Why CBS Left 'Person Of Interest' Off Its Midseason Schedule (And Why You Shouldn't Panic Just Yet)

CBS has released its midseason schedule, and much to the dismay of “Person of Interest” fans, the critically acclaimed sci-fi crime drama is nowhere to be found. Nor is “Rush Hour,” a new hourlong buddy cop series based on the 1998 Jackie Chan-Chris Tucker movie and produced by “Scrubs” creator Bill Lawrence.

Both will see the light of the tube, we’ve been assured. But CBS has a rare problem in linear TV today: despite all the streaming, cord-cutting and on-demand TV watching going on, the network's schedule is actually pretty strong and that means there's no room for more shows, even for one like "Person of Interest," which has a pretty vocal fan base, if not stellar ratings.

“Limitless,” a new FBI crime drama, has been performing well at 10 p.m. in what used to be the “Person of Interest” slot on Tuesdays and was picked up for a full season a few weeks ago. Once the medical drama “Code Black” finishes out its first (and probably only) season on Wednesday nights, a “Criminal Minds” spin-off will take its place on March 2.

Utility Player

“Person of Interest” has been used as schedule spackling for the network before, so while its absence might be a drag for fans, the show does hold some value for CBS. (As of yesterday, the show was still in production in New York City.)

“Rush Hour” is a stranger case. It's bad news any time a new show is announced at a network’s annual presentation -- when execs sell new shows to advertisers -- but fails to appear on an official schedule.

Producer Lawrence, in fact, went through this exact experience with delightful little comedy “Surviving Jack” over at Fox. The Chris Meloni-fronted series was ordered in May of 2013, but had its episode list trimmed from 13 to eight in October, and then went on to have a quiet run in March 2014. It wasn’t renewed, but at least it aired, unlike fellow 2013-14 show “Us & Them,” a comedy adapted from the British romantic drama “Gavin & Stacey” that found itself delayed into oblivion, despite producing seven episodes.

Follow The Money

What “Person of Interest” and “Rush Hour” have in common is a production company: Warner Bros. Television (WBTV). That means CBS licenses the shows from WBTV, and makes money via advertising sales, but cannot sell it into syndication.

When it comes time to make scheduling decisions, midseason or otherwise, always look at the production company: If a show isn’t owned by the network’s studio arm (a la CBS Television Studios), and the most logical time slot is held down by one that is, the odds of it usurping that slot are not likely, since the network benefits more from airing more of its own programming. Even if there is a tie in ratings, the show a network owns almost always wins out.

Shows get more expensive as they age and as various contracts are renegotiated. “Person of Interest” is entering its fifth season. CBS only gave the show a 13-episode order for Season 5, as opposed to the usual 22, and screenwriter Jonathan Nolan told fans at the San Diego Comic-Con that he and his creative team are treating this as the last ride for their AI-aided crime fighters.

That’s not to say there’s no hope at all for “Person of Interest” or “Rush Hour” to live long, productive televisual lives. Now that networks have been pushed by the competition into programming year-round, the appetite for original content means a slot will eventually open up, possibly in the summer, where the bar for success is a little lower. Or, if all else fails, there’s always Netflix.

For the completists, CBS’ full, somewhat complex midseason premiere schedule is below:

CBS Wednesday, Jan. 6

8:00-8:30 PM, ET/PT 2 BROKE GIRLS (New Time Period)

8:30-9:00 PM, ET/PT MIKE & MOLLY (6th Season Premiere)

9:00-11:00 PM, ET/PT PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARDS

CBS Thursday, Effective Jan. 7

8:00-8:30 PM, ET/PT THE BIG BANG THEORY

8:30-9:00 PM, ET/PT LIFE IN PIECES

9:00-9:30 PM, ET/PT MOM

9:30-10:00 PM, ET/PT ANGEL FROM HELL (Series Premiere)

10:00-11:00 PM, ET/PT ELEMENTARY

CBS Friday, Effective Jan. 8