‘Scorpion’, ‘NCIS: New Orleans’ & ‘Madam Secretary’ Renewed For Second Season

Another major vote of confidence for CBS’ breakout new series Scorpion. On the heels of giving the action drama one of the biggest lead-ins in television by slotting an episode after the NFL’s AFC Championship game next Sunday, the network has given Scorpion an early second-season renewal. Also getting early pickups for a second season: dramas NCIS: New Orleans and Madam Secretary. 

This represents a renewal of three of CBS’ four new fall dramas, all three having full-season pickup and all owned by CBS sibling CBS Studios. The fourth, the Warner Bros. TV-produced Stalker, whose back order was a few episodes short of a full-season 22, remains in contention for a pickup, CBS chairman Nina Tassler said, calling it “a unique spin on the crime genre.”

Ditto for freshman fall comedy The McCarthys, which only received a three-episode back order, with Tassler noting that the softly rated sitcom has logged some of its strongest numbers this past week.

In addition to strong Live+Same Day ratings, Scorpion is a big DVR gainer. It recently topped the list of a 18-49 lift (1.3, +65%) for any program the week ending December 21.

NCIS: NOLA and Madam Secretary rank as the No.1 and No.2 new series this season in total viewers, with 18.1 million and 14.9 million, respectively.