CBS TV show cancellations spark backlash as fan favourites get axed

A wave of CBS TV show cancellations in 2026 has sparked backlash, with several fan-favourite series cut as networks overhaul their lineups.

Among the most high-profile exits is The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, which will end in May 2026. Host Stephen Colbert told audiences the decision marked “the end of The Late Show on CBS”, adding he was not being replaced as the format itself is being scrapped. CBS later said the move was driven by financial considerations rather than performance.

CBS cuts scripted shows amid pilot reshuffle

The network has also cancelled Watson and DMV, both of which had been left in limbo earlier in the year.

Reports suggested DMV lost out after CBS picked up a competing comedy pilot, while Watson’s future hinged on the success of other shows before ultimately being dropped.

Other major shows also axed

The cancellations are not limited to CBS. NBC has ended Law & Order: Organized Crime, bringing the spinoff to a close after multiple seasons marked by frequent showrunner changes.

Meanwhile, The CW has also scrapped Good Cop/Bad Cop, adding to a growing list of titles that will not return.

The growing number of cancellations has triggered frustration online, particularly as a mix of newer series and established titles have been affected.

With networks increasingly focused on cost-cutting and reshaping their slates, 2026 is emerging as a turbulent year for television, with more changes potentially still to come.