CBS has been aggressively expanding some of its beloved franchises, such as NCIS and Blue Bloods, in recent years.

As the Broadcast TV industry continues to lose steam, proven IP is like gold dust to executives, and despite the lack of innovative ideas, the slicing and dicing has helped keep the lights on for the network.

When news broke earlier this year that a CIA spinoff of FBI was happening, it was obvious either FBI: International or FBI: Most Wanted would be canceled to make room for the new show.

Out of the two, I figured FBI: Most Wanted would get cut. The series had one of the most embarrassing turnovers of the cast I’ve ever witnessed.

Every time the series hit its groove, someone else would be gone, and the flow would be interrupted, further alienating viewers.

FBI: International Should Have Been Renewed

While FBI: International had a steadier cast, it did experience some shake-ups in its final two seasons; however, it was more watchable and cheaper to produce due to its international setting.

When CBS axed both spinoffs, it left a sour taste in my mouth because it’s difficult to get invested in a new offering when the two that preceded it were killed off without planned series finales.

For a few years, broadcast TV was less cutthroat, with shows that weren’t blowing the roof off in terms of ratings surviving.

They were kept on the air because spending money marketing a new show that fails out of the gate is just not worth it.

However, CBS and every other network are making big, bold decisions in the name of profit since they aren’t generating as much revenue from advertisers as they were in the past.

CIA was already coming on to the schedule at a disadvantage because CBS flushed the preceding shows down the toilet to make way for it.

Tom Ellis has a proven track record on the small screen and has amassed a legion of fans, so there’s every reason to believe that there will be some initial interest.

Casting the Lucifer alum opposite Chicago Med’s Nick Gehlfuss wouldn’t have been my first choice, but I’m willing to give any show a chance.

Is CIA in Trouble?

Aside from the poor handling of FBI: International and FBI: Most Wanted’s cancellations, it seems like some things are happening behind the scenes of CIA that lead me to question whether the show will even see the light of day.

Initially, CIA was set to premiere on CBS back in the fall, but it was shifted to a midseason bow. These things happen.

I mean, when there was no footage of the show in the summer, it was evident that there was more to the series than met the eye.

Changes seemingly drove the move at the leadership, with one-time FBI: Most Wanted showrunner David Hudgins departing.

Recruited in his place was Warren Leight, who shepherded Law & Order: SVU through some of its most turbulent seasons.

Changes of showrunners aren’t uncommon in the TV industry, but they don’t instill much hope for a series that has already irked two fan bases because of its existence alone.

This month, things took an even wilder turn when Deadline reported that Michael Michele, one of the series’ leads, had walked away.

With production only getting underway in September, CIA must be just a couple of episodes into its production schedule.

Michael Michele’s Departure Is a Shocker

There’s no telling whether Michael will be recast or if her character will appear and depart midseason.

Michael was undoubtedly one of the draws of CIA’s cast, and given that she was set to play the head of CIA’s New York Station, her departure (if she even appears on-screen) will be significantly felt.

Dick Wolf’s other popular franchises — One Chicago and Law & Order — have been dealt rough blows in recent years, with cast members being written out without on-screen goodbyes.

As a result, it wouldn’t surprise me in the slightest if Michael waltzes on-screen and waltzes back off as though she was never there in the first place.

Another shakeup behind the scenes occurred this week when Eriq La Salle stepped down as an executive producer, according to Deadline.

Given that we have months to go before the series even hits the air, there’s a chance that more changes are on the way.

It’s a worrying precedent, for sure, and one that likely means we’re in for more of the same with CIA that the other Wolf shows have shown us.

That is, unless CBS decides that the show is no longer worth airing, considering the negative press the series has attained.

Stranger things have happened!

What’s your take on the matter, CIA Fanatics? Do you think the series is already doomed to fail?