As a network, CBS continues to feature a solid combination of dramas and comedies. For many years, CBS has featured particularly popular police procedurals that have been part of larger franchises. In the last five years, in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic and the various strikes that have impacted the industry, the network has leaned into what has worked for them by expanding these existing franchises for established fans while experimenting with new stories to bring in new viewers.
Although some of the best series CBS has released in the last five years have expanded stories that are already beloved by a built-in fanbase, some of the best series the network has made in this time have featured unique premises that work. Some CBS series have taken chances and introduced compelling stories that expand what’s possible at CBS and beyond. The best series that CBS has introduced in the last five years are accessible, and offer fresh takes on familiar stories.
10
‘CSI: Vegas’ (2021–2024)
CSI: Vegas is a sequel to the original CSI: Crime Scene Investigation series, set once again in Las Vegas. The series follows a new generation of crime scene investigators working alongside some of the original team members to solve complex forensic cases. This team is led by Maxine Roby (Paula Newsome), the head of the Las Vegas Crime Lab. The series successfully modernizes the CSI legacy while honoring its roots.
CSI: Vegas stands out as one of CBS’s best series of the last five years because it successfully balances bringing back beloved original characters like Gil Grissom (William Petersen) and Sara Sidle (Jorja Fox) with introducing compelling new protagonists. It’s a shame that the series was canceled prematurely, since it introduced many opportunities for the franchise to tell bold new stories. Ultimately, CSI: Vegas proves beyond a shadow of a doubt that there will always be new stories to explore in this universe.
9
‘The Real CSI: Miami’ (2024–)
The Real CSI: Miami is a true crime docuseries that’s based on the drama CSI: Miami. The series presents interviews with investigators and family members, 911 calls, surveillance footage, dramatic re‑creations, and modern forensic methods to show viewers how crimes are solved. Each episode highlights a case in the Miami area and walks viewers through how professionals use the latest technology to get justice for victims of crime and their families.
The Real CSI: Miami is one of the best CBS series of the last five years because it builds on the legacy of one of America’s most iconic TV franchises. After watching the docuseries, which meticulously highlights the work professionals put into solving cases, it’s easier to appreciate the fictional stories featured in the CSI universe. The series focuses on the humanity of those who are impacted by crime, and how important technology is in solving these cases that could otherwise go unsolved.
8
‘Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage’ (2024–)
Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage is a sequel to Young Sheldon, and follows Georgie (Montana Jordan) and Mandy (Emily Osment) as they adjust to their new family life. As Georgie works in his father‑in‑law’s auto shop, and Mandy pursues a career in broadcasting, they struggle to balance work, family, and intergenerational living. Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage shows these two facing realities of their choices and what it means to commit to each other under real life pressures.
Georgie & Mandy stands out as one of the best CBS series of the last five years, because it explores themes like the challenges of marriage, parenting, work and family dynamics in an accessible way. The dynamics of Georgie and Mandy raising a young child together, living with family, balancing stress, all under the shadow of expectations from their pasts, give it both comedic and dramatic weight. The series never shies away from showing how messy life can be, and how everyone needs support.
7
‘Watson’ (2025–)
Watson is a medical mystery drama that reimagines Dr. John Watson (Morris Chestnut), of Sherlock Holmes fame, in a modern setting. The series begins six months after Holmes’ (Robert Carlyle) apparent death at the hands of Moriarty (Randall Park). Watson opens the “Holmes Clinic” in Pittsburgh, specializing in diagnosing rare and mysterious disorders. The series sees Watson confront his traumatic past as he also tries to uncover what really happened to his closest friend.
Watson immediately stands out since it’s a fresh take on a beloved literary character. Holmes fans can appreciate how much of the source material has been incorporated into this modern story. Watson also succeeds in being a compelling medical procedural while still being unapologetically rooted in Holmes lore. The series can appeal to those who enjoy a good medical drama featuring cases of the week and those who are always looking to invest in any Sherlock Holmes narrative.
6
‘NCIS: Origins’ (2024–)
NCIS: Origins is a prequel series in the NCIS franchise, and follows a young Leroy Jethro Gibbs (Austin Stowell) as he begins his career as a probationary special agent with the fledgling Naval Investigative Service, the precursor to NCIS. The series then explores Gibbs’ professional life, and how he is molded into the agent fans come to know. NCIS: Origins also highlights his personal struggles, especially the trauma surrounding the death of his wife and daughter.
