Why Isn't My Show On Tonight? CBS, NBC, ABC and FOX Preemptions and Breaks
Short version: A show is usually missing for one of three reasons: a sports broadcast takes its hour, a special takes its slot, or the network simply lists no original episode that week. When we read The Futon Critic's listings on Oct. 27 at 12:15 a.m. ET, ten regular weekly slots between Oct. 27 and Nov. 24 had no new episode listed. We could confirm a reason for three of them with a second source: FOX's Tuesday, Oct. 27 shows and CBS's Elsbeth on Thursday, Oct. 29. NBC's Law & Order shows on Thursday, Nov. 26 are a fourth, just outside that window.
Why isn't my show on tonight?
Check the date against the table below first. Most network dramas skip a week for one of these reasons:
- Live sports. FOX is carrying the World Series in October, and NBC has the NFL's Thanksgiving night game.
- A special in the same hour. CBS lists a two-part Ghosts Halloween special in Elsbeth's Thursday slot on Oct. 29.
- A gap in the original episodes. The listings simply have no new episode that night. When a network hasn't said why, we don't guess.
- Your local station. Local stations can move network shows for regional sports or breaking news, so check your own CBS, NBC, ABC or FOX station if the hour doesn't match.
Which shows have breaks coming up?
| Date | Show | Network | What the listings show | Reason |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuesday, Oct. 27 | Best Medicine (8 p.m. ET) and Doc (9 p.m. ET) | FOX | No new episode listed; both return Nov. 3 | World Series Game 4 is scheduled for 8 p.m. ET on FOX (MLB.com) |
| Thursday, Oct. 29 | Elsbeth (9 p.m. ET) | CBS | No new episode listed; next new episode Nov. 5 | Ghosts' Halloween special is listed for 9–10 p.m. ET/PT on CBS (Paramount+) |
| Monday, Nov. 2 | Line of Fire (10 p.m. ET) | NBC | No new episode listed; next listed Nov. 9 | No reason found |
| Tuesday, Nov. 3 | NCIS, NCIS: New York and NCIS: Origins | CBS | No new episodes listed; all three listed new on Nov. 10 | No reason found |
| Monday, Nov. 23 | FBI and CIA | CBS | No new episodes listed (FBI has a repeat listed at 10 p.m. ET) | No reason found |
| Tuesday, Nov. 24 | NCIS: Origins (10 p.m. ET) | CBS | No new episode listed; NCIS and NCIS: New York are listed with titles TBA | No reason found |
| Thursday, Nov. 26 | Law & Order: SVU and Law & Order | NBC | Neither show listed | Chiefs at Bills is set for 8:20 p.m. ET on NBC and Peacock (NBC stations' NFL Thanksgiving report) |
Is Nov. 3 a break because of Election Day?
Nov. 3 is Election Day, and CBS lists no new NCIS episode that Tuesday. We searched for a CBS, ABC, NBC or FOX announcement of election-night programming on Oct. 27 and found none, so we aren't linking the two. If a network announces coverage, the reason will go into the table above with its source.
How can I tell a break from a repeat?
The Futon Critic marks repeats with (R) and leaves a gap when nothing is listed. For example, its listings for Saturday, Oct. 31 show FBI and CIA repeats at 8 and 9 p.m. ET, while Monday, Nov. 23 has no new episode for either show. A listed original episode with no title yet is a held slot, and we call those "listed" rather than "new" until the network names the episode. For the full season grid, see the CBS, NBC and ABC drama schedule. The Ghosts special has its own page: when Ghosts comes back.
Frequently asked questions
Why isn't my show on tonight if it's usually on this night?
Match tonight's date to the table. If it isn't there, the cause is probably local: a regional sports broadcast or a news bulletin on your station. Check your local listings.
When do the shows come back?
Each row names the next listed date. Where a network hasn't named the episode, we show the slot as listed and update the row once the title is announced.
Sources
- The Futon Critic listings: Best Medicine, Doc, Elsbeth, Ghosts, Line of Fire, NCIS, FBI, CIA, SVU
- MLB.com: 2026 postseason schedule
- Paramount+: Ghosts Season 6 guide
- NBC New York: NFL Thanksgiving schedule 2026