CBS renews 18 prime-time series for next season

NEW YORK — There’s little suspense ahead for CBS viewers: The nation’s most popular broadcaster said Wednesday that it has renewed 18 of its prime-time series for next season.

The long-running comedy “Two and a Half Men” was not on the list, but CBS said it’s discussing another season with the show’s production company, Warner Bros. Television.

CBS has been dominant in the ratings this year and lately has taken to predating the annual release of its fall schedule in May with an announcement of mass renewals earlier in the spring. The renewals include news shows “60 Minutes” and “48 Hours” and reality shows “Survivor,” “The Amazing Race” and “Undercover Boss.”

Dramas back on the schedule next fall are the top-rated “NCIS” and its spinoff, “NCIS: Los Angeles.” Other returning shows are “Elementary,” “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation,” “Person of Interest,” “Hawaii Five-0,” “The Mentalist,” “Blue Bloods” and “The Good Wife.” Renewed comedies are “The Big Bang Theory,” “How I Met Your Mother,” “2 Broke Girls” and “Mike & Molly.”

“How I Met Your Mother” will have its final season and, presumably, answer the mystery of who the mother actually is.

The shows still on the bubble are “CSI: NY,” “Vegas,” “Golden Boy” and “Rules of Engagement.” CBS may renew some or none of those shows, depending on its development of new programs.