CBS Fall Premiere Dates Revealed: NCIS, Matlock and More Are Back While Tom Ellis’ CIA Drama Gets Sent to TV Time-Out

CBS just unleashed its Fall premiere dates (2025 TV schedule), and it’s a jam-packed ride full of returning crime juggernauts, reimagined courtroom classics, and reality TV that just won’t quit. But one much-hyped newcomer? Nowhere to be found.

That would be Tom Ellis’ CIA drama, which was quietly pushed to midseason and handed a shiny new showrunner. Not exactly the rollout fans were hoping for. But don’t worry — there’s still plenty of good TV on the way.

Here’s your go-to guide to what’s coming back, what’s new, and what’s suspiciously missing from CBS’s fall lineup.

🕒 CBS Fall Premiere Dates (Full Time Guide Schedule) 2025

Date	Time	Show	Details
Sunday, Sept 7	8:00 PM ET	2025 Video Music Awards	Kicks off CBS’s fall season
Sunday, Sept 14	8:00 PM ET	Emmy Awards	Annual star-studded awards show
Sunday, Sept 21	8:00 PM ET	Grammy Salute to Earth, Wind & Fire	Musical tribute event
Wednesday, Sept 24	8:00 PM ET	Survivor (2-hour premiere)	Season 49 premiere
	10:00 PM ET	48 Hours	Season 38 kicks off
Thursday, Sept 25	9:00 PM ET	The Amazing Race (90 mins)	New season, new global chaos
Sunday, Sept 28	7:30 PM ET	60 Minutes (Season 58)	Season premiere
	8:30 PM ET	Big Brother Finale	Crowning the final houseguest

📺 CBS Premiere Week: October 12–18

Day	Time	Show	Notes
Sunday, Oct 12	7:30 PM ET	60 Minutes	Regular slot
	8:30 PM ET	Matlock Season 2 (Sneak Peek)	Kathy Bates returns
	9:30 PM ET	Elsbeth Season 3 (Sneak Peek)	New mystery cases, same glam looks
Monday, Oct 13	8:00 PM ET	The Neighborhood (Final Season)	Time to say goodbye
	8:30 PM ET	DMV (New Comedy)	Workplace sitcom at the DMV
	9:00 PM ET	FBI Season 8	Back to solving federal crimes
	10:00 PM ET	Watson Season 2	Sherlock’s right hand returns
Tuesday, Oct 14	8:00 PM ET	NCIS Season 23	The flagship returns
	9:00 PM ET	NCIS: Origins Season 2	Young Gibbs in action
	10:00 PM ET	NCIS: Sydney Season 3	Down Under drama returns
Thursday, Oct 16	8:00 PM ET	Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage S2	Young Sheldon spinoff
	8:30 PM ET	Ghosts Season 5	America’s favorite dead roommates
	9:00 PM ET	Matlock (Regular Timeslot)	Thursday courtroom drama
	10:00 PM ET	Elsbeth (Regular Timeslot)	Fashion meets forensics
Friday, Oct 17	8:00 PM ET	Fire Country Season 4 (Special)	Firefighters are back
	9:00 PM ET	Sheriff Country (New)	Crime drama with rural vibes
	10:00 PM ET	Boston Blue (New)	New police procedural
Sunday, Oct 19	8:00 PM ET	Tracker Season 3	Justin Hartley is back on the trail
	9:00 PM ET	The Road (New Reality)	Travel and emotion collide

😬 What Happened to Tom Ellis’ CIA Show?

Let’s get to the drama.

The unnamed CIA drama starring Tom Ellis (aka Lucifer) was originally on deck for this fall. Then CBS hit the brakes. It’s now scheduled for midseason, likely early 2026, and has been handed a new showrunner.

Translation? The network isn’t loving what they’ve seen so far. Midseason debuts aren’t always bad news — sometimes they’re strategic. But this one? Feels more like a corporate oops.

So, for now, Ellis fans will have to wait a little longer to see him trade devil horns for spy gadgets.

🎬 New Shows Worth Watching (Or At Least Trying)

CBS is introducing a few newbies alongside its reliable tentpoles:

• Sheriff Country: Premieres Friday, October 17. A small-town crime show that looks like Longmire and Blue Bloods had a baby.

• Boston Blue: Also premieres October 17. Another cop drama? Yes. But this one’s set in gritty Beantown.

• DMV: A Monday-night sitcom that takes the bureaucratic pain of waiting at the DMV and turns it into comedy. Maybe.

Will any of these shows survive more than one season? TBD. But CBS has a decent track record when it comes to keeping procedurals alive.

📝 Final Take: CBS Plays It Safe While Tom Ellis Waits on the Bench

CBS’s Fall 2025 schedule is everything fans expect — comfort food television with just enough new flavors to keep things interesting. From a full-blown NCIS Tuesday takeover to the return of Matlock and Elsbeth, the network is sticking to what works.

And while Tom Ellis' CIA series being bumped to midseason is a bummer, the rest of the lineup delivers on the promise of consistent, accessible prime-time entertainment.

So, update your calendar, charge your remote, and start placing bets on which new show gets canceled first. It’s officially TV season.

Got thoughts on the new shows or hot takes on the CIA delay? Drop them below or bookmark us for weekly recaps. CBS might play it safe, but we don’t.