‘Force to be Reckoned With’: CBS’ FBI Franchise Picks Up Season Renewals
By Movieguide® Contributor
CBS has just announced renewals for FBI, FBI: MOST WANTED and FBI: INTERNATIONAL.
“The All-FBI Tuesday is a powerful force to be reckoned with on our primetime schedule,” said Amy Reisenbach, president of CBS Entertainment. “Dick Wolf and the talent in front of and behind the camera on all three series continue to deliver top-notch storytelling, riveting action and intrigue that has captivated a dedicated fanbase steadily across multiple seasons. We are excited to see what next season holds for all these heroic characters.”
Wolf added, “Obviously, I’m thrilled by the pickups. We are all extremely grateful to George [Cheeks] and Amy [Reisenbach] and their entire team.”
FBI received a three-season pick-up, taking it to Season 9, while FBI: MOST WANTED was renewed for a sixth season and FBI: INTERNATIONAL got a fourth season.
The renewals come as no surprise to anyone familiar with the FBI franchise’s ratings numbers.
“Season-to-date, FBI is averaging 9.1 million total viewers (in Live+7), making it Tuesday’s No. 1 series and TV’s third-most watched drama (trailing only CBS’ own TRACKER and NCIS),” TVLine reported. “MOST WANTED and INTERNATIONAL meanwhile are respectively averaging 7.4 million and 7.2 million viewers, ranking second and third in total audience each Tuesday night.”
Movieguide® previously reported on a crossover event between the three shows:
CBS’ FBI teams will join forces as the casts of FBI, FBI: INTERNATIONAL and FBI: MOST WANTED come together in a three-hour global crossover event on Tuesday, April 4.
“As the FBIs continue to dominate on Tuesday nights, we are excited to reward our devoted fans with this special three-hour global crossover event that will bring these three heroic—and popular—teams together for a second time,” Eric Kim, executive vice president of programming for CBS Entertainment and CBS Studios, said.
He added, “Our April 4 crossover event will be a non-stop thrilling experience that will keep viewers engaged in ways that only Dick Wolf’s ‘FBI’ world can.”
Each show garners millions of devoted fans. FBI boasts 11.3 million viewers, while FBI: MOST WANTED has 9.6 million and FBI: INTERNATIONAL draws 9.1 million. Additionally, seven FBI episodes made Variety’s annual 100 most-watched primetime telecasts list.
In addition to the FBI renewals, Wolf is also celebrating pickups for his One Chicago series—CHICAGO MED, CHICAGO FIRE, and CHICAGO P.D.—on NBC.
“MED is averaging 10.5 million viewers (+57%) and is +141% in the demo; FIRE is averaging 12.6 million viewers (+86%) and is +236% in the demo; and P.D. is averaging 12.0 million viewers (+114%) and is +287% in the demo,” Deadline reported.
A portion of the Movieguide® review for a 2023 episode of CHICAGO P.D. reads:
CHICAGO P.D.: “New Life” involves a high stakes personal drama, with some exciting action scenes. The episode comes to a satisfying conclusion where justice prevails, and truth is revealed. “New Life” is one of CHICAGO P.D.’s most Christian, redemptive episodes. The episode promotes Christian faith, baptism and salvation from sin. There are also two positive church scenes. However, “New Life” also has some strong violence, threats of violence, brief drug references, and nine mostly light obscenities. MOVIEGUIDE® advises caution for older children.
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