‘Blue Bloods’, ‘NCIS’, and Other CBS Shows Will Have Shorter Seasons

CBS’ usual fall fare is starting later this season, and as a result, some of its series’ episode orders are a little shorter.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, CBS has set 16 episodes for Blue Bloods, Bull, Magnum P.I., NCIS, NCIS: New Orleans, and SEAL Team in the 2020-2021 season, as opposed to up to 24 for NCIS: Los Angeles and The Neighborhood. The Unicorn will air 13 episodes in its second season, as planned. CBS Studios is responsible for all of these shows.

These shorter episode orders can be attributed to the new c0r0na v1rus pand3mic-related filming protocols, which include testing and social distancing. As a result, it is more expensive and takes longer to produce an episode.

Exact episode counts for the rest of the network’s primetime lineup (such as FBI, its spinoff FBI: Most Wanted, and Mom) have yet to be announced but are expected to be similar.

This news comes as CBS’ scripted shows prepare to debut in early November. The premiere dates for the rest of its planned “fall” schedule have yet to be announced; we still don’t know when Blue Bloods, The Equalizer, Evil, MacGyver, and Magnum P.I. will return.