‘Elsbeth’ Season 4 Release Date, Time, Where to Watch and Preview
The wait for the ‘Elsbeth’ release date ends today, as the show returns to CBS on October 8. The new run airs in a new primetime slot on Thursdays at 9 PM ET. The change puts Carrie Preston’s whimsical sleuth in front of viewers an hour earlier than she has been used to.
The fourth season picks up after some emotional shifts for Elsbeth Tascioni. Season three ended her romance with her Scottish beau, Angus, and the new season brings fresh cases, family drama and new pressures on the 11th Precinct. Here is everything viewers need to know before the premiere.
‘Elsbeth’ Release Date and New Time Slot
CBS renewed the series on January 22 alongside its fellow Thursday night shows ‘Ghosts’, ‘Georgie & Mandy’s First Marriage’ and ‘Matlock’. The third season finale aired on May 21, which left a summer gap before the show’s return this fall.
The premiere arrives as part of CBS Premiere Week. It kicks off with the episode “Crazy in Love.” New episodes then arrive on Thursdays at 9 PM ET and PT.
The earlier start comes from a schedule shuffle. The series aired on Thursdays at 10/9c for most of its run, but with ‘Matlock’ moving to midseason for its third season, the air time changed. The new series ‘Cupertino’, from the creators of ‘Elsbeth’, will air at 10/9c on Thursdays this fall.
Where to Watch ‘Elsbeth’ on CBS and Paramount+
Broadcast viewers can simply tune in to their local CBS station. New episodes air weekly on CBS and stream live on Paramount+ for subscribers on the Premium plan through the Live TV hub. The live stream is a useful option for anyone without an antenna or cable package.
Those who prefer to watch later have a straightforward path. Episodes become available on demand the day after they air, and any Paramount+ plan covers that. The same service also hosts earlier seasons for anyone who needs to catch up before the premiere.
Newcomers can also trace the character back to her roots. The series is a spinoff of ‘The Good Wife’. Preston played Elsbeth in 19 episodes of ‘The Good Wife’ and ‘The Good Fight’ before the spinoff arrived.
The format is easy to jump into. Each episode reveals the identity of the murderer in the opening segment, which shifts the focus to how Elsbeth pieces the case together rather than who committed it.
‘Elsbeth’ Premiere Preview and Guest Stars
The opener centers on a high profile couples counselor. In “Crazy in Love,” Elsbeth crosses paths with renowned marriage counselor Serena Collyer, played by Nicole Scherzinger, whose cool demeanor hides a murderous and messy passion. The episode also sees Teddy, played by Ben Levi Ross, set a wedding date.
Sarah Beckett wrote the premiere and Nancy Hower directs it, with Gloria Reuben returning as Claudia Payne. Deadline described Serena as a popular and highly paid relationship counselor whose affair with an old love leads to murder.
The guest list extends well beyond the opener. New York Knicks star OG Anunoby will make a special cameo, and Nicholas Braun and Jemima Kirke are also on the list, with their episode dates still to be announced. Lea Michele and Sam Richardson are among the newest additions.
Speaking to TV Insider, Preston confirmed that Elsbeth will wear colorful sneakers this year and said the second episode follows a murder in the playwriting world. It is a small detail, but it fits the character’s eccentric style.
What the Fourth Season Could Hold Beyond the Premiere
The show’s creative team has been open about how it approached the close of the previous season. Showrunner Jonathan Tolins told TVLine that the optimistic finale did not stem from worry about the show’s fate, since it had been renewed well before the finale was filmed.
Familiar faces may also return. Tolins expects Carra Patterson’s Kaya to appear more than she did last season, though he is unsure she can be in every episode. He has also said the door remains open for Hernandez and Gold to come back.
Elsbeth’s love life looks to stay complicated. Tolins said it would not be true to the character to reopen the door with Alec, though her feelings would remain complicated if they cross paths. Preston has noted that Elsbeth and her former husband are estranged, a thread that could matter as wedding plans take shape.
Preston has her own wish list for the season. She has named Meryl Streep as her dream guest star. With Teddy finally setting a wedding date, do you think Elsbeth’s estranged former husband Mike Tascioni should show up for the ceremony, or would the day be better off without a visit from the past?
