CBS Ratings Deliver Major Shock in Viewership for ‘Tracker’ and ‘Watson’: Which Show Came Out on Top?

The newest CBS ratings are in and Tracker has been shockingly bested. The network revealed the latest rankings for live +35 multiplatform viewing in a press release on Tuesday, April 1, and Justin Hartley’s crime drama surprisingly did not top the list.

“In the 2024-25 fall broadcast season to date, CBS series continue to amass large audiences with 10 programs delivering 10 million or more multiplatform viewers across the Network and Paramount+ within 35 days of viewing: WATSON* (18.7m) for its post-AFC Championship premiere episode, TRACKER (18.0m), MATLOCK (15.8m), GEORGIE & MANDY’S FIRST MARRIAGE (12.7m), ELSBETH (10.9m), GHOSTS (10.8m), FIRE COUNTRY (10.5m), FBI (10.4m), NCIS (10.4m) and BLUE BLOODS (10m),” the press release said.

Additionally, “Three other CBS Original series generated nearly 8 million or more viewers with 35 days of multiplatform viewership: NCIS: ORIGINS (9.1m), 60 MINUTES (9.2m) and SURVIVOR (7.9m). Three new CBS series are posting big gains in 35-day multiplatform viewership compared to their time period last season: WATSON (+82%), MATLOCK (+51%) and TV’s #1 new unscripted series this season, HOLLYWOOD SQUARES (+96%).”

Watson stars Morris Chestnut in the role of Dr. John Watson, “who resumes his medical career as the head of a clinic dedicated to treating rare disorders six months after the death of his friend and partner, Sherlock Holmes, at the hands of Moriarty.”

On March 26, it was announced that Watson was renewed for season 2. Morris, 56, shared a video expressing his gratitude about the show renewal.

“I just wanted to come on here real quick and say thank you so much to everybody who supported and watched the show. Our cast, our crew, the writers, everybody involved worked crazy hard to make sure to bring you the best entertainment possible,” he said in the March 27 Instagram clip.

“The studio gave us so much unwavering support but none of this would have happened without you, the fans, supporting and watching the show,” Morris said. “Watson season 2! We’re going to do our very best to bring a bigger, stronger, faster, more entertaining season again next year.”

Season 1 of the show has delighted CBS viewers and they can’t wait to see more.

“Watson genuinely wants to see his patients get better. What excites him more than anything is solving a mystery,” Morris told TV Insider in January. “He can’t take [anyone] at face value. He’s always picking out something intriguing. But he had a traumatic brain injury [sustained trying to save Holmes] and he’s being affected by his medication. He can’t trust everyone around him.”

He also revealed that he was a fan of the Sherlock Holmes novels.

“I was. Craig Sweeny, the showrunner and creator [who also created the Sherlock-verse series Elementary] is well read in the mythology. I read a couple of stories years ago prior to this and have seen movies and TV projects,” he said. “Understanding the motivations of the characters in the story really helped me in my approach to certain scenes with certain characters. [What I took away] was mainly a study of their relationship. Watson is brilliant and saw Sherlock as someone higher than him. He wanted to learn from him, be like him.”