CBS Doubles Down: Boston Blue and Sheriff Country Return for Season 2

CBS is keeping the rookie hits around. 'Boston Blue' and 'Sheriff Country' just snagged early renewals for Season 2 — not bad for two October premieres that are only six episodes in.

'Boston Blue'

Yes, it is exactly what you think: a 'Blue Bloods' offshoot built around Donnie Wahlberg. He is back as NYPD detective Danny Reagan, only this time he takes a gig with the Boston Police Department and gets pulled into a new set of cases (and a new city full of headaches).

The cast is stacked: Sonequa Martin-Green, Ernie Hudson, Maggie Lawson, Gloria Reuben, Marcus Scribner, and Mika Amonsen co-star. The series was developed by Brandon Sonnier and Brandon Margolis.

'Sheriff Country'

This one branches off from 'Fire Country'. Morena Baccarin leads as Mickey Fox, the sheriff of a Northern California county trying to keep a lid on local crime while navigating a thornier problem at home: her ex-con father.

She is joined by Christopher Gorham, Michele Weaver, Matt Lauria, W. Earl Brown, and Amanda Arcuri, with recurring turns from Caroline Rhea, Tony White, and Mark Taylor. The series was created by Joan Rater, Tony Phelan, and Max Thieriot.

The numbers (and why CBS moved fast)

Both shows launched in October as part of CBS's fall lineup and air on Fridays — a night that usually does not mint instant hits. Despite that, each is averaging more than 7 million viewers per episode across platforms, based on Nielsen's Live+7 multiplatform data (via Variety). That kind of audience (this quickly) is exactly the sort of signal that gets renewal paperwork moving.

"Two new shows on Friday night have become instant hits with audiences quickly embracing 'Boston Blue' and 'Sheriff Country' across broadcast and streaming," said Amy Reisenbach, president of CBS Entertainment. "These early renewals reflect the power of character-driven storytelling, compelling narratives and the exceptional talent on both sides of the camera that make these series truly stand out."

Bottom line: CBS found two fresh procedurals that clicked fast, on a tougher night, and the network is not waiting around to lock in Season 2.