News

We may receive a commission on purchases made from links.

Despite coming back from the dead several times over the years, CBS has truly said goodbye to "S.W.A.T.," as the show's season 8 finale was indeed the series finale. Thus, it's time for the gang that viewers came to know and love across more than 160 episodes to move on. In the case of Shemar Moore's Hondo, that's going to be as the head of a spin-off series in development at the network. In the case of everyone else, it's onto other projects.

For some of the show's longtime cast members, those goodbyes came sooner than expected. Kenny Johnson's fan-favorite Dominique Luca, for example, departed the series after appearing in just a couple of episodes during season 7. Why, exactly? Well, let's not forget that "S.W.A.T." was canceled by CBS after season 6, only to be brought back after fans demanded it.

S.W.A.T. fans have been on an emotional rollercoaster over the past two years, mourning the series’ cancellation and rejoicing in its subsequent resurrection — three times each.

Like the action drama’s first two comebacks at CBS — its surprising cancellation reversal in 2023 and equally surprising 2024 Season 8 renewal after Season 7 had been billed as final — the most recent one was a cause for celebration, at least at the beginning.

And like the previous two saves, that last one also came as a surprise, two and a half months after S.W.A.T.’s latest (and permanent) cancellation by CBS and only 3 days after its series finale aired on the broadcast network. On Sunday night, S.W.A.T. studio Sony Pictures Television announced that it was extending the franchise with a spinoff series, S.W.A.T. Exiles, headlined by original series’ star Shemar Moore reprising his character as Daniel “Hondo” Harrelson.

The news about the offshoot...

CBS

After nearly a decade of tactical takedowns, moral dilemmas, and community service on primetime television, S.W.A.T. has officially signed off.

The action-packed series, led by the ever-charismatic Shemar Moore, concluded its final mission on May 16, 2025, bringing an end to an eight-season journey that beat the odds more than once.

From its premiere in 2017, S.W.A.T. carved its own lane in the crowded world of cop dramas, reinventing the 1970s classic with a modern edge and a deeply diverse cast. Fans gravitated toward Moore’s portrayal of Sgt. Daniel “Hondo” Harrelson—a leader caught between duty and justice in a city that rarely made things easy. Alongside him were Jay Harrington, Alex Russell, David Lim, and others who gave heart and heat to the streets of Los Angeles.

But while the series found a devoted audience, its path behind the scenes was anything but smooth. Cancellations, comebacks, contract conflicts, and network shake-ups made S.

The end of an era will finally arrive later this week when S.W.A.T. bows out following a largely successful eight-season run. Despite the hopes of fans and cast members that the series might receive a last-minute decision to pull it back from the edge of extinction, the end is nigh for Hondo (Shemar Moore) and the rest of his tactical team. As we march towards the series finale, executive producer, Andrew Dettmann, has filled in followers on what to expect from what will certainly be an explosive farewell.

Teasing the episode that will serve as a sendoff for the characters we’ve come to know and love over the last almost decade, Dettmann told TV Insider,

“Heading into the finale, Hondo is going to be challenged to keep the team together. He has always referred to and thought of 20-Squad as a family, but now that notion will be tested like never before…...

After two surprising cancellations and two even more shocking revivals, the cop drama that debuted in 2017 with Los Angeles native son Hondo (Shemar Moore) promoted to head of Swat is really going out this time with back-to-back episodes. “Heading into the finale, Hondo is going to be challenged to keep the team together. He has always referred to and thought of 20-Squad as a family, but now that notion will be tested like never before,” says S.W.A.T. executive producer Andrew Dettmann. In the first hour, an auto carrier truck is hijacked a high-speed crew – and an old rivalry with a violent car thief thought to be long dead ignites for Hondo. As the outlaw road warriors race across L.A. in pursuit of a mysterious $60 million car, the brave Swat leader must confront a deep fear. Next, says Dettmann, comes “a battle pitting Swat against the most formidable and well-trained...

As fans await the ending of Swat, are we going to get a big wedding? The truth may be disappointing!

Swat fans have been hit before by the show being axed. In 2023, the hit CBS police drama was shockingly announced as canceled before the end of its sixth season. The backlash from viewers was so huge that CBS had to backtrack and renew the show for a 13-episode final season.

Thanks to the 2023 Hollywood strikes, season 7 didn’t premiere until 2024 and midway through, CBS made the equally surprising announcement that the show would return for season 8. That was more striking given that the writers had clearly prepared for the show to end with sendoffs to characters.

That included Street (Alex Russell), who got a good ending as he helped a San Diego Swat team on a case. When that team’s leader was killed in the line of duty, Street...

