Should the Fire Country sheriff spin-off happen at CBS? (Is there room for the series?)
Morena Baccarin has made her debut on Fire Country as Deputy Sheriff Mickey Fox. She has come into the show with the potential of getting her own spin-off series, but is there even room in the schedule for it?
CBS is focused on renewing current shows. There are still some surprising shows on the bubble, including The Equalizer and NCIS: Hawaii, but some of them are expected to land renewals. There was also a surprise U-turn on SWAT, with CBS renewing the show for Season 8.
Now eyes are on the 2024–2025 schedule. We know that Matlock and NCIS: Origins are among three new dramas confirmed with there are two new comedies. It’s leading to a packed schedule, which makes many question the chances of a Fire Country spin-off series happening.
The Fire Country spin-off could be held to midseason
There is the option to hold this series for the midseason. This is a popular way to bring in new shows as lower ratings are considered this time of year and there are fewer risks since the seasons are naturally shorter than fall shows. Blue Bloods will have eight episodes in the fall, which will open Friday nights up to a new series. Why not have Fire Country lead into a spin-off on Friday nights?
This would likely be the best way to make the spin-off work. There is a focus on franchise nights on networks, after all. Just look at the two hour block of NCIS on Mondays and the three-hour FBI block on Tuesdays. Why not a Fire Country block on a Friday night?
Could a spin-off be held until the 2025–2026 season?
CBS doesn’t need to make a decision right now. The network could play this one smart. We’ve only just come to meet Mickey. Why not give her some time to grow on the main series and bring a spin-off in the 2025–2026 season instead? This would get rid of the issue of too much content on CBS right now.
Matlock was originally set for the fall 2023 schedule. Due to the strike action, it was pushed to fall 2024 instead of fitting it into the winter and spring 2024 schedules. With pushing one new show back, CBS has set a precedent, and this could allow for a Fire Country spin-off to still happen but in the new TV season.
So, if the spin-off isn’t picked up this season, let’s not panic too much. Holding it off a season could be a strong strategic move for the series.
Fire Country airs on Fridays at 9/8c on CBS.