When NCIS, Fire Country And More CBS Hits Are Finally Returning With New Seasons

The NCIS task force on NCIS on CBS
(Image credit: CBS)

Now that the SAG-AFTRA strike has ended and the bulk of the entertainment industry can return to their previously scheduled duties, TV network execs are finally able to start hammering out scheduling details for when everyone's favorite shows will be able to return. CBS is the first broadcaster to go to bat with its additions to the 2024 Winter/Spring schedule, with dates locked down for new (alebit shortened) seasons for ratings winners such as NCIS, the FBI franchise, Young Sheldon and more, including This Is Us vet Justin Hartley's TV return.

CBS viewers will be able to use NCIS: Sydney and its upside-down previews as a procedural life preserver until all the returning favorites start raining down, with the bulk of the planned premieres set for February. (Starting up production again right before the holidays doesn't exactly allow for immediate turnarounds.) Let's take a look at what'll be popping up the soonest, and note that all times listed are in ET.

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Sunday, February 11
TitleTime
Tracker (Series Premiere)10:00 p.m.
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Monday, February 12
TitleTime
The Neighborhood (Season 6 Premiere)8:00 p.m.
Bob Hearts Abishola (Season 5 Premiere)8:30 p.m.
NCIS (Season 21 Premiere)9:00 p.m.
NCIS: Hawaii (Season 3 Premiere)10:00 p.m.
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Tuesday, February 13
TitleTime
FBI (Season 6 Premiere)8:00 p.m.
FBI: International (Season 3 Premiere)9:00 p.m.
FBI: Most Wanted (Season 5 Premiere)10:00 p.m.
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Thursday, February 15
TitleTime
Young Sheldon (Season 7 Premiere)8:00 p.m.
Ghosts (Season 3 Premiere)8:30 p.m.
So Help Me Todd (Season 2 Premiere)9:00 p.m.
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Friday, February 16
TitleTime
S.W.A.T. (Season 7 Premiere)8:00 p.m.
Fire Country (Season 2 Premiere)9:00 p.m.
Blue Bloods (Season 14 Premiere)10:00 p.m.

That should be a busy week for all involved at CBS, and audiences will hopefully be along for the ride. The network wisely left that Wednesday wide open, as not to compete with Valentine's Day evening drawing millions of potential viewers' away from their TVs and onto their loved ones.

Still, it's a stocked schedule, and largely resembles what CBS viewers are used to, with Justin Hartley's Tracker as one of only two brand new series joining the network's ranks. From Monday's sitcoms and NCIS franchise eps to Tuesday's FBI lineup to Thursday's dramedy motif to Friday's star-heavy dramas, it's a schedule that clearly works, and won't be messed with going into all these shows' shortened seasons.

There are more hits left to arrive after that big premiere week, however, including returning favorites and the other new addition, the Good Wife and Good Fight spinoff Elsbeth, starring Carrie Preston's Elsbeth Tascioni.

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Sunday, February 18
TitleTime
The Equalizer (Season 4 Premiere)8:00 p.m.
CSI: Vegas (Season 3 Premiere)10:00 p.m.
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Wednesday, February 28
TitleTimeHeader Cell - Column 2
Survivor (Season 46 Premiere)8:00 p.m.Row 0 - Cell 2
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Thursday, February 29
TitleTime
Elsbeth (Series Premiere)10:00 p.m.
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Wednesday, March 13
TitleTime
The Amazing Race (Season 36 Premiere)9:30 p.m.
Row 1 - Cell 0 Row 1 - Cell 1

Elsbeth will likely feel right at home amidst the quirkiness of CBS' Thursday night lineup, which also includes Young Sheldon, Ghosts and So Help Me Todd. And for those hoping that Survivor and Amazing Race would adhere to their extended runtimes going into the next seasons, that will indeed be the case. 

Check out the promo video CBS released to hype fans up for new episodes, which seemed like a pipe dream in the weeks and months prior.

Stay tuned for more possible release dates coming from CBS, and be sure to snag a Paramount+ subscription to watch all the most recent seasons of your favorite shows before the new ones arrive.

Nick Venable
Assistant Managing Editor

Nick is a Cajun Country native and an Assistant Managing Editor with a focus on TV and features. His humble origin story with CinemaBlend began all the way back in the pre-streaming era, circa 2009, as a freelancing DVD reviewer and TV recapper.  Nick leapfrogged over to the small screen to cover more and more television news and interviews, eventually taking over the section for the current era and covering topics like Yellowstone, The Walking Dead and horror. Born in Louisiana and currently living in Texas — Who Dat Nation over America’s Team all day, all night — Nick spent several years in the hospitality industry, and also worked as a 911 operator. If you ever happened to hear his music or read his comics/short stories, you have his sympathy.