In a recent update, it was revealed that the S.W.A.T. series finale will feel like "business as usual."

The 2017 action-drama S.W.A.T. has been canceled for the third and possibly final time. With the series finale just a few weeks away, TVLine, unfortunately, confirms that former cast members will not be making a return for the series send-off. Fans asked if viewers could expect the return of former characters such as Jim Street (Alex Russell), Christina Alonso (Lina Esco), and Dominique Luca (Kenny Johnson), specifically about the possibility of aStreet-Chris wedding. TVLine responded that, per the series finale synopsis, "it will be business as usual for 20-Squad."

The second episode of the two episodes making up the season finale is set to air on May 16th. S.W.A.T. showrunner Andrew Dettmann corroborated this in a statement, saying, "Even if we're no longer airing each week, we want the viewers to feel that...

Swat has had a long, singular journey. No show can lay claim to being canceled twice and brought back twice. It was the third cancelation, however, that proved to be the killer. It's unlikely Swat will be able to bounce back a third time, but what it can do is given fans a series finale they will never forget.

CBS confirmed that the two part series finale for Swat will air on Friday, May 16. It will mark the end of an era, but the synopsis for the finale reveals that there will be plenty of action to make it worth our while. The finale will bring back a "ghost from the past" that will shake Hondo (Shemar Moore) to his core. Why? Well, evidently, the returning character was long thought to be dead, and has resurfaced as a "violent car thief."

Swat's finale will be broken in two parts “Hostages...

The Swat saga has been difficult. We have had the emotional highs of seeing the show get brought back from the dead twice, and experienced the emotional lows of seeing it get canceled three times. The math obviously doesn't come out in the show's favor.

We always knew that the show was treading on thin ice as it approached the finale of its eighth season, but we didn't expect CBS to pull the plug this early. The rest of season eight is going to be tough on the cast, crew and fans for obvious reasons, but the silver lining is that we get to appreciate the episodes that we have left.

Swat's finale will contain multiple surprises “High Ground” – During a hiking trip, Powell and Gamble stumble upon an illegal weed farm and find themselves taking on a dangerous cartel, on S.W.A.T., Friday, Feb. 28 on the CBS Television Network,...

Swat has been on the ropes before. Twice, actually. The procedural drama has done the nearly impossible two separate times, which is secure renewal after being canceled. It does not, however, look like the third time will be a charm.

CBS has canceled Swat again, and barring some massive changes, the upcoming finale will double as the show's series finale. It may very well be the last time we get to see our favorite characters. To make matters worse, one of its stars, Anna Enger Ritch, claimed that fans will get to the credits and want so much more.

Anna Enger Ritch teases a "personal" final episode “Good for Nothing” – 20-Squad must leap into action when Yakuza Assassins descend on L.A., targeting a number of mysterious Japanese ex-pats. Meanwhile, Nichelle finds her job on the line at the Inspector General’s office when a colleague accuses her of taking bribes,...

CBS is nearing the end of a television season, so you know what that means: it's time to cancel "S.W.A.T."!

The network that's home to the hugely successful, many-tentacled "NCIS" franchise has never been able to get Aaron Rahsaan Thomas and Shawn Ryan's reboot of the 1975 ABC television series to hit the procedural sweet spot with mainstream audiences who love this genre no matter how formulaic it gets. "S.W.A.T." stabilized ratings-wise when CBS moved it to Fridays for good during season 6, but that's when the network started observing its yearly tradition of canceling the show.

"S.W.A.T." has its fans, many of whom tune in just to see Shemar Moore as Daniel "Hondo" Harrelson Jr., who, as a police officer of color, has fought to maintain a relatively harmonious relationship with the Los Angeles community he's tasked with protecting. Critics have never embraced "S.W.A.T." the way they did Ryan's "The Shield...

After eight seasons, the Shemar Moore-led CBS police procedural, S.W.A.T., will be leaving the air. Although it was previously canceled twice before, this time it seems that CBS has officially canceled the series, along with two other shows,FBI: Most Wanted and FBI: International.

The S.W.A.T. team is currently filming No. episode 20 of 22 for its eighth and final season. January 31 marked the show’s winter return and at that time, the series’ executive producer Shawn Ryan said, “It’s been called the final season for the last three or four seasons, hasn’t it?” In January, CBS did not market the eighth season as the last for S.W.A.T.

Showrunner Andrew Dettmann told TVLine in a new interview that the upcoming series finale was planned for ahead of time. “Having learned our lesson over the last couple of years, we designed the season finale keeping in mind that it could be the series finale,...

On the heels of S.W.A.T.‘s cancellation by CBS — presumably final after a back-and-forth that began in May 2023 — the cast of the Shemar Moore vehicle voiced that the series finale will leave viewers “wanting so much more.”

