‘Kevin Can Wait,’ plus more series CBS is renewing for fall
Kevin James stars as a retired police officer in "Kevin Can Wait," coming back for a second season on CBS. Credit: CBS / Jeff Neumann
“Kevin Can Wait” — otherwise known as the first and only Long Island-produced prime-time sitcom — has been renewed by CBS for a second season, the network announced.
No surprise: “Kevin,” starring Kevin James as a retired Nassau County cop, has been a solid if not spectacular performer and it was expected to get a second season order. The Monday night show is filmed at Bethpage’s Gold Coast Studios.
In addition, the network announced that 18 series will return next year. (Included in this list are “NCIS” and “The Big Bang Theory,” which had earlier received renewal notices. “TBBT” was for two seasons.)
But as usual, what’s interesting here is what did not make the fall season renewal list. “Amazing Race” is the most obvious and notable absentee, with “Criminal Minds” a very close second.
The renewal of “Amazing Race” is likely only a formality at this point, pending the conclusion of the 29th season, which begins March 30. Indeed, the 29th — which will include Lynbrook native Brooke Camhi as a cast member — was originally expected to launch in June, but after the flop of “Training Day,” CBS was forced to move the launch date up to late March.
Meanwhile, in the midst of its 12th season, “Criminal Minds” remains a fan favorite (currently about 12 million viewers) but veteran series are also expensive series while “CM” has had two notable cast departures, Shemar Moore and Thomas Gibson — who was essentially fired after getting into an altercation with a writer on the set.
With numbers like this, it’d be hard for CBS to drop the show. (So don’t worry too much, fans.) Moreover, networks do tend to haggle with series around this time, and the silence on this may be indicative of an ongoing negotiation.
Other absentees include “2 Broke Girls,” “The Odd Couple, “The Great Indoors” and “Elementary.”
CBS said in a statement that “additional returning series pickups for next season will be announced at later date.”
Here’s the list of those locked in for the 2017-18 season: “The Big Bang Theory;” “Blue Bloods,” “Bull,” “Hawaii Five-0,” “Kevin Can Wait,” “Life in Pieces,” “MacGyver,” “Madam Secretary,” “Man With a Plan,” “Mom,” “NCIS,” “NCIS: Los Angeles,” “NCIS: New Orleans,” “Scorpion,” “Superior Donuts,” “Survivor,” “48 Hours” and “60 Minutes.”
