CBS Plans ‘S.W.A.T.’ Season 8 Premiere Amidst Cancellation Concerns

Twice-saved S.W.A.T. is returning in a few months for its surprise eighth season. The CBS procedural faced a challenging period after being initially canceled by the network in May 2023, only to be renewed for a seventh and final season a weekend later. Shemar Moore, the show’s star and producer, remained hopeful that Season 8 would happen. Just over a month before the series finale, CBS granted the show an unexpected renewal for Season 8, which will premiere on Oct. 18.

Despite initially planning for just 13 episodes in Season 7 due to ongoing strikes, Season 8 will have a complete run of 22 episodes—a significant task for a show that has been nearly canceled twice. With Blue Bloods concluding this fall, "20-Squad" will move into the Reagans’ slot come midseason, taking over the 10 p.m. slot on Fridays. S.W.A.T.‘s current 8 p.m. slot will be replaced by NCIS: Sydney Season 2 in early 2025. Fans shouldn’t be concerned about the later time slot; if Blue Bloods could handle it, S.W.A.T. can too.

(Photo: "Good for Nothing" – 20-Squad must leap into action when Yakuza Assassins descend on L.A., targeting a number of mysterious Japanese ex-pats. Meanwhile, Nichelle finds her job on the line at the Inspector General’s office when a colleague accuses her of taking bribes, on S.W.A.T., Friday, March 1 (8:00-9:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network, and streaming on Paramount+ (live and on demand for Paramount+ with SHOWTIME subscribers, or on demand for Paramount+ Essential subscribers the day after the episode airs). Pictured (L-R): Jay Harrington as David "Deacon" Kay and Shemar Moore as Daniel "Hondo" Harrelson. Photo: Bill Inoshita / (C) Sony Pictures Television Inc. All Rights Reserved. – Bill Inoshita/(C) Sony Pictures Television Inc.)

Details about Season 8 remain limited, but the cast may look a bit different than in previous seasons. Alex Russell and Kenny Johnson left the show last season, though there’s a chance they could make brief returns. Jay Harrington, whose character Deacon nearly retired, is expected to return, along with Moore, David Lim, Patrick St. Esprit, and Anna Enger Ritch. Rochelle Aytes, playing Moore’s on-screen wife, will appear in a recurring role due to her new role in CBS’s Watson.

Filming for Season 8 of S.W.A.T. is expected to start soon, which means more information will be revealed in the coming weeks. Currently, Season 8 is not being treated as the final season. The first six seasons are available for streaming on Netflix, while Season 7 is on Paramount+. There’s much to look forward to this fall, with S.W.A.T. returning in October, sure to keep fans eagerly anticipating.

S.W.A.T. Season 8 premieres on Friday, Oct. 18 at 8 p.m. ET on CBS.

Source: Pop Culture