CBS’ lengthy lineup of crime-related programs has given the network pause this week. New episodes of Supergirl and NCIS:Los Angeles have been pulled by the network due to content related to bombings and terrorist attacks. If you are fans of either show, don’t fret too much: CBS announced today that both episodes will be replaced by other new episodes of both Supergirl and NCIS: LA, rather than reruns.
This week, the threat Kar Zor-El was supposed to face in National City involved a baddie with a penchant for creating bombs. Instead of airing the episode “How Does She Do It?,” the brand new CBS series will be introducing baddie Livewire early. The episode that will air in “How Does She Do It?”’s place CBS has announced that “Livewire” will air. Here’s the synopsis for that ep:
Kara’s Thanksgiving may be ruined when she suspects her foster mother, Dr. Danvers (Helen Slater), who is coming to town, disapproves of her new role as a superhero. Also, when an accident transforms a volatile CatCo employee into the villainous Livewire, she targets Cat and Supergirl.
We’ve known for a while that Livewire would be a big addition this season, and CBS even signed on True Blood actress Brit Morgan for the iconic role. We just didn't expect the character quite this early.
Later on Monday, NCIS: Los Angeles is switching to a new episode called “The Long Goodbye,” which wasn’t originally expected to hit the schedule until next month. Info from the network indicates the former episode would have followed a young woman who is recruited into a terrorist organization.
The episodes are being pulled following the Paris attacks. The bombs in Supergirl and the actual terrorism plotline on NCIS: LA both are pretty strong episodes in the wake of the attacks that occurred over the weekend, killing 129 people.
Networks have pulled shows in the past following attacks like the Boston Marathon bombing or even large weather events. A Mike & Molly episode about tornadoes was briefly pulled off of the airwaves when it would have premiered following devastating tornadoes in Oklahoma, Illinois, Iowa and Kansas. Likewise, episodes of Family Guy and Hannibal were pulled after the Boston Marathon bombing. Often when this happens, the affected episodes eventually air at a later date, after tensions have died down (or later show up on the DVD).
Supergirl’s a little more serialized than the NCIS properties, but since that show is only popping ahead one week, theoretically, fans should still have a pretty easy time following along with the new episode. Supergirl’s “Livewire will air on Monday, November 16 at 8 p.m. ET. NCIS: LA will air at 10 p.m. ET that same evening.
