CBS' Melissa McCarthy vehicle Mike and Molly has been a sturdy performer off the bench for the network and will be back for a sixth season, ensuring that exec producer Chuck Lorre has three shows on the Eye in 2015-16.
Normal is typically the watchword on the CBS schedule — and the coming midseason will largely maintain the tradition of little fluctuation.
Winter 2016, the first leg of a season without departing chairman Nina Tassler, will see CBS add an additional hour of comedy to its lineup. The Wednesday block, which brings a second migration this season for 2 Broke Girls and sees the return of Mike & Molly, seemed necessary considering the network’s deep comedy bench.
Freshman Life In Pieces got a full-season pickup, and fellow first-year sitcom Angel From Hell was waiting for an open half-hour. It will now get 2 Broke Girls‘ Thursday slot. Last year’s late entry The Odd Couple, which won’t reappear until April 7, was also being held.
Since launching a successful two-hour comedy block on the back of The Big Bang Theory, CBS’ only other half-hours were airing on Monday nights. But with the recent full-season pickup of Monday drama Supergirl, the seat was already taken.
Elsewhere on the midseason schedule, spinoff Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders gets Code Black’s 10 p.m. Wednesday time slot when its freshman order runs its course. Beyond Borders will get a launch pad from its enduringly successful parent series, which continues to air at 9 p.m.
Complete dates for all returning series, including Undercover Boss and the respective 28th and 32nd cycles of The Amazing Race and Survivor are listed below:
Sunday Dec. 20 (Football Doubleheader)
8:30-9:30 PM, ET/8:00-9:00 PM, PT — Undercover Boss (7th Season Premiere)
Sunday, Dec. 27
8:00-9:00 PM, ET/PT — Undercover Boss
Sunday, Jan. 3 (Football Doubleheader)
8:30-9:30 PM, ET/8:00-9:00 PM, PT — Undercover Boss
Wednesday, Jan. 6
8:00-8:30 PM, ET/PT — 2 Broke Girls (New Time Period)
8:30-9:00 PM, ET/PT — Mike & Molly (6th Season Premiere)
9:00-11:00 PM, ET/PT — People’s Choice Awards
Thursday, Effective Jan. 7
8:00-8:30 PM, ET/PT — The Big Bang Theory
8:30-9:00 PM, ET/PT — Life in Pieces
9:00-9:30 PM, ET/PT — Mom
9:30-10:00 PM, ET/PT — Angel from Hell (Series Premiere)
10:00-11:00 PM, ET/PT — Elementary
Friday, Effective Jan. 8
8:00-9:00 PM, ET/PT — Undercover Boss (Time Period Premiere)
9:00-10:00 PM, ET/PT — Hawaii 5-0
10:00-11:00 PM, ET/PT — Blue Bloods
Wednesday, Effective Jan. 13
8:00-8:30 PM, ET/PT — 2 Broke Girls
8:30-9:00 PM, ET/PT — Mike & Molly
9:00-10:00 PM, ET/PT — Criminal Minds
10:00-11:00 PM, ET/PT — Code Black
Friday, Effective Feb. 12
8:00-9:00 PM, ET/PT — The Amazing Race (28th Season Premiere)
9:00-10:00 PM, ET/PT — Hawaii 5-0
10:00-11:00 PM, ET/PT — Blue Bloods
Wednesday, Feb. 17
8:00-9:30 PM, ET/PT — Survivor (32nd Season Premiere)
Wednesday, Feb. 24
8:00-9:00 PM, ET/PT — Survivor
9:00-10:00 PM, ET/PT — Criminal Minds
10:00-11:00 PM, ET/PT — Code Black (Season Finale)
Wednesday, Effective March 2
8:00-9:00 PM, ET/PT — Survivor
9:00-10:00 PM, ET/PT — Criminal Minds
10:00-11:00 PM, ET/PT — Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders (Series Premiere)
Thursday, Effective April 7
8:00-8:30 PM, ET/PT — The Big Bang Theory
8:30-9:00 PM, ET/PT — The Odd Couple (2nd Season Premiere)
9:00-9:30 PM, ET/PT — Mom
9:30-10:00 PM, ET/PT — Angel from Hell
10:00-11:00 PM, ET/PT — Elementary