CBS has made a decision on its standalone pilots, handing series orders to comedy DMV, starring Colin From Accounts‘ Harriet Dyer, from creator Dana Klein and Kapital Enteratnment; and drama Einstein, headlined by Criminal Minds alum Matthew Gray Gubler, from the Monk duo of Andy Breckman and Randy Zisk.
DMV‘s order resolved a four-way tie for the single remaining comedy slot on CBS’ 2025-26 schedule. As Deadline reported last month, three pilots, the single-camera DMV, the multi-camera Zarna, The Neighborhood planted spinoff as well as bubble freshman series Poppa’s House, were all vying for that one spot. It came down to DMV, Zarna and Poppa’s House. As Deadline reported yesterday, the off-cycle DMV, which tested and screened well, had a slight edge and will now join CBS’ lone single-camera comedy series, Ghosts, which was recently renewed for two seasons. The other pilots are not moving forward while Poppa’s House has been canceled.
As Deadline reported, Einstein, which lured back to TV Criminal Minds‘ Gubler, flew through testing, garnering enthusiastic response within CBS. The adaptation of the German format by Monk creator Breckman hit CBS’ sweet spot of procedural drama with humor and a popular CBS star as the lead.
Both DMV and Einstein come from CBS Studios. Of the remaining comedy contenders, Zarna, headlined by comedian Zarna Garg and executive produced by Mindy Kaling, was the sole outside production, coming from Warner Bros. Television.
Like most network pickup decisions these days, financials played a key role in determining the outcome of the comedy “bake-off,” sources said. DMV is single-camera but shot in Canada on a modest budget. It still had to reduce its budget to match Zarna‘s license fee as part of its series pickup consideration, I hear. Poppa’s House also had been asked to reduce its costs.
In addition to a back script order DMV and Zarna each had received from CBS, CBS Studios showed extra confidence in DMV by commissioning an additional script. DMV marks Kapital’s third series with creator Klein, following Friends with Better Lives and 9JKL, the latter also executive produced by DMV executive producer Wendi Trilling, CBS’ former head of comedy.
From the get go, Dyer’s schedule had been set up in a way that she could do DMV and Paramount+’s Colin From Accounts, which was recently renewed for a third season. Both comedies are produced by CBS Studios.
CBS’ schedule for the 2025-2026 season will be announced on May 7.
Here are details about the newly picked up CBS series, which join Fire Country spinoff Sheriff Country, Blue Bloods offshoot Boston Blue and FBI companion CIA:
DMV – Comedy
FORMAT: Single-Cam
STUDIO: CBS Studios
EP/W: Dana Klein
EP/NW: Aaron Kaplan, Wendi Trilling, Robyn Meisinger
D/EP (pilot only): Trent O’Donnell
LOGLINE: Based on award winning author Katherine Heiny’s short story, a single camera workplace comedy set at the place everyone dreads going most: the DMV. Our quirky and lovable characters are making minimum wage, doing a thankless job where customers are annoyed before they even walk in the door. Good thing they have each other.
Starring: Harriett Dyer, Tim Meadows, Molly Kearney, Alex Tarrant, Tony Cavalero, Gig Zumbado
EINSTEIN – Drama
EP/W: Andy Breckman
EP/D: Randy Zisk
NW/EP: Tariq Jalil; Rose Hughes, Rodrigo Herrera Ibarguengoytia and Laura Beetz (Seven One Studios International)
STUDIO: CBS Studios
The series is a drama with comedic undertones.
LOGLINE: Brilliant but directionless, the great grandson of Albert Einstein spends his days as a comfortably tenured professor until his bad boy antics land him in trouble with the law and he is pressed into service helping a local police detective solve her most puzzling cases.
Starring: Matthew Gray Gubler, Rose Salazar
DMV and Einstein will be distributed by Paramount Global Content Distribution.
