A surprise cancellation leaves CBS viewers outraged—what’s replacing these hit shows?
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Not every TV show is meant to last forever, but sometimes cancellations come as a complete surprise.
CBS just made a decision that’s leaving longtime viewers frustrated and searching for answers.
Two well-established primetime favorites are being cut from the lineup, and with a new show on the way, fans are wondering—why these, and why now?
For years, CBS’s FBI franchise has been a key part of its crime procedural success.
Created by Dick Wolf, the shows have maintained strong viewership, with FBI: Most Wanted running for six seasons and FBI: International holding its own for four.
Fans had no reason to suspect the shows were in danger, making the announcement of their cancellation even more surprising.
CBS confirmed the news on Wednesday, but no official explanation was provided.
However, industry speculation suggests the network may be restructuring its programming to make space for new content—including yet another FBI spinoff.
It didn’t take long for viewers to voice their frustration.
Social media platforms were flooded with criticism directed at CBS, with many questioning the reasoning behind canceling two well-performing series.
“@CBS makes the worst decisions on what series to cancel. FBI: Most Wanted is excellent,” one user wrote.
Another posted, “They were the closest things to real FBI doing their jobs without a buffoon as the director.”
Some fans took it even further, demanding an explanation and calling on CBS to reverse the decision.
One particularly blunt comment read, “@CBS YOU CANCELLED FBI: Most Wanted AND International. THIS IS BULL****.”
The hashtag #SAVETHEFBIS began trending as disappointed viewers rallied in protest.
Despite canceling two FBI shows, CBS isn’t abandoning the franchise altogether.
Instead, the network is launching a new spinoff, FBI: CIA, which will follow a rule-abiding FBI agent and a street-smart CIA operative as they tackle domestic terrorism in New York City.
The project was announced back in January, and while it may have been intended as an exciting addition to the franchise, it has only fueled fan frustrations.
Many believe CBS prioritized FBI: CIA at the expense of Most Wanted and International, further deepening the backlash.
One angry viewer wrote, “Why do they think we are interested in this anymore if for this to happen they canceled two of our shows without giving us any type of closure… ”
Another added, “Dear @CBS, nobody asked for FBI: CIA. We don’t care about it. WHY ON EARTH WOULD YOU CANCEL #FBIInternational & #FBIMostWanted?????? Are you mad?????”
Along with the cancellations, fans are also saying goodbye to key actors who had become familiar faces over the years.
FBI: Most Wanted saw a major shift when Dylan McDermott took over as the lead following Julian McMahon’s departure in 2022.
McDermott, known for his roles in The Practice and American Horror Story, even had the opportunity to act alongside his daughter, Colette, in a 2023 episode.
Meanwhile, FBI: International underwent its own transition when Luke Kleintank, who played Supervisory Special Agent Scott Forrester, left the series in 2023.
Kleintank made the decision to step away for personal reasons.
“After much thought and consideration, I’ve made the difficult decision to leave FBI: International,” he said at the time.
“This decision is driven by my unwavering commitment to my family, whose love and well-being are paramount in my life.”
Both FBI: Most Wanted and FBI: International still have several episodes left in production, but it remains unclear how the series will conclude.
With no word from CBS on why the shows were cut, speculation continues to grow.
Is this truly the end for these two FBI spinoffs, or could the fan backlash be strong enough to change the network’s course?
Are you disappointed by CBS’s decision? Would you watch FBI: CIA, or do you think the network should have kept Most Wanted and International? Drop your thoughts in the comments—let’s talk about it!
CBS just made a decision that’s leaving longtime viewers frustrated and searching for answers.
Two well-established primetime favorites are being cut from the lineup, and with a new show on the way, fans are wondering—why these, and why now?
For years, CBS’s FBI franchise has been a key part of its crime procedural success.
Created by Dick Wolf, the shows have maintained strong viewership, with FBI: Most Wanted running for six seasons and FBI: International holding its own for four.
Fans had no reason to suspect the shows were in danger, making the announcement of their cancellation even more surprising.
CBS confirmed the news on Wednesday, but no official explanation was provided.
However, industry speculation suggests the network may be restructuring its programming to make space for new content—including yet another FBI spinoff.
It didn’t take long for viewers to voice their frustration.
Social media platforms were flooded with criticism directed at CBS, with many questioning the reasoning behind canceling two well-performing series.
“@CBS makes the worst decisions on what series to cancel. FBI: Most Wanted is excellent,” one user wrote.
Another posted, “They were the closest things to real FBI doing their jobs without a buffoon as the director.”
Some fans took it even further, demanding an explanation and calling on CBS to reverse the decision.
One particularly blunt comment read, “@CBS YOU CANCELLED FBI: Most Wanted AND International. THIS IS BULL****.”
The hashtag #SAVETHEFBIS began trending as disappointed viewers rallied in protest.
Despite canceling two FBI shows, CBS isn’t abandoning the franchise altogether.
Instead, the network is launching a new spinoff, FBI: CIA, which will follow a rule-abiding FBI agent and a street-smart CIA operative as they tackle domestic terrorism in New York City.
The project was announced back in January, and while it may have been intended as an exciting addition to the franchise, it has only fueled fan frustrations.
Many believe CBS prioritized FBI: CIA at the expense of Most Wanted and International, further deepening the backlash.
One angry viewer wrote, “Why do they think we are interested in this anymore if for this to happen they canceled two of our shows without giving us any type of closure… ”
Another added, “Dear @CBS, nobody asked for FBI: CIA. We don’t care about it. WHY ON EARTH WOULD YOU CANCEL #FBIInternational & #FBIMostWanted?????? Are you mad?????”
Along with the cancellations, fans are also saying goodbye to key actors who had become familiar faces over the years.
FBI: Most Wanted saw a major shift when Dylan McDermott took over as the lead following Julian McMahon’s departure in 2022.
McDermott, known for his roles in The Practice and American Horror Story, even had the opportunity to act alongside his daughter, Colette, in a 2023 episode.
Meanwhile, FBI: International underwent its own transition when Luke Kleintank, who played Supervisory Special Agent Scott Forrester, left the series in 2023.
Kleintank made the decision to step away for personal reasons.
“After much thought and consideration, I’ve made the difficult decision to leave FBI: International,” he said at the time.
“This decision is driven by my unwavering commitment to my family, whose love and well-being are paramount in my life.”
Both FBI: Most Wanted and FBI: International still have several episodes left in production, but it remains unclear how the series will conclude.
With no word from CBS on why the shows were cut, speculation continues to grow.
Is this truly the end for these two FBI spinoffs, or could the fan backlash be strong enough to change the network’s course?
Key Takeaways
- CBS has cancelled the popular shows FBI: Most Wanted and FBI: International, to the dismay of fans.
- The announcement was a shock to many, as FBI: Most Wanted had been on air for six seasons and FBI: International for four seasons.
- Devoted viewers expressed their outrage and frustration on social media, some using strong language to condemn the decision.
- A third spinoff, FBI: CIA, is currently in development, but this has done little to appease fans of the cancelled shows.