CBS has spent the last few weeks breaking hearts. The network canceled FBI: Most Wanted and FBI: International, much to the surprise of fans everywhere. Then, it turned around and canceled a show that had already been canceled and revived twice: SWAT.
It seemed like no CBS show was going to be safe, especially since renewals for many have yet to come through. Well, we are happy to report that some renewal news has finally landed on our desk. Watson, the new procedural drama starring Morris Chestnut, has been renewed for a second season.
Watson has been renewed for season two
Upon looking at the season one numbers, its easy to see why. Deadline reported that the premiere of Watson was the most-watched scripted drama of CBS' 2024-25 season. It hasn't fallen off, either. It's managed to average 6.79 million viewers per week, making it a massive ratings hit. The first season is slated to conclude with a two-part finale on May 4 and May 11, so the renewal news will give the cast and crew plenty of time to begin formulating where the story will go next.
It may seem odd that a relatively new title like Watson would get the green light, while proven franchise spinoffs like FBI: Most Wanted have been given the boot, but the newness of the former likely boosted its case. Scripted dramas get more expensive to maintain as they go on, and networks can get leery about rising salaries and production costs. A show like Watson is likely much cheaper to produce that FBI: Most Wanted, and its performing better in the ratings.
Watson joins a stable of CBS shows that will be coming back, including Fire Country, Tracker, and the flagship FBI show. Matlock, another procedural drama that takes a new approach to an established character like Watson, will also be coming back for a second season.
The show blends medical and procedural drama
A big part of why Morris Chestnut thinks Watson has connected to strongly with viewers is the way it blends medical drama with crime. The titular character is a doctor, but thanks to his time with the late Sherlock Holmes, he's also an excellent detective. "We are a serialized, procedural show," the veteran actor explained. "Every episode will have a medical case that we solve, as well as a strong serialized procedural element."
"We're not just a typical medical drama," Chestnut also told CBS Mornings. "We solve the cases inside the hospital and outside of the hospital. We're doctors, but we're also detectives." It's a combo that'll likely continue to charm audiences for the foreseeable future.