CBS is adding to its already extensive list of series renewals for the 2024-25 season.
The latest pickup for the network is Elsbeth, the Columbo-esque Good Wife offshoot starring Carrie Preston as the title character, lawyer-turned-investigator Elsbeth Tascioni. The series has performed well over its first few episodes, ranking as the second most watched newcomer on the broadcast networks this season (behind fellow CBS show Tracker). It averages about 11 million viewers over five weeks of viewing on all platforms (CBS, Paramount+ and CBS TV apps).
“Elsbeth has charmed audiences with its singular blend of delightful humor, distinctive ‘how-done-it’ storytelling, and the inventive, brilliant quirkiness of Elsbeth Tascioni,” said CBS Entertainment president Amy Reisenbach in a statement. “Executive producers Robert and Michelle King have a stellar track record for creating critically acclaimed series full of unforgettable characters and, alongside showrunner Jonathan Tolins and his writing team, have developed an incredibly entertaining and engrossing New York City-centric world for the show to explore.”
In an appearance on The Hollywood Reporter’s TV’s Top 5 podcast in March, the Kings said they were hesitant to call Elsbeth a direct spinoff of The Good Wife, even as it acknowledges the past of Preston’s character. “I don’t think this is like The Avengers, where they are probably living in the same universe but in different timelines,” Robert King said. “It’s New York and Elsbeth does say that she was a lawyer in Chicago. But I don’t want to never say never because you never know what will come down the pike. You never know whether you really want to use Julianna Margulies as a killer or something.”
Michelle King added, “We’re trying to remain true to the idea that Elsbeth worked as an attorney in Chicago and moved to New York. It isn’t as though she’s had a memory wipe and she doesn’t remember anyone.”
The renewal also continues the Kings’ long relationship with CBS and its parent company Paramount, which dates back to The Good Wife’s debut in 2009. The couple’s other current series, Evil, is slated to end with its fourth season on Paramount+.
Elsbeth also stars Wendell Pierce and Carra Patterson. The Kings executive produce via their King Size Productions, along with Tolins, Liz Glotzer, Erica Shelton Kodish and Bryan Goluboff. CBS Studios produces the series.
CBS has now picked up 11 of its scripted series for the 2024-25 season, with Elsbeth joining fellow rookies Tracker and NCIS: Sydney and veteran series Fire Country, Ghosts, NCIS, The Neighborhood, SWAT and all three entries in the FBI franchise.
Keep track of all the renewals, cancellations and new series orders on the broadcast networks with THR’s scripted show scorecard.
