Explaining Matlock and Elsbeth’s Several Episodes During CBS Premiere Week
CBS is launching its premiere week with new episodes across the board — but why are Matlock and Elsbeth releasing several new episodes just days apart?
The network showcased the season 2 premiere of Matlock on Sunday, October 12, immediately followed by the season 3 premiere of Elsbeth. Although both shows made their return on Sunday, fans are aware that Matlock and Elsbeth typically air on Thursdays, which will resume on October 16.
Similar to last fall, CBS has opted to preview certain series outside their regular timeslots to generate excitement for the upcoming season.
Other shows returning this week include the NCIS franchise, The Neighborhood, Watson, FBI, Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage, Ghosts, Fire Country, and Tracker. Viewers can also anticipate programming such as DMV, Sheriff Country, Boston Blue, and The Road.
Before Fire Country returned to Friday nights, creators Tony Phelan and Joan Rater explained to Us Weekly the changes the show will experience following the departures of Stephanie Arcila and Billy Burke.
Phelan mentioned there was “a real desire” to “not only shake things up” but also “to be true to” the realities of writing a show centered on firefighters in action. Rater added that the “huge loss” would significantly impact everyone in season 4.
While Vince has been killed off, there may still be a chance for Gabriela to return.
“For Gabriela, it was quite challenging in the latter half of the season to be around and see Bode. They just haven’t managed to connect,” Phelan elaborated in September regarding Gabriela’s temporary departure from the show. “Allowing these two characters some space means that if and when they reunite, they will be different individuals.”
Rater concurred, noting, “This season is about letting our characters mature. Growing up is tough, and the difficulty for Bode and Gabriela is that they recognize the need to evolve, but they can’t do it together for the time being.”
In the meantime, on Tracker, Justin Hartley, Fiona Rene, and Chris Lee are the only remaining series regulars after Eric Graise and Abby McEnany exited prior to season 3. Tracker had previously witnessed Robin Weigert leave the show following the season 1 finale.
Fans began expressing concerns regarding potential cast changes. In response, executive producer Elwood Reid revealed to Us Weekly that onscreen adjustments weren’t out of the realm of possibility.
“I believe it’s evolving. If I can’t develop those characters — Randy, Reenie, or Bobby — they cannot merely pick up the phone and say, ‘Alright, here’s the answer.’ That’s when the show starts to feel routine,” he explained to Us in May. “The challenge lies in discovering their depths, which I find fascinating. The challenge of the show is to avoid falling into a predictable formula.”
Reid emphasized that they aim for Tracker to “not become complacent.”
“The only guideline I truly have is that each week, Colter will arrive at a new situation, and there will be a new case to solve. How he retrieves those solutions and what he employs with the team is all flexible,” Reid noted. “We want to incorporate more interesting local characters into the storyline as the season progresses. Observing Colter interact with various characters is enjoyable, and we’re excited to showcase Justin’s versatility with an excellent guest cast.”