Speaking to TVLine, actress Anna Enger Ritch, who plays officer Zoe Powell, said of the closing installment: “It will make you not want this show to end. You’ll want to keep watching what happens. There are so many avenues and directions to go, so many stories to tell, so many personal things… It will leave you wanting so much more.”

Meanwhile, her co-star Annie Ilonzeh — a new addition this season as a recurring cast member — added, “You go, ‘Oh my gosh, that just happened!’ And, ‘Wait, I need more!’ We definitely don’t button anything up. We leave you guessing and very curious for more.”

Airing May 16, showrunner Andrew Dettmann said of...

Whereas S.W.A.T.‘s May 2024 “series finale” — which was written and filmed before the show got un-cancelled for a second time — tied things up in a neat enough bow, it sounds like the CBS procedural’s next swan song will really leave fans clamoring for more.

Speaking with TVLine on Feb. 26 — a little over a week before S.W.A.T. got cancelled for a third time — Anna Enger Ritch, who plays Officer Zoe Powell, teased the Season 8 finale thusly:

More from TVLineWhat to Watch This Week: 25+ Premieres, Finales and MoreThe Way Home EPs Talk Finale's Baby Twist, Full-Circle Colton Epiphany and Cryptic Sam Cliffhanger - Grade It!

CBS has been on a rampage over the last few weeks. The network has canceled several popular shows, including some that have been on for nearly a decade. Fans have been taken aback by the swiftness of CBS' decisions, especially coming off the heels of the controversial Blue Bloods cancelation.

The network has scrapped Swat (for the third time), as well as the FBI spinoffs FBI: Most Wanted and FBI: International. The latter two has been particularly surprising, given that the flagship show is still in business and has already been renewed for additional seasons. Fans have naturally inquired about the reason behind these sudden cancelations, and they actually differ depending on the show.

CBS allegedly shifted its FBI priorities "Rampage" - With Covid devastating the country, two gunmen take out their desperation and rage on the elite class they perceive to be oppressing them as the team attempts to track and stop them.

It’s not unusual for a TV series to get canceled and then come back. Most of the time, it’s picked up by another network or a streamer. Sometimes, there are shows like Family Guy, where they were canceled by Fox twice but also brought back, and interestingly enough, it’s become a staple of their animation block. The Hollywood Reporter is now revealing that CBS has decided to bench Swat yet again. The show was a remake of the 1975 ABC series, which had also served as an inspiration for the 2003 Colin Farrell/ Samuel L. Jackson film of the same name.

The show had just wrapped up its eighth season. Showrunner and executive producer Andrew Dettmann would react in a statement that said, “It’s heartbreaking news, primarily because it’s been such an immense pleasure working with this cast and crew to put out a show that we’ve always been proud of.

Save it once, save it twice, but CBS isn’t willing to save it three times, and after eight seasons, S.W.A.T. is finally coming to an end for good. The popular crime series has had one of the most incredible runs on network television, with a behind the scenes story that is almost worthy of a show in itself. However, everything must end, and despite another round of social media outcry, this time it looks like the cancelation will stick.

The series ran for six seasons before being hit with its first cancelation back in 2023. However, CBS had a change of heart and eventually renewed the show for one more season. After announcing that Season 7 would be the final run of episodes, fans were shocked when an eighth season was announced, and after being saved from cancelation twice, it appeared that the show was indestructible.

However, it looks like the...

It seems CBS is doing some early spring cleaning much to the disappointment and shock of fans. Days after canceling both FBI: Most Wanted and FBI: International, CBS has canceled Swat… once again. As first reported by TVLine, CBS has decided not to renew Swat for a ninth season and will bring the show to an official end with its current eight season.

This marks the third – and seemingly final – time CBS has canceled Swat. The show was first canceled back in May 2023 when CBS announced it would not be bringing the show back for a seventh season. After fan backlash, CBS reversed its decision and renewed the show for what was intended to be a seventh and final season. Fast forward to April 2024, CBS surprised fans again when it announced it was canceling the show and renewing Swat for an eighth season which has been airing as part of the 2024-205 season.

The renewal fate of S.W.A.T. on CBS has been revealed. It's unfortunately bad news for fans of the show, as the series has been canceled.

Per TVLine, S.W.A.T. has officially been canceled with no ninth season happening on CBS. The news follows both FBI spinoffs, FBI: Most Wanted and FBI: International, also getting the boot by the network. Series showrunner Andrew Dettman has addressed the news that S.W.A.T. has been axed two seasons after it had initially been canceled for the first time by CBS.

