CBS Trims Episodes for Fire Country, NCIS Spinoffs

0:00It's May 2nd, you're listening to entertainment and celebrity news today. AI-powered pop culture updates. I'm Corey with The Story. CVS is shaking up its lineup, cutting episode orders for three big shows heading into the 2026-2027 season. Fire Country gets just 13 episodes for season 5, while NCIS Origins and NCIS Sydney both drop to shorter runs, roughly half what fans expect. This follows Matlock's mid-season return as the network squeezes in fresh content. Fire Country stands out as the real curveball, since it's always delivered full seasons since launching. It leaves Fridays this fall alongside Sheriff Country and Boston Blue, but bows out early. Behind the scenes, original showrunner Tia Napolitano is stepping away after season 4, though that's not the official reason for the trim. Fans are buzzing with surprise, especially Fire Country loyalists, who saw it dip in ratings against its Friday partners. The move clears prime time slots amid a renewal wave, after axing DMV Ann Watson, but greenlighting most hits.

1:05New arrivals like NCIS New York, Cupertino, and the comedy Eternal Yours need space this fall. Details on the NCIS spin-offs show them tag-teaming Tuesdays at 10pm. Origins airs as 10 episodes through the first half, then Sydney picks up in spring. No word yet on what fills Fire Country's Friday 9pm spot come mid-season, maybe Matlock or the Einstein premiere. All this reshuffling keeps CBS packed with returning favorites, just leaner to fit the new blood. Expect a fresh vibe when the schedule drops fully.