September brings cooler weather, extracurricular activities starting up, and broadcast schedules getting back to normal. Fall TV is almost here, but it’s not going to look the same as normal. Not only are most networks holding the return of shows until October 2026, but there are three former fall shows, including “High Potential,” being held for the midseason.
Technically, there are four shows. “Ghosts” is also being held, but it’s going to have two holiday specials, so the wait won’t feel as long. In fact, the Halloween special is set to be the first two episodes of “Ghosts” Season 6, so it is technically back in the fall. The three other shows are being held for 2027 in full. Here’s a look at them, along with why ABC and CBS are doing this.
‘High Potential’
ABCKAITLIN OLSON
After starting out strong in the fall with “High Potential,” ABC has decided to push the series to the midseason. Instead, “RJ Decker” will take the Tuesday 10/9c timeslot straight after new episodes of “Dancing with the Stars.” It’s led to a lot of worry about the series being held, as putting a show on in the midseason is usually a sign that it’s not performing well in the ratings.
That couldn’t be further from the truth. Instead, ABC wants to create consistency. For the past two years, it’s held “Will Trent” and “The Rookie” for the midseason to have an uninterrupted schedule, and that created a stronger viewership. ABC is doing the same with “High Potential” to give it the best shot at securing a fourth season.
‘Matlock’
CBSAfter a strong start, CBS has opted to push “Matlock” to the midseason for the first time ever. It’s another Season 3 premiere being pushed, and it’s easy to worry about its future. However, like with “High Potential,” this has nothing to do with the linear ratings. This decision was based on showrunner Jennie Shurman’s need.
She requested that her show be held back a little. With the two-season arc involving Senior coming to a close, she needed to plan out a new arc. That needs time, and CBS was gracious enough to allow that time to develop rather than forcing everyone on a tight deadline. The aim is to make sure there is a clean and fresh storyline for Season 3, so there’s no reliance on older arcs already wrapped.
‘NCIS: Sydney’
CBSFinally, CBS is holding the newer “NCIS” series back until the midseason. Now, granted, “NCIS: Sydney” hasn’t always aired during the midseason. During the first season, it was brought out in the fall, but that was more due to the writers’ strike delaying all the main broadcast shows. After all, it was supposed to be a streaming show. The second season moved to midseason due to the linear ratings, but the third season got a full season in the fall.
The linear ratings didn’t hold up the best, so it has been moved back to midseason. On top of that, there is another franchised series, “NCIS: New York,” which will take up the middle slot on a Tuesday, creating too many “NCIS” shows. “NCIS: Sydney” will end up taking the “Origins” timeslot after that wraps up its abbreviated third season.
