The new Sherlock Holmes-themed medical drama series, Watson, has undergone a schedule alteration regarding its regular weekly time slot on CBS. Developed by Craig Sweeny, this upcoming series features Morris Chestnut in the lead role of Dr. John Watson. Set one year after Sherlock Holmes’ demise at the hands of Moriarty, Dr. Watson has established a clinic for rare diseases, where he applies his late friend’s detective approach to solving medical cases.
CBS has designated a new time slot for Watson. The medical drama is slated to premiere on January 26 at around 10 p.m. ET, following the AFC Championship Game. Initially, the show was intended to occupy the Sunday 10 p.m. slot after its premiere, but CBS is now moving it to an earlier time. Starting from February 16, a new episode of Watson will air at 9 p.m. on Sundays, sandwiched between Tracker at 8 p.m. and The Equalizer at 10 p.m.
What does this schedule change mean for Watson? The premiere date remains unchanged, so prospective viewers will have to wait until after the AFC Championship Game to witness the show’s debut on January 26. However, a second episode won’t be broadcast until February 16, which marks the commencement of the show’s regular time slot. The Grammy Awards will be held on Sunday, February 2, from 8 to 11:30 p.m., which is the reason for the delay in Watson’s continuation.
Although it’s not airing on CBS, the Super Bowl will also occur between Watson’s first and second episodes on February 9. It’s likely that CBS wanted to avoid pitting the new show against what is usually one of the most-watched events of the year. Consequently, there will be a three-week gap between the first two episodes. The fact that CBS is staggering the premiere and positioning the show between two established shows like Tracker and The Equalizer suggests that the network has high expectations for its performance.
Our take on Watson’s new schedule is that it could potentially work to the show’s advantage. Even though Sherlock Holmes is deceased in this medical series, the events in Watson are closely intertwined with that tragedy. The upcoming series has numerous aspects to look forward to, such as its portrayal of Moriarty and how he will continue to loom over Watson’s clinical work and life. Moreover, the series delves into a fascinating post-Holmes era, which is an uncharted time period in Sherlock Holmes adaptations.
With a second episode being so far removed from the first, viewers will have to wait a bit after the premiere. But if the show gets off to a strong start, the anticipation for its return could be even greater. It’s a somewhat daring move, but if all goes well, it could prove beneficial for the Morris Chestnut-led series. Word of mouth can only enhance its prospects, and its placement right after Tracker, one of CBS’ biggest shows, positions Watson for success.
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