Trib Total Media TV writer Rob Owen offers viewing tips for broadcast network shows at midseason.
The broadcast networks didn’t debut many new scripted series in the fall, saving these expensive-to-produce programs for a slightly more robust midseason rollout.
Here’s what to expect for the second half of the 2025-26 TV season, including returning series that won’t be back immediately in January but will hold until later in the season.
ABC
“Scrubs” (8 p.m. Feb. 25, WTAE): The one-time NBC comedy returns for a sequel series on ABC as JD (Zach Braff) and Turk (Donald Faison) scrub in again at Sacred Heart Hospital.
Returning: “America’s Funniest Home Videos” (7 p.m. Jan. 4), “Will Trent” (8 p.m. Jan. 6), “The Rookie” (10 p.m. Jan. 6), “American Idol” (8 p.m. Jan. 26), “Celebrity Jeopardy! All Stars” (8 p.m. Feb. 27), “The Bachelorette” (8 p.m. March 22).
CBS
“Harlan Coben’s Final Twist” (10 p.m. Jan. 7, KDKA-TV): Non-fiction series hosted by the best-selling author as he retells true crime tales.
“CIA” (10 p.m. Feb. 23): Partners Colin Glass (Tom Ellis), a fast-talking, rule-breaking CIA agent, and Bill Goodman (Nick Gehlfuss), a by-the-book FBI agent who believes in the rule of law, get assigned to work together out of CIA’s New York station.
“Y: Marshals” (8 p.m. March 1): “Yellowstone” spin-off following Kayce Dutton (Luke Grimes) as he joins the U.S. Marshals to bring Justin to Montana.
“America’s Culinary Cup” (9:30 p.m. March 4): Padma Lakshmi (“Top Chef”) hosts a new cooking competition.
Returning: “Hollywood Squares” (8 p.m. Jan. 7), “The Price is Right at Night” (9 p.m. Jan, 7), “Survivor” (8 p.m. Feb. 25), all three “NCIS” shows (8-11 p.m. Feb. 24), “Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage” (8 p.m. Feb. 26), “Ghosts” (8:30 p.m. Feb. 26),”Matlock” (9 p.m. Feb. 26), “Elsbeth” (10 p.m. Feb. 26), “Sheriff Country” (8 p.m. Feb. 27), “Fire Country” (9 p.m. Feb. 27), “Boston Blue” (10 p.m. Feb. 27), “Tracker” (9 p.m. March 1), “Watson” (10 p.m. March 1).
Fox
“Best Medicine” (8 p.m. Jan. 4, then re-airs in regular time slot 8 p.m. Tuesday on Jan. 6, WPGH): A remake of the British series “Doc Martin,” which aired on public TV stations in the U.S., “Best Medicine” follows grumpy Dr. Martin Best (Josh Charles, “The Good Wife”) who relocates from Boston to Port Wenn, Maine, after losing his mojo as a surgeon. It’s a pleasant enough comedy-drama – though not as funny as one might hope — that’s true to the original while telling new stories. The town’s kooky characters hold promise but this version gives the doc a tragic backstory to help explain his generally unpleasant demeanor rather than just letting him be a sourpuss.
“Memory of a Killer” (10 p.m. Jan. 25, then moves to 9 p.m. Monday on Jan. 26): Thriller starring Patrick Dempsey (“Grey’s Anatomy”) as a hitman leading a double life in this series based on the 2003 Belgian film “De Zaak Alzheimer.” Michael Imperioli also stars as a chef whose restaurant is a front for criminal activity.
“Fear Factor: House of Fear” (9 p.m. Jan. 14): Johnny Knoxville hosts a revival of the gross-out competition series.
“The Faithful” (8-10 p.m. March 22, 29, April 5): Dramatization of the Bible’s Book of Genesis as told through the eyes of Sarah (Minnie Driver) and her maidservant Hagar (Natacha Karam) and Sarah’s great-niece Rebekah (Alexa Davalos) among others.
Returning: “Animal Control” (8 p.m. Dec. 28), “The Masked Singer” (8 p.m. Jan. 7), “Going Dutch” (9:30 p.m. Jan. 15), “Extracted” (8 p.m. Jan. 26), “Next Level Chef” (8 p.m. Jan. 29), “Family Guy” (9:30 p.m. Feb. 15), “American Dad” (9 p.m. Feb. 22).
NBC
“The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins” (8 and 8:30 p.m. Feb. 23, WPXI): Tracy Morgan stars as a disgraced former football star who tries to rehabilitate his image with the help of a filmmaker (Daniel Radcliffe, “Harry Potter”).
Returning: “The Wall” (9 p.m. Jan. 5), “The Hunting Party” (10 p.m. Jan. 8), “Winter Olympics” (Feb. 6), “The Voice” (9 p.m. Feb. 23),
The CW
Returning: “Scrabble” (8 p.m. Jan. 22, WPNT), “Trivial Pursuit” (9 p.m. Jan. 22), “Wild Cards” (8 p.m. Jan. 26).
PBS
One final episode of “American Experience,” “Bombshell” (9 p.m. Jan. 6, WQED-TV), explores government efforts to manipulate the facts about the Manhattan Project.
New episodes of “Nature” detail the complex lives of pachyderms in “Tusker: The Brotherhood of Elephants (8 p.m. Jan. 14) and the challenges of raising the young in the five-part “Parenthood” (8 p.m. Feb. 4)
“NOVA” offers episodes on “Asteroids: Spark of Life?” (9 p.m. Jan. 21), “Angkor: Hidden Jungle Empire” (9 p.m. Jan. 28), “Can Dogs Talk? (9 p.m. Feb. 4) and “Stone Age Temple Mystery” (9 p.m. Feb. 25).
“American Masters” profiles Holocaust survivor “Elie Wiesel: Soul on Fire” (9 p.m. Jan. 27) and politician/activist Bella Abzug in “Bella! This Woman’s Place is in the House” (9 p.m. March 17).
This spring PBS examines the life and works of “Henry David Thoreau” (9 p.m. March 30-31).
New scripted series include:
“Bookish” (10 p.m. Jan. 11): Bookshop owner (Mark Gatiss, “Sherlock”) in post-war London helps police solve crimes.
“Masterpiece: The Forsytes” (9 p.m. March 22): Remake of John Galsworthy’s novels but the first season is a never-before-filmed prequel.
“Masterpiece: The Count of Monet Cristo” (10 p.m. March 22): Adaptation of Alexandre Dumas’ novel starring Sam Clafin (“Daisy Jones and the Six”) as the young sailor falsely accused of treason.
Returning: “Antiques Roadshow” (8 p.m. Jan. 5), “Finding Your Roots” (8 p.m. Jan. 6), “Masterpiece: Miss Scarlet” (8 p.m. Jan. 11), “Masterpiece: All Creatures Great and Small” (9 p.m. Jan. 11), “Call the Midwife” (8 p.m. March 22).