Renewals and Cancellations: 'Elsbeth,' 'Ghosts,' 'Jury Duty,' 'Paradise'

It was about a month between Renewals and Cancellations on Wednesday, but now we’re back two days later because of a flurry of them over the last couple of days. Most of them, granted, have come from CBS, which renewed so many series that the ones left out are now worried about their fates.

The renewals include Tracker, Elsbeth, George and Mandy, Fire Country, and the three NCIS shows, joining the earlier renewal of Matlock. Ghosts was also renewed for an additional two seasons. That leaves the fates of The Equalizer, The Neighborhood, a couple of FBI shows, and S.W.A.T. up in the air. Cancellations are inevitable since CBS has already greenlit a Fire Country spin-off (starring Morena Baccarin) and Boston Blue, a Blue Bloods spin-off with Donnie Wahlberg. There’s also talk of an Equalizer spin-off starring Titus Welliver, which feels like a slap in the Bosch face—you can’t play another cop already, Titus!

Since this is CBS, I’m mostly indifferent to the news, though I’m happy for Ghosts and Elsbeth — even if I checked out of Ghosts after it became too repetitive, and I only watch the increasingly formulaic Elsbeth when the killer is played by a good guest star.

Elsewhere, I’m very happy about the renewal of Hulu’s Paradise for a second season. Creator Dan Fogelman has a three-year plan. I love the show, though I’m still not sure if it’s the premise itself or the sheer charisma of Sterling K. Brown, Sarah Shahi, James Marsden, and Julianne Nicholson selling the wild twists. They’re very impressive.

Speaking of James Marsden, Jury Duty has been renewed for a second season. In fact, they wisely shot the entire season before announcing the renewal. I assume Marsden is not involved this time. The premise, according to Deadline, is a David vs. Goliath setup in which a small business goes on a retreat, and an unsuspecting employee is confronted with a “Goliath.” Details are otherwise scant, but the creative team from the first season is back. I’m very curious to see if they can sustain the concept for another round.

In less exciting news, NBC gave a second season to Reba McEntire’s Happy’s Place, Masterpiece renewed Miss Scarlet for a sixth season, the Hollywood Squares revival will return for a second season, and Jennifer Hudson’s talk show is coming back for a fourth.

In bummer news, Alice Oseman is still lobbying Netflix for a fourth and final season of Heartstopper, which has yet to be renewed.