“It’s heartbreaking news, primarily because it’s been such an immense pleasure working with this cast and crew to put out a show that we’ve always been proud of," Dettman said. "They are truly an extraordinary group of people who have all worked so hard and have been so dedicated for all these eight seasons, overcoming countless challenges. I can’t give them enough credit.

CBS has made the decision to cancel the series S.W.A.T. for the second time.

The show was originally canceled back in May 2023 after six seasons, but the cancellation was reversed just days later when CBS announced the show would get a seventh and final season to wrap things up. The show continued to get a second life when it got a surprise eight season renewal.

Sadly, a ninth season is not happening and an insider is explaining what happened behind-the-scenes.

Keep reading to find out more…

S.W.A.T. executive producer/showrunner Andrew Dettmann reacted to the news by telling Deadline, “It’s heartbreaking news, primarily because it’s been such an immense pleasure working with this cast and crew to put out a show that we’ve always been proud of. They are truly an extraordinary group of people who have all worked so hard and have been so dedicated for all these eight seasons,...

S.W.A.T. has run out of lives. CBS has canceled the police drama starring Shemar Moore, now in its eighth season that will wrap in May.

If you are having a case of déjà vu, that is because, following a string of early renewals, S.W.A.T. was dramatically canceled in May 2023 after six seasons, only for CBS to reverse the decision days later with a pickup of what was announced at the time as a seventh and final season. Flash-forward to May 2024 when S.W.A.T. surprisingly was renewed for an eighth season.

Don’t expect another miraculous reprieve; this time the decision is believed to be final — and permanent.

During the past two years, S.W.A.T. lead studio Sony Pictures Television was able to propose financial terms that were appealing to CBS, sealing eleventh-hour pickups. This time, I hear, CBS did not engage in renewal talks, opting instead to end the long-running series outright.

CBS has canceled its long-running action drama “S.W.A.T.” after eight seasons and 163 episodes, the show’s producers and stars were told on Thursday. But this represents the third time “S.W.A.T.” has been cancelled by the Eye net — so it’s probably tough to tell at this point if it’s really, really the end.

The series, which stars Shemar Moore as Daniel “Hondo” Harrelson, was brought back to life for a Season 8 after CBS previously announced that its seventh season would be its last. And that wasn’t its first time, as CBS also axed the show in 2023 after Season 6, before announcing it would return for one last run.

In both cases, after the initial cancellation, CBS, Sony Pictures TV and CBS Studios were able to work out the deal to bring the show back at a license fee that made sense for all involved. But this time, it appears...

Swat will not return for a ninth season, CBS announced Thursday evening. The network has canceled and un-canceled the show twice before.

“It’s heartbreaking news, primarily because it’s been such an immense pleasure working with this cast and crew to put out a show that we’ve always been proud of,” showrunner and executive producer Andrew Dettmann said in a statement. “They are truly an extraordinary group of people who have all worked so hard and have been so dedicated for all these eight seasons, overcoming countless challenges. I can’t give them enough credit.”

CBS canceled Swat after season six in 2023, and then reversed its decision and billed the seventh installment as the show’s last. Then, in April 2024, the network surprised fans with a last-minute renewal for an eighth installment. “Here at CBS, we always ‘stay liquid’ and love a good dramatic twist, especially when it...

Stop me if you’ve heard this one before (twice, actually), but….

S.W.A.T. has been cancelled at CBS, TVLine has learned.

More from TVLineS.W.A.T. Cancelled: Shemar Moore Says CBS Made Wrong Choice, Asks Netflix, NBC, Fox and ABC to Consider Season 9Ghosts Adds a (Familiar) New Spirit - and Sets the Stage for a Helluva Deal?Ratings: CBS' Beyond the Gates Draws 78% Bigger Audience Than The Talk

The news comes ahead of this season’s 14th episode (of 22), airing Friday at 10/9c, and in the wake of CBS also pulling the plug on both FBI: Most Wanted and FBI: International,...

Besides the thrilling, high-stakes mission that cop procedural shows thrive on, the romantic elements are just as important as they add an emotional depth that makes the often heroic characters appear relatable. For CBS's much-loved procedural show, S.W.A.T., that romantic element has primarily been provided by the married couple, Nichelle Carmichael (Rochelle Aytes) and Daniel "Hondo" Harrelson (Shemar Moore). However, Nichelle Carmichael has been noticeably absent since the show returned for Season 8 and her chances of ever returning to share the screen with Hondo are pretty slim, according to a new update shared by showrunner, Andrew Dettman.

S.W.A.T. is one of CBS’ fan favorite TV shows at the moment, but there’s two interesting potential cast shakeups viewers might want to know about.

