CBS underscored the early success of its new batch of prime-time series by giving out full-season orders to all five of them on Thursday.
That means all the shows will make it through at least one full season, an unlikely rate of early success in a business renowned for quick failure. Each of CBS’s three big prime-time competitors, ABC, NBC and Fox, has canceled new shows already this season.
The five CBS shows are the comedies “Mike and Molly” and “$#*! My Dad Says,” and the dramas “Hawaii Five-O,” “The Defenders” and “Blue Bloods.” None of the five can be considered a runaway hit yet, but each has posted at least respectable ratings and most of them have been the most-watched show on television at their hour each week.
In terms of total viewers, the five CBS shows are ahead of all the other new shows introduced this fall. And in the advertiser-preferred category of viewers from 18 to 49, “Hawaii Five-0,” “Mike and Molly,” and $#*! My Dad Says” are the top three.