Elsbeth is moving to a special time on Thursday, Nov. 20. Why is this happening, and what’s coming for the show?
Elsbeth may not get as much press as other CBS shows, but the quirky mystery procedural has won over a loyal audience. It’s boosted by its star with Carrie Preston a delight taking her Emmy-winning The Good Wife character Elsbeth Tascioni and making the eccentric lawyer a crime solver for the NYPD.
Each episode opens showing the audience who the killer is and how they commit the crime. It then focuses on Elsbeth slowly unraveling the mystery with some great humor. The show has been a success on Thursdays, airing at 10/9c.
However, the Thrusday, Nov. 20 episode will have the show move an hour ahead for viewers, and this could be a great move. But what's going on with the CBS schedule?
Why is Elsbeth moving showtimes?
The key reason Elsbeth is moving up an hour is that Matlock, which normally airs at 9/8c, is taking that Thursday off. Thus, Elsbeth will air a new episode in that time slot, which will then be followed by a rerun of the third season premiere.
It’s odd for CBS, yet it seems Matlock has some issues requiring a longer production between episodes (which includes replacing David Del Rio after he was dismissed for allegedly assaulting co-star Leah Lewis). That means a delay in episodes, even as the show is headed for a break after its winter finale on Thursday, Dec. 4.
Thursday, Nov. 26, is, of course, Thanksgiving, so obviously, there are no new prime time shows. CBS will air college basketball as Duke faces Arkansas in a top NCAA matchup starting at 8/7c. That will be followed (time permitting) by another Elsbeth rerun of “Doll Day Afternoon.”
Elsbeth will be back to its regular time slot on Thursday, Dec. 4, following a new Matlock as the shows head into their fall finales. At least Elsbeth has a good episode to show off its temporary slot!
What’s coming for Elsbeth in its new slot?
The new time slot is a good way for Elsbeth to attract more viewers following CBS’s comedy block of George and Mandy’s First Marriage and Ghosts. Matlock had been a buffer between the comedies and Elsbeth, but this new slot should get more viewers into Elsbeth, which can help its long-time ratings.
Elsbeth season 3 episode 7 looks like a fun entry. Titled “And Then There Were Nuns,” the storyline sends Elsbeth to a convent where the Mother Superior (special guest star Dianne Wiest) appears to have murdered a pop star who tried to buy the place, meaning Elsbeth has to tackle the Church.
“A pop star’s (Lindsey Normington) purchase of a failing convent turns divine real estate into a murder scene as Elsbeth takes on the Mother of all nuns (Dianne Wiest). Meanwhile, Teddy digs into Alec Bloom’s past for a feature he is working on.”
Dianne Wiest is a spectacular guest star for the series. The two-time Oscar and Emmy winner has carved out an amazing career of roles that easily balance drama and comedy. That makes her perfect for Elsbeth, a show that retains a fun sense of humor despite the murder mysteries abounding. Having her face off with Preston should create sensational sparks to make this a must-watch episode.
So Elsbeth fans have to adjust their viewing habits a bit for its next episode, but hopefully it gets more attention for this wonderful show!
Elsbeth airs at a special time of 9/8c on Thursday, Nov. 20, on CBS.
Get the latest TV crime drama updates with Precinct TV.