CBS’ Blue Bloods Replacement Show Makes Perfect Sense—But Will It Last?
CBS’ latest announcement to replace Blue Bloods with another popular network TV show is bittersweet news. After more than a decade on the air, CBS decided to cancel Blue Bloods. As Blue Bloods season 14 is still airing, with a few more episodes left in its run, there are a few things that still need to happen before the show ends, but time is running out for the beloved police drama. Hence why the network has made moves to replace it in its lineup.
Blue Bloods has followed the Reagan family for 14 years and has consistently been a widely popular and well-written show. It puts a unique spin on the police procedural by following a specific family. While CBS’ replacement for Blue Bloods will also be a police series, the Reagan family’s drama will be severely missed. Despite Blue Bloods’ popularity, it is still being canceled, which makes me worried about its replacement too.
S.W.A.T. Season 8 Will Replace Blue Bloods On CBS, And It’s A Smart Choice
The New Time Slot Could Lead To More Viewers
Following the Blue Bloods series finale in December, S.W.A.T. will take over the 10 p.m. ET time slot on January 31st, 2025. S.W.A.T. currently airs at 8 p.m. on Fridays, but the new time slot could lead to more viewers for the already popular show. So far, Blue Bloods season 14 has had 4.8 million viewers at 10 p.m. whereas S.W.A.T. has only had an average of 4.2 million in its 8 p.m. slot. After Blue Bloods is canceled, viewers could seek out a new show to watch and S.W.A.T. is the perfect replacement.
With Blue Bloods leaving, S.W.A.T. would also become the only police procedural that airs on Friday evenings on CBS. More attention could be drawn to the show, which could then draw in more viewers. It is also unlikely that S.W.A.T.’s new CBS time slot will affect its viewership negatively, as it is still remaining in a highly sought time slot.
While I will miss watching Blue Bloods at 10 p.m., S.W.A.T. also features a close team, which can try and fill the spot in Blue Bloods‘ absence. It will not be the same, but I have enjoyed watching both shows and I think CBS’ decision to replace Blue Bloods with S.W.A.T. will turn out to be a great decision. There is something special about the 10 p.m. spot continuing to be filled with a police procedural that makes Blue Bloods‘ replacement at least a little bit less hurtful.