Two of the actresses on the show have slightly questionable futures on the series, and that’s because they’ve booked other work on other CBS dramas!

Keep reading to find out more…

Rochelle Aytes has appeared in 55 episodes of S.W.A.T. as Nichelle Carmichael, the wife of Shemar Moore‘s Hondo. However, she now has a starring role on CBS’ new series, Watson. You can find out more about Rochelle’s role on Watson here.

TVLine reported, “Rochelle Aytes has been busy with her role on CBS’ Watson, and S.W.A.T. has yet to steal her back for an appearance.” Originally, it was reported that Rochelle had been moved down from series regular to recurring, but her lack of season 8 air time has some wondering...

Now in its eight season, S.W.A.T. is the second longest-running scripted series currently on CBS. The network has not announced it as a final season.

“It’s been called the final season the last three or four seasons, hasn’t it?,” S.W.A.T. executive producer Ryan quipped during a Deadline interview about the second season of his hit Netflix series The Night Agent.

He refers to the fact the last two seasons of S.W.A.T. both were considered final at some point. After a string of early renewals, the police drama starring Shemar Moore was dramatically canceled in May 2023 after six seasons only for CBS to reverse the decision days later with a pickup of what was announced at the time as a seventh and final season. Flash-forward to May 2024 when S.W.A.T. was surprisingly renewed for an eighth season.

Is Ryan — who was S.W.A.T. showrunner before Andrew Dettman was named to the...

This article discusses sensitive themes.

CSI: Crime Scene Investigation is a procedural and forensics crime drama, the first in the CSI franchise. The series introduces audiences to beloved characters like Gil Grissom, Catherine Willows, and Sara Sidle. Unlike other procedural dramas, CSI focused more on the forensics investigation of disturbing crimes. Episodes like "Sqweegel" and "Blood Drops" have gone down as some of the scariest CSI episodes.

CSI is never light-hearted. Each episode deals with a violent criminal and a dark crime, with plenty of plot twists and shocking deaths remaining in viewers' minds for years. CSI never shied away from depictions of violence and gore, but some are far worse than others. The most disturbing CSI episodes deal with horrible crimes and are not for the faint of heart.

Update: 2024/09/29 20:53 Est By Brian Cronin

CSI was always a show that liked to explore the darker sides of the world,...

The latest update on S.W.A.T. season 8 reveals new insight into Deacon's future. In the role of David Kay, nicknamed Deacon, Jay Harrington has been with the CBS action drama since the beginning. But the season 7 finale, which was originally intended to be the show's last, kept Deacon's potential retirement up in the air until the episode's closing moments confirmed that Harrington's character would very much remain a part of S.W.A.T. season 8.

Ahead of the premiere of S.W.A.T. season 8, which returns to CBS at 8 Pm Et on Friday, October 18, showrunner and executive producer Andrew Dettman shared with TVLine that Deacon will approach the job with vigor after his brush with retirement. In the quote below, Dettman talks about how Deacon's views have evolved since viewers last saw him:

[Deacon will show] a real renewed vigor. Having walked away from it and then realizing this really is his true calling, he is back full force.

When Swat wrote off former series regular Alex Russell in what was originally supposed to be the show’s final season, the show gave fans a fun Easter egg when revealing that his character had gotten engaged to Christina “Chris” Alonso. At the end of his farewell episode, Street told Tan that he and Chris would have him over in a few weeks for their engagement party telling him to “Just don’t say anything yet, especially to Chris.”

The moment was a fun Easter egg for longtime fans who had hoped to see Street and Chris get their happy ending on-screen, but never got the chance due to Lina Esco’s departure as Chris prior to Russell’s own departure in season 7. It meant that the pair were not only still together, but planning for a life together and was likely designed as a fun nod for fans as part of Russell’s exit.

Could there be wedding bells coming to Swat in season 8? Two past characters may make a return to tie the knot!

Swat fans well know that the cast and producers were convinced season 7 was going to be the last one for the show until the renewal in April. The series had been canceled in May 2023, only for the outrage by fans to convince CBS to renew the procedural for a 13 episode final season. That was delayed by the 2023 Hollywood strikes before arriving in February 2024.

It was clear the writers were readying for the end with some major storylines, such as Luca being badly wounded in a shooting and having to retire from the LAPD. Meanwhile, Street (Alex Russell) decided to move to San Diego to head up a Swat unit there after their leader was killed in a gang shootout.

Street’s final scene had him and Tan saying goodbye,...

Showrunner Andrew addresses Jim Street and Christina Alonso's return for a potential on-screen wedding in S.W.A.T. season 8. Alex Russell recently departed from the series midway through season 7. The showrunner says that the door is open for anyone who left the series to return.

