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Elsbeth (TV series)

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Elsbeth
Genre
Created by
Starring
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons2
No. of episodes18
Production
Executive producers
  • Jonathan Tolins
  • Liz Glotzer
  • Robert King
  • Michelle King
ProducerCarrie Preston
Camera setupSingle-camera
Running time43 minutes
Production companies
Original release
NetworkCBS
ReleaseFebruary 29, 2024 (2024-02-29) –
present (present)
Related

Elsbeth is an American police procedural comedy drama television series that premiered on February 29, 2024, on CBS. It is a spin-off of The Good Wife (2009