CBS pulls the plug on ‘Sherlock Holmes’ spinoff just after two seasons as another comedy series gets cut too
CBS has started trimming its lineup, and one of the early casualties is ‘Watson.’ The show has been officially canceled. After premiering in early 2025, the series will wrap up after two seasons, with its final episode scheduled to air on May 3. The announcement came on March 27, according to Variety. While cancellations are normal, this one feels slightly awkward, as the show is still in the middle of its current run. That means it now has to provide viewers with a finale that feels satisfactory. It’s a tricky spot for any series to be in. Created by Craig Sweeny, the show was inspired by the world of Arthur Conan Doyle but flipped the usual setup on its head. ‘Watson’ is a spin-off and modern re-imagining of the ‘Sherlock Holmes’ universe.
Instead of leaning into detective work, this version of Dr. John Watson (Morris Chestnut) focused on solving medical mysteries. Watson heads a group of medically trained investigators who focus on identifying and treating unusual and hard-to-diagnose conditions. Season 2, in particular, started swinging bigger. After what looked like a decisive win against Moriarty (Randall Park), the story took a turn when Sherlock Holmes himself (Robert Carlyle) reappeared despite being presumed dead. And just like that, the show pulled the rug out from under its own premise, forcing Watson to face not only an old secret but also something more personal, something buried that had clearly been waiting for the right moment to surface.
Now, with only a handful of episodes left before the finale airs, there’s a lingering question hanging over everything: Can the story actually wrap in a way that feels complete, or will it leave threads dangling? The answer will become clear soon enough. Moreover, it’s not the only show feeling the axe. Alongside ‘Watson’, the network has also decided to pull the plug on ‘DMV’. It’s a single-camera comedy that barely had time to settle in before being shown the door. Created by Dana Klein, the series premiered in late 2025 and followed a group of DMV employees in East Hollywood, juggling work frustrations with personal mishaps.
Starring Harriet Dyer, Tim Meadows, and Tony Cavalero, the show brought workplace humor with a slightly chaotic edge. It had just secured a full-season order not long after its debut, which makes the sudden cancellation feel even more abrupt. Meanwhile, on the other side of the equation, CBS is still handing out renewals, which softens the blow; however, not for the fans of the canceled shows. Several fan-favorite shows are sticking around, including ‘FBI’, ‘CIA’, ‘Matlock’, ‘Tracker’, ‘Marshals’, ‘George & Mandy’s First Marriage’, ‘Elsbeth’, ‘Fire Country’, ‘Boston Blue’, ‘Sheriff Country’, ‘Ghosts’, and the ever-growing ‘NCIS’ franchise. Unscripted hits like ‘Survivor’ and ‘The Amazing Race’ are also continuing their run.