The showrunner of S.W.A.T. season 8 teases the return of a fan-favorite couple. Even though S.W.A.T. season 8 will mark a new chapter for the CBS show, there is a lot of fondness for relatively recently departed cast members Alex Russell and Lina Esco. They played Jim Street and Christina Alonso, respectively, with Russell being the more recent departure from the hit action drama.

In an interview with TVLine, ahead of the season 8 premiere at 8 Pm Et on Friday, October 18, showrunner Andrew Dettman addressed the possibility of fan-favorite couple Street and Alonso coming back for a wedding. Dettman offered an update on Street and Alonso, talking about hopes for...

Is S.W.A.T. heading for a wedding?

The CBS cop drama last season sure teased a big day for fan-favorite couple Jim Street and Christina “Chris” Alonso, when at the very end of original cast member Alex Russell’s final episode in March, Street dropped a li’l bomb on Tan.

More from TVLineJared Padalecki Joins Fire Country, Will Possibly Lead Spinoff - Showrunner Previews His 'Dynamic' DebutKatie Couric Calls Decision to Replace CBS Evening News' Norah O'Donnell With Two Men 'Disappointing' and 'Out of Touch'Tracker Shake-Up: [Spoiler] Out Ahead of Season 2 (Exclusive)

“How’s this — Chris and I...

It appears that S.W.A.T.‘s 20-Squad is completely refortified after the events of what everyone thought would be the CBS drama’s farewell season — with the addition to Annie Ilonzeh in a recurring role, and the promotion of Niko Pepaj (who plays Alfaro) to series regular status.

Season 7, originally announced as the procedural’s final season, effectively wrote out two original cast members — Alex Russell, as Street, and then Kenny Johnson, as Luca. A third vacancy on 20-Squad nearly opened up when Deacon (Jay Harrington) decided to retire, to fulfill a promise to wife Annie. But luckily, at season’s very end,...

Exclusive: Shawn Ryan, whose thriller drama The Night Agent was the most watched TV series of 2023 on Netflix, has signed a big, four-year overall deal with the streamer, sources tell Deadline. The prolific creator, executive producer and showrunner landed at Netflix in a competitive situation, with his current studio home, Sony Pictures TV, NBCUniversal and Warner Bros. TV among those who pursued him, I hear. The pact with Netflix will start after Ryan’s current overall deal with Sony TV expires at the end of October.

With Ryan’s deal in place, I hear Netflix is proceeding with opening a Season 3 writers room for The Night Agent. The Sony TV-produced series has currently been picked up through Season 2, which ramped up quickly after the strikes to start production in early February for a launch later this year. The writers room for Season 3 — a standard Netflix practice on successful series ahead...

Rochelle Aytes is jumping CBS shows.

The actress will exit the network’s hit procedural S.W.A.T as a series regular to star opposite Morris Chestnut in the medical drama Watson, Deadline reports. The hope is that she will recur in Season 8, according to the trade.

More from TVLineBlue Bloods Offshoot Hinted at by Paramount ExecFun Magnum, P.I. Facts From Tom Selleck's Memoir - Including Why He Thought the Show's Title Was 'Sh-ty'Elsbeth's Carrie Preston Talks 'Vulnerable' Season Finale, Pitches Role for Husband Michael Emerson

TVLine has reached out to CBS for confirmation of Aytes’ exit.

In S.W.A.T., Aytes...

Fans were no doubt excited to see S.W.A.T picked up by CBS for its eighth season and now, showrunner Andrew Dettman has exciting news about a star's return in the upcoming season. Speaking with TVLine, Dettman confirmed that Jay Harringtons character, Sergeant II David "Deacon" Kay, who is the main focus in the season 7 finale, will be back despite his retirement storyline. The update comes after two main stars, Alex Russell and Kenny Johnson, left the show.

Deacon plans to retire, but is front and center in season 7 and will remain part of the team. Deacon's return in S.W.A.T. season 8 follows two other exits. Street and Luca could return in S.W.A.T. season 8 as guest stars, not regulars.

S.W.A.T. season 7's character return gets a candid explanation from showrunner Andrew Dettman. The action drama series, which follows Los Angeles Police Department Sergeant Daniel "Hondo" Harrelson (Shemar Moore) and his unit, got an unexpected second life when it was announced that S.W.A.T season 8 had been officially picked up by CBS after it was initially announced that season 7 would be the last. Important characters had already said their goodbyes, but one original team member will be sticking around after all.

In an interview with TVLine, Dettman confirmed that Sergeant II David "Deacon" Kay (played by Jay Harrington) would be back for S.W.A.T season 8. The showrunner admits that he questioned Deacon's retirement storyline,...

