We want more of the shows that we love. So, it’s not surprising to hear that fans want more of The Equalizer, Tracker, and Elsbeth. The good news is we have some potential episode counts.
It used to be the case that we knew fall shows would land 22 episodes. Some shows would get 23 or 24 episodes, but 22 was the standard for the broadcast networks.
Things have changed in recent years. Now, anything about 16 episodes seems to be classed as a “full season,” which is much shorter than the full 22 episodes that we’re used to. It’s disappointing for those who want more, but it is a cost-saving method as the costs of production go up.
Episode counts for The Equalizer, Tracker, and Elsbeth are up
Last year, everything was different. Due to the strikes throughout summer 2023, the 2023–2024 schedule had to be cut short. That meant a lot of shows only had 10 to 13 episodes. The Equalizer and Elsbeth got 10 episodes, while Tracker had 13 episodes.
We were promised that we’d get more episodes for the 2024–2025 season. CBS didn’t confirm just how many episodes that we’d get, but now we have an idea.
According to TVLine, we’re expecting between 18 and 22 episodes for the shows. Some of the episode counts will depend on licensing agreements and contract negotiations with the actors. Some counts will be affected by the production schedules and plans.
Something like Tracker is likely to get the full 22-episode count. The episodes don’t take too long in the production schedule and Justin Hartley isn’t as big of a name as the likes of Queen Latifah. Meanwhile, The Equalizer may be around 18 episodes. This series was traditionally shorter than other shows on CBS, likely linked to Queen Latifah’s contract, and while CBS may want more episodes, that doesn’t mean the actress has to agree to a full 22-episode season. That’s a lot of months on the job.
The good news is CBS is trying to get back to a normal TV season. That means the fall shows are likely to get full seasons.