Aaron Baiers is a co-executive producer. Maja Vrvilo will direct the pilot episode from a script by Lumet and Kurtzman.

CLARICE stars Rebecca Breeds as Clarice Starling, Kal Penn as Emin Grigoriyan, Nick Sandow as Murray Clarke, Lucca de Oliveira as Tomas Esquivel, Michael Cudlitz as Paul Krendler and Devyn A. Tyler as Ardelia Mapp.

NEW COMEDY SERIES

“B POSITIVE”

Annaleigh Ashford and Thomas Middleditch in “B Positive” (Photo by Pamela Littky/Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc.)

B POSITIVE is from award-winning executive producer, writer and creator Chuck Lorre and Marco Pennette, and stars Emmy Award nominee Thomas Middleditch (“Silicon Valley”) and Tony Award winner Annaleigh Ashford (“Masters of Sex”). The comedy revolves around Drew (Middleditch), a therapist and newly divorced dad who is faced with finding a kidney donor when he runs into Gina (Ashford), a rough-around-the-edges woman from his past who volunteers her own. Together, they form an unlikely and life-affirming friendship as they begin a journey that will forever impact both of their lives. Chuck Lorre and Marco Pennette are executive producers for Warner Bros. Television and Chuck Lorre Productions, Inc. James Burrows directed the pilot from a script by Pennette.

B POSITIVE stars Thomas Middleditch as Drew, Annaleigh Ashford as Gina, Kether Donohue as Leanne, Sara Rue as Julia and Kamryn Kunody as Maddie.

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