[Warning: The below contains Major spoilers for the S.W.A.T. Season 7 finale “Twenty Squad.”] The future looks bright for Twenty Squad. S.W.A.T. ended its seventh (and nearly final) season with a bang, with Hondo (Shemar Moore) putting himself at great risk to keep Los Angeles safe—and the city took notice. Meanwhile, Deacon (Jay Harrington), though retired, once again helped out, and by the end of the episode, he was back with S.W.A.T. Also sticking around on 20 Squad? Tan (David Lim), Powell (Anna Enger Ritch), and Alfaro (Niko Pepaj). And Hicks (Patrick St. Esprit) is letting Hondo pick whoever he wants to fill the sixth spot. Below, executive producer Andrew Dettmann breaks down the finale and teases what’s ahead. Shemar told me that nothing was changed about the finale, but if you ...

The following contains spoilers from the Season 7 finale of CBS’ S.W.A.T.

As what was almost S.W.A.T.‘s series finale drew to a close on Friday night, it was clear that 20-Squad would stay liquid.

More from TVLineUnplanned CSI: Vegas Series Finale Leaves Fans With Some Cliffhangers - Though a Killer Tease Got Edited OutFBI's Katherine Renee Kane Previews Finale's Tiffany/Hakim Face-Off: 'It Shocked Me When I First Read It'Young Sheldon EP Addresses Paige's Absence in Final Season: 'We Never Thought That Was an Arc That Needed More Closing Than It Got'

Hondo’s team of course sustained some setbacks...

While for the most part, “everything was positive” about finding out S.W.A.T. had been uncanceled for a second time, there was one heartbreaking part, according to executive producer Andrew Dettmann. During Season 7, Hondo (Shemar Moore) has had to say goodbye to three members of 20 Squad. Street (Alex Russell) transferred to Long Beach, Luca (Kenny Johnson) was forced to retire after an injury when he interrupted a robbery off-duty, and Deacon (Jay Harrington) has chosen to retire. While Harrington is still around as Deacon adjusts to his next chapter, such is not the case for Russell or Johnson, who both had farewell episodes. “I would love to see them back,” Dettmann tells TV Insider. “The one heartbreaking thing was when we were told this is the end, Season 7, giving Street and Alex that goodbye, making part of Long Beach Pd, giving Luca that heartbreaking goodbye that Kenny played so well, those...

The S.W.A.T. Season 7 finale, which wrapped filming last week — just two days after the surprise un-cancellation news came through — as written left things “wide open” for more adventures for Hondo & Co.

S.W.A.T. showrunner Andrew Dettmann had told TVLine ahead of the seventh and “final” season, “Look, it was presented to us as definitively final. But I’ve always said, as I talk to the actors and the other writers here, everybody holds out hope. Your show’s not gone till your show’s gone, right? So, we’re approaching it to make it a wonderful farewell if that turns out to be what it is.

CBS made a surprising decision by renewing Swat for season 8 after originally planning to end it with season 7. The series finale was going to air on May 17.

In a shocking turn of events, Swat has been renewed for season 8. The CBS procedural was originally supposed to conclude with season 7, with the final episode set to air on May 17. This came after the network originally cancelled it before reversing that decision to give the show a proper conclusion with its last 13 episodes.

Now, CBS has once again reversed that decision, renewing Swat for season 8. Read the full response from Amy Reisenbach, president of CBS Entertainment, showrunners Andrew Dettmann and Shawn Ryan, and lead star Shemar Moore on that decision below:

Reisenbach: “Here at CBS, we always ‘stay liquid’ and love a good dramatic twist, especially when it leads to an eighth season of S.W.A.T.! The show continues to resonate with viewers...

CBS announced today that it has renewed the hit drama series S.W.A.T. for the 2024-2025 season. The series will return for its eighth year on the network. S.W.A.T. is produced by Sony Pictures Television in association with CBS Studios.

“Here at CBS, we always ‘stay liquid’ and love a good dramatic twist, especially when it leads to an eighth season of S.W.A.T.!,” said Amy Reisenbach, president of CBS Entertainment. “The show continues to resonate with viewers thanks to our talented cast led by Shemar Moore and our amazing writers and producers who keep the show relevant and action-packed.

Reisenbach continued: “We’re very pleased to renew it again and incredibly grateful to our partners at Sony, CBS Studios, and Shemar for working so closely with us to bring it back for next season.”

“Led by the unstoppable Shemar Moore, S.W.A.T. has captivated viewers since its premiere in 2017, and with every renewal,...

Jay Harrington as David “Deacon” Kay and Shemar Moore as Daniel “Hondo” Harrelson in ‘Swat’ season 7 episode 3 (Photo: Bill Inoshita / © Sony Pictures Television Inc.)

