Why Did CBS Cancel ‘Watson’ and ‘DMV’? Programming Changes Explained Before Their Final Episodes

CBS is going through some changes after canceling two shows.

News broke on Friday, March 27, that Watson wouldn’t be returning for season 3, while DMV was canceled after one season. Their series finales will air May 3 and May 11, respectively.

The update came a week before the network was planning to unveil its 2026-27 schedule, which influenced the decision to pull the plug on both shows.

CBS originally announced a sweep of early renewals in January, with only Watson and DMV left in limbo. Deadline reported that Watson’s future depended on the success of Marshals and CIA, which both scored quick renewals, while DMV was waiting on its fate as decisions about comedy pilots Eternally Yours and The Tillbrooks (formerly known as Regency) were made.

CBS ultimately renewed 12 dramas for its next season, including all 4 freshman shows: Marshals, CIA, Sheriff Country and Boston Blue. The network also previously picked up two new shows for 2026-27: Robert and Michelle King’s Cupertino and Matthew Gray Gubler‘s Einstein.

Deadline hinted that DMV‘s cancellation meant Eternally Yours and The Tillbrooks are expected to proceed beyond the pilot stage at CBS. Watson, meanwhile, ultimately faced some obstacles after initially finding success. Once season 2 was delayed so it could be moved to a slot on Mondays after CIA, Watson saw a dip in viewership. DMV had its own struggles when its delayed multiplatform ratings declined despite getting off to a strong start.

Despite the multiple cancellations, CBS has found success with new additions such as Yellowstone spinoff Marshals, which was picked up for season 2 after its premiere was watched by 20.6 million viewers within seven days. It marked the most-watched network original series premiere without a football lead-in since 2017.

“Marshals delivered a breakout performance, capturing a massive audience across platforms and quickly establishing itself as one of TV’s most powerful new series,” CBS Entertainment president Amy Reisenbach said in a statement. “The overwhelming viewer response speaks to the strength of the Yellowstone world, the bold, character-driven storytelling from the creative team and the dynamic cast performances led by Luke Grimes.”

According to a press release, CBS had several wins, with Marshals and Justin Hartley‘s Tracker coming out as the top two most‑watched shows during their premiere week. The premiere of Grimes’ spinoff, meanwhile, ranked as CBS’ most-streamed episode ever on Paramount+.

Boston Blue and Sheriff Country also scored quick season 2 pickups, with Sheriff Country averaging 7.6 million viewers and Blue Bloods bringing in 8 million viewers and winning “every Friday night in total viewers.”

“Two new shows on Friday night have become instant hits with audiences quickly embracing Boston Blue and Sheriff Country across broadcast and streaming,” Reisenbach shared in a statement. “These early renewals reflect the power of character-driven storytelling, compelling narratives and the exceptional talent on both sides of the camera that make these series truly stand out.”