Are shorter seasons the future of TV… or just another way networks are rewriting the rules?
This week’s TV Corner Notes feels like it’s sitting right in the middle of a shift. With CBS trimming episode orders on some of its biggest shows, the conversation around “how much TV is too much TV” is suddenly back on the table. For a network that’s built its identity on long-running, 20+ episode seasons, this is a pretty big pivot, and it raises a bigger question about what we actually want as viewers. Do we stick with comfort and consistency, or lean into tighter, more focused storytelling? Honestly, there’s a case for both, and this week gave us plenty to think about.
Shorter Seasons, Smarter TV?
This week, Deadline reported that CBS will have four shows taking reduced episode orders for the 2026-2027 season, including Fire Country, which will have a 13-episode Season 5 (down from 20 this current season), NCIS: Origins, and even NCIS: Sydney, each getting 10 episodes, and Matlock, which will also take a reduced episode order of 13 in the new season, due to a creative revamp after its current storyline has run in its first two seasons.
To say this comes as a surprise is an understatement; it sure is coming from a network like CBS, which likes to keep its shows running. But while we're used to having 22-25 episodes a season (hell, there used to be 30+ back in the day), it raises the question of whether fewer episodes are better.
I grew up on 25 episodes a season, but when watching cable shows like HBO and Showtime, with episodes ranging from 10 to 13 a season, that really changed the ballgame for me. There wasn't a lot of dragging from five episodes into, say, 22, in terms of story arcs and character development. Yeah, I would love a "bottle episode" once in a while for a show to do a season.
With CBS reducing its shows' episode count, it provides more options for other shows to come in, like NCIS: New York. Heck, NCIS: Origins, as a prequel, feels like it should be 10 episodes a season, unlike the mothership.
So if CBS wants to go leaner with its episode orders, I’m cautiously on board. Shorter runs can mean sharper storytelling and room for new shows to get a shot, but fans are also losing the comfort of those long, 22-episode hangs with their favorite characters. If CBS can find a middle ground, smaller seasons, smarter arcs, and a few new risks on the schedule, that’s a future for broadcast TV I can live with.
What I Watched This Week
Widow’s Bay (Apple TV+) — Two-Episode Premiere
Okay, if you’ve been waiting for something that’s equal parts creepy and a little unhinged (in a good way), Widow’s Bay might be your next watch.
The premiere drops us straight into the weirdness fog, disappearances, and a town that clearly knows more than it’s saying. Matthew Rhys plays the very skeptical mayor who’s trying to turn this eerie island into a tourist hotspot, which… immediately feels like a bad idea. And sure enough, it doesn’t take long before things go off the rails in the most unsettling way.
By episode two, the show leans fully into its horror-comedy identity. There’s a “haunted inn” dare, a very strange overnight stay, and a moment involving a killer clown that somehow manages to be both genuinely creepy and weirdly funny. The big question the show keeps playing with is whether what we’re seeing is actually supernatural—or if something else is going on—and that tension really works.
What stood out most to me is how confidently the tone shifts. One minute it’s eerie and atmospheric, the next it’s leaning into dry, almost absurd humor, and it never fully loses its footing. Matthew Rhys is great as the guy trying to rationalize the irrational, and Stephen Root basically steals every scene he’s in.
Overall, I’d give the premiere a 9.5/10. It’s weird, it’s fun, and it feels like one of those shows that could either spiral into chaos or become something really special.
Check out my full recap and review.
Are you watching Widow’s Bay yet, or waiting to see if the mystery actually pays off?
My May Anticipated Shows to Watch
M.I.A. — May 7 (Peacock)
Dutton Ranch — May 15 (Paramount+)
If messy dynasties, land wars, and simmering family drama are your thing, Dutton Ranch is back to scratch that modern-Western itch. Saddle up for power plays, betrayals, and plenty of wide-open shots that hide just how ugly things can get.
The Four Seasons — May 28 (Netflix)
A romantic drama that tracks love, loss, and second chances across the four seasons of a year. Think sweeping feelings, cozy aesthetics, and the kind of emotional arcs you binge in one sitting.
One Chicago – Season Finale Night — May 13 (NBC)
All the Chicago shows collide for one big, high-stakes night. Expect cliffhangers, crossovers, and at least one moment designed to make you yell at your TV and check when the next season premieres.
SkyMed – Season 4 — May 21 (Paramount+)
Med drama plus aviation chaos? Yes, please. SkyMed returns with more high-risk rescues, complicated relationships, and aerial emergencies in the middle of nowhere.
Spider-Noir — May 27 (Prime Video)
A gritty, stylized spin on the Spider-verse, set in a shadowy, crime-ridden city. Think fedoras, neon-soaked alleys, morally ambiguous heroes, and a Spider-Man who’s more detective than quip machine.
A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder – Season 2 — May 27 (Netflix)
The true-crime-obsessed teen sleuth is back, and the stakes are higher. More secrets, more suspects, and more “just one more episode” energy as the mystery digs deeper into small-town darkness.
Criminal Minds: Evolution — May 28 (Paramount+)
The BAU continues tracking some of the most disturbing criminal minds they’ve ever seen, with cases that connect in surprising ways. Dark, tense, and perfect if you like your comfort shows on the twisted side.
What are your most anticipated shows to watch this month? Leave a comment.