Swat fans refused to give up hope and apparently their continued support has paid off. CBS confirmed the surprising good news that S.W.A.T. has been renewed for season eight. Viewers can expect the drama to stick around at least through the 2024-2025 primetime season.

“Here at CBS, we always ‘stay liquid’ and love a good dramatic twist, especially when it leads to an eighth season of S.W.A.T.!” said Amy Reisenbach, president of CBS Entertainment. “The show continues to resonate with viewers thanks to our talented cast led by Shemar Moore and our amazing writers and producers who keep the show relevant and action-packed. We’re very pleased to renew it again and incredibly grateful to our partners at Sony, CBS Studios, and Shemar for working so...

Miracles do happen.

We’ve just witnessed one with the renewal of S.W.A.T, which was previously canceled by CBS.

Yes, that’s right, CBS announced today that it has renewed the hit drama series S.W.A.T. for the 2024-2025 season. The series will return for its eighth year on the Network.

Who had this on their bingo cards?

We’ve been riding for so long on the cancellation of popular shows on other networks — even after they’re renewed — that this news hits us like a shower of warm rose petals.

It’s concerning that during S.W.A.T. Season 7, many beloved characters have already said their goodbyes, so either they’ll be looking to walk that back or introduce us to a new team.

That’s a risky move for a series that had already been on the chopping block (and lost its head) once. Well, twice if you consider the original...

Longtime Chicago Med showrunners Diane Frolov and Andrew Schneider are leaving after Season 9, marking a significant change for the series. Frolov and Schneider's departure is a bittersweet occasion, as they provided behind-the-scenes consistency and creative direction for almost a decade. The change in showrunners will likely lead to a different feel for Chicago Med, with potential impacts on character storylines and cast turnover.

The biggest Chicago Med surprise is happening off-camera. Diane Frolov and Andrew Schneider, who have served as showrunners and executive producers since the series premiere, are leaving at the end of Season 9. Not only is this a significant change for the medical drama, but it's a bittersweet occasion for NBC's biggest franchise. Once Frolov and Schneider's last episode airs in May 2024, there will be no more original showrunners left in One Chicago.

Producing turnover is to be expected on long-running TV shows; series go in...

S.W.A.T. is not ending after all. Beating the odds a second time, the action drama has been renewed for the 2024-25 season, with Shemar Moore set to continue as star and executive producer. I hear Season 8 will consist of 22 episodes.

The news comes a year after S.W.A.T. was canceled before the decision was dramatically reversed a couple of days later with a renewal for a seventh and final season. This time, the network is not boxing itself in and is leaving the door open to more by not branding 8 as the series’ final season.

The surprise renewal, which sources said came down pretty quickly over the last couple of days, also comes as S.W.A.T is wrapping production on its seventh season. Moore hinted at the drama not necessarily ending by posting set photos on his Ig story yesterday with the caption “Season 7 finale will be [fire emoji],” not referring to the episode as series finale.

Turns out reports of “S.W.A.T’s” cancellation have been greatly exaggerated. CBS has renewed the cop drama for Season 8 despite announcing its seventh season would be its last nearly a year ago.

The latest drama marks the second time “S.W.A.T” has technically escaped cancellation, with CBS initially axing the show before announcing it would return for one last run. The original decision to cancel “S.W.A.T” came down to licensing fees. After Sony and CBS were unable to come to terms in 2023, the show was canceled, but they eventually worked out the deal for a final season with a reduced episode count.

“Here at CBS, we always ‘stay liquid’ and love a good dramatic twist, especially when it leads to an eighth season of ‘S.W.A.T.!,’” said Amy Reisenbach, president of CBS Entertainment. “The show continues to resonate with viewers thanks to our talented cast led by Shemar Moore...

Showrunners Diane Frolov and Andy Schneider are leaving Chicago Med after season 9. Their departure leaves a big hole in the show's creative team for season 10. However, the change in leadership could bring new creative direction and narrative possibilities.

Hit NBC drama Chicago Med has been rocked by a surprising behind-the-scenes development after nine seasons. The show, which is the second spinoff of Chicago Fire, first premiered in 2015. Andrew Dettman was originally announced as its showrunner but stepped down before the premiere due to creative differences. Diane Frolov and Andy Schneider have served as showrunners since the series' debut. They've helped make Chicago Med a huge hit for NBC, and the show was recently renewed for season 10.

Per TVLine, Frolov and Schneider will leave Chicago Med after season 9. The husband-wife duo released a statement revealing their imminent departure from the show. Read their full comments below:

We were honored to be...