Just hours after we’d looked at the hopeful chances for Elsbeth, CBS came in with the exciting news. A second season is officially happening.
As we’d mentioned earlier today, a renewal looked like a good option for the network. The series is a CBS Studios show and already has a strong fanbase with The Good Wife and The Good Fight fans. Despite the arguably poor scheduling decisions, the show managed to perform well in delayed ratings, offering hope of a second season.
TVLine gave a breakdown of the viewing figures, sharing that it averages 0.45 in the demo and 7.3 million viewers in the Live+7 playback ratings. That is higher than CSI: Vegas when it was in the same timeslot last year, which made a renewal a likely option. That last Thursday timeslot is difficult for all broadcast networks, so the same-day linear ratings being low aren’t that surprising. When you look at the same day linear ratings when there was a 9 p.m. ET/PT episode, it performed much better.
Elsbeth Season 2 could be held for the midseason
Now eyes are on when we could see the second season arrive. This is a show that could be held for the midseason, keeping the season runs a little shorter. This works better for shows that haven’t quite found their linear rating footing.
The CBS schedule is already looking packed for the fall. We know that NCIS and the FBIs are returning and will likely take fall slots. There’s also the new shows Matlock and NCIS: Origins that are likely to air in the fall. Plus, there’s the likes of Tracker and we’re sure to see The Equalizer renewed.
Could Michael Emerson guest star in Elsbeth?
Fans want to know if a certain leading lady’s husband will guest star in the series. Wouldn’t it make sense for Carrie Preston’s husband, Michael Emerson, to turn up. He already plays a good villain in a story.
Well, it turns out that this is a possibility. TVLine also reports that Preston and the show EPs, Robert and Michelle King, would like Emerson to turn up in an episode. However, Emerson was filming Evil, also with the Kings, when the first season was in the works, and they couldn’t make the schedules work. With Evil ending with the current season, there is an opening in his schedule. Until then, we’ll have to watch Evil and Fallout to see his recent work.
Elsbeth airs Thursdays at 10/9c on CBS.