What To Watch This Week
If you’re looking for something to fill that potential “shorter season” gap, this week’s lineup definitely isn’t lacking, finales, premieres, and a little bit of everything in between.
Monday, May 4
Lord of the Flies (Netflix, four-episode binge): Innocence descends into savagery when a group of English schoolboys becomes a desert island castaways in the first television adaptation of William Golding's dystopian classic.
Star Wars: Maul-Shadow Lord Season 1 finale (Disney+, two episodes)
6/5c MET Gala (Vogue's YouTube Channel)
9/8c The Ultimate Baking Championship Season 1 finale (Food Network)
10/9c The Rookie Season 8 finale (ABC)
Tuesday, May 5
Designed to Last (Hulu, four-episode binge): Hosted by Maria Menounos, the series follows three teams of architects, engineers, and inventors as they compete in 10-hour build challenges, modifying tiny homes to withstand specific environmental hazards.
A Taste for Murder Season 1 finale (BritBox)
8/7c Will Trent Season 4 finale (ABC)
9/8c Daredevil: Born Again Season 2 finale (Disney+)
9/8c The Dark Wizard docuseries finale (HBO)
9/8c Funny AF with Kevin Hart, Season 1 finale (Netflix)
9/8c NCIS: Origins Season 2 finale (CBS)
9:30/8:30c Road Wars Season 7 finale (A&E)
10:30/9:30c Customer Wars Season 8 finale (A&E)
8/7c The Ozu Diaries (TCM documentary): Director Daniel Raim presents an intimate portrait of legendary Japanese filmmaker Yasujiro, drawing on Ozu's personal writing, creative philosophy, and enduring artistic legacy.
Wednesday, May 6
Citadel Season 2 (Prime Video, seven-episode binge)
The Other Bennet Sister (BritBox, three-episode premiere): The Janice Hadlow adaptation brings Mary Bennet (played by Ella Bruccoleri), the oft-overlooked middle sister in "Pride and Prejudice," into the spotlight.
Worst Ex Ever Season 2 (Netflix, four-episode binge)
9/8c Love Island: Beyond the Villa Season 2 finale (Peacock, two episodes)
Countdown: Rousey vs. Carano (Netflix documentary): Hit training camp with MMA legends Ronda Rousey and Gina Carano before they return to the cage on May 16 for their must-see fight that's been years in the making; Uma Thurman narrates.
Thursday, May 7
Hope Valley: 1874 Season 1 finale (Hallmark+)
Legends (Netflix, six-episode binge) As drugs flood the streets of 1990s Britain, a team of civil servants is thrust undercover to topple the gangs behind it. Inspired by an untold true story, Tom Burke and Steve Coogan star.
M.I.A. (Peacock, nine-episode binge): When her family's drug-running business shatters in tragedy, a young woman (Shannon Gisela) embarks on a dangerous journey through Miami's neon-lit underbelly.
The Terror Season 3 (AMC+ and Shudder)
8/7c Jersey Shore: Family Vacation final season (MTV)
8/7c 9-1-1 Season 9 finale (ABC)
8/7c The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills Season 15 Reunion, Part 3 of 3 (Bravo)
9/8c 9-1-1: Nashville Season 1 finale (ABC)
9/8c Predator Hunters Season 1 finale (A&E)
10/9c Grey's Anatomy Season 22 finale (ABC)
10/9c The Hunting Party Season 2 finale (NBC)
Send Help (Hulu)
Friday, May 8
RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars Season 11 (Paramount+, two-episode premiere)
RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars: Untucked Season 8 (Paramount+, two-episode premiere)
8/7c Deadliest Catch Season 22 (Discovery Channel)
9/8c Amadeus (Starz): Airing Stateside for the first time, this five-part limited series casts Will Sharpe as musical prodigy Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, and Paul Bettany as envious court composer Antonio Salieri.
10/9c The Proof Is Our There Season 6 finale (History)
Board Trip (The Roku Channel movie): The road-trip comedy centers on the dynamic between an uptight daughter (Sophia Bush) and her free-spirited mother (Lauren Holly); Steve Sutternberg co-stars.
Greenland 2: Migration (HBO Max)
Remarkably Bright Creatures (Netflix movie): While working nights at a small-town aquarium, a widow (Sally Field) bonds with a clever octopus (voice by Alfred Molina) and an adorably young man (Lewis Pullman)
Saturday, May 9
6:30/5:30c WWE Backlash (ESPN)
8/7c K-Everything (CNN): The four-week docuseries event offers a cultural exploration of Korea's explosive global influence, hosted by Daniel Daw Kim.
9/8c Storage Wars Season 17 finale (A&E)
10/9c Duck Dynasty: The Revival Season 2 finale (A&E)
8/7c All's Fair in Love & Mahjong" (Hallmark Movie): A school nurse (Fiona Gubelmann) rebuilds her life after a series of setbacks, discovering a gift for teaching mahjong and forming a bond with a charming contractor (Paul Campbell); Tamera Mowry-Housely and Melissa Peterman co-stars.
That’s it for this week’s TV Corner Notes. Whether you’re adjusting to shorter seasons or still holding out for those long network runs, one thing’s clear—TV isn’t slowing down, it’s just evolving. And if this week proves anything, it’s that no matter how many episodes we get, there’s always something worth watching.
Until next time,
Adam
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