NCIS: Origins succeeds in delving deeper into the story of one of network TV’s most beloved characters. Additionally, the series functions as one that new fans can use as an entry point into what has become a massive franchise. The series leans into what has made Gibbs’ character so compelling over the years, and how he dealt with the loss of his family to become the agent he eventually does. Ultimately, what makes NCIS: Origins stand out is its focus on the emotional stakes of Gibbs’ story as he does his best to do good.
5
‘Fire Country’ (2022–)
Fire Country introduces Bode Leone (Max Thieriot), a young convict with a troubled past who volunteers for a prison‑release firefighting program to reduce his sentence. The program assigns him back to his rural hometown in Northern California, where he works alongside elite firefighters, former friends, and other inmates to fight large, unpredictable wildfires. He reunites with his family, who he’s been estranged from since the death of his sister.
Fire Country stands out as one of best series on CBS because it captures everything that makes firefighter shows so compelling to watch. Shows like this often lend themselves to high stakes that make them easy to invest in. By following Bode’s story of redemption, the series is able to offer fans of the genre something deeper. Fire Country is a family drama at its core, and it’s heartwarming to follow the Leone family as they overcome so much to come back together after being ripped apart.
4
‘Tracker’ (2024–)
Tracker is based on the Colter Shaw novels by Jeffery Deaver. The series introduces Colter Shaw (Justin Hartley), a skilled survivalist and “reward seeker” who travels the U.S. in his RV helping law enforcement agencies and private citizens locate missing people in exchange for rewards. Although Shaw works with other people in order to find these missing people, he often has to rely on his own instincts to bring people home.
Harley’s charismatic performance alone makes Tracker one of the network’s most notable series of the last five years. Although the series follows Shaw as he tracks down missing people, a big part of what makes this series so notable is the fact that he also has to reckon with his own past and how his trauma has impacted his relationships. This character is charming, relatable, and down-to-Earth, which makes his story memorable.
3
‘Elsbeth’ (2024–)
Elsbeth is a police procedural comedy that follows Elsbeth Tascioni (Carrie Preston), an eccentric but highly perceptive attorney, who leaves her legal practice in Chicago to take on a new role in New York. Elsbeth uses her unique approach and unconventional talents to solve crimes. The series is a spin-off of The Good Wife. Elsbeth was introduced in this series as a quirky and talented lawyer who always used her talents to do the most good for her clients.
Elsbeth is one of the most notable series that has premiered in the last five years because it offers a unique blend of comedy and drama. The series offers a spin on a traditional police procedural by revealing who committed the crime at the beginning of the episode and then watching the subsequent investigation unfold. Preston’s performance anchors this series, and her charisma shines through in every scene she’s in.
2
‘Ghosts’ (2021–)
Ghosts is a supernatural comedy that follows a young couple, Sam (Rose McIver) and Jay (Utkarsh Ambudkar), who inherit a crumbling country estate and decide to turn it into a bed-and-breakfast. They soon discover that the property is inhabited by the ghosts of people who have died on the property over the years. After an accident, Sam gains the ability to see and communicate with the ghosts. By doing so, she’s given a window into their chaotic afterlives.
Ghosts is such a charming sitcom, and it immediately stands out as one of the best and most unique series CBS has released over the last five years. The series blends comedy, fantasy, and heart in a way that stands out from other sitcoms. Ghosts succeeds in leading into its premise fully, and allowing each character to have their moments in the spotlight. Besides the non-stop laughs, the series delivers genuinely heartfelt moments that allow viewers to reflect on how precious life is and how those we love always live on.
1
‘Matlock’ (2024–)
Matlock is a legal drama that’s a gender-flipped remake of the 1986 series of the same name. Kathy Bates stars as Madeline “Matty” Matlock, who adopts a false identity as a needy widow in order to get hired at the law firm she suspects played a covert role in her daughter’s death. Matlock follows Matty as she showcases her brilliant legal mind while doing everything she can to get justice for her daughter, whose death could have been prevented.
Matlock is an interesting twist on the classic legal drama formula. Rather than purely episodic courtroom battles, the series also focuses on the emotional stakes Matty faces as a mother as she tries to do right by her daughter. Bates’ performance is nothing less than magnetic. She brilliantly highlights the fact that women over a certain age are so often overlooked. The series is the best of CBS because it presents a character who uses her sharp legal mind and experience to exploit the fact that people underestimate her.
Matlock
Release Date
September 22, 2024
Writers
Nicki Renna, Jeffrey Lieber, Sara Rose Feinberg
Kathy Bates
Madeline ‘Matty’ Matlock
Skye P. Marshall
Olympia Lawrence
