“Elsbeth” is a comedy now, seriously.
Variety exclusively reports that CBS is shifting gears for the hit series’ third season and has officially submitted consideration in the comedy category, rather than the drama category, for this year’s awards season.
The series, helmed by Emmy Award winner Carrie Preston, is a spinoff from The Good Wife and The Good Fight, and has been praised for its quirky tone and light-hearted approach to crime-solving. Despite its foundation as a mystery drama of the week, the network’s decision to pivot to comedy reflects the show’s unique blend of wit and quirky storytelling that sets it apart from traditional procedurals.
Category changes for the Golden Globes, SAG Awards, and Critics’ Choice Awards have already been completed and accepted. The DGA is currently undergoing a petition process. However, in the case of the WGA, the guild does not allow shows to petition for a move. So “Elsbeth” remains a WGA Awards drama. CBS plans to continue petitioning all other awards organizations, including the Television Academy, which oversees the Emmy Awards, once applications open in 2026.
Recent standout episodes have highlighted the show’s diverse tone, including “Doll Day Afternoon,” in which David Cross guest-starred as a hapless ex-con who finds himself in a hostage crisis during a toy store robbery, and “Ik a Bod,” in which Annaleigh Ashford stars as a suburban housewife whose Halloween rivalry ends up in a deadly situation in Sleepy Hollow. The next episode, “And Then There Were the Nuns,” which airs on November 20, stars two-time Oscar winner Dianne Wiest as the mother of a priest who is caught in the middle of a murder investigation after a pop star buys a failing convent.
CBS is pushing to have “Elsbeth” compete in next year’s Emmy race alongside acclaimed network and streaming comedies such as Netflix’s “Wednesday” and ABC’s “Abbott Elementary.” It’s an unusual but not unprecedented move for a procedural that leans more toward humor and character-driven storytelling than the traditional grit of primetime crime fare.
The series, produced by CBS Studios, has been a steady performer at the network since it first aired in February 2024, winning praise for Preston’s quirky portrayal of Elsbeth Tascioni, a lawyer-turned-consultant who now navigates the quirky corners of New York crime with equal parts intelligence and eccentricity.
In addition to Preston, the series also stars Wendell Pierce and Carla Patterson.
“Elsbeth” will be one of the shows participating in Variety’s “Night in the Writer’s Room,” the annual awards season edition, to be held in Los Angeles on Nov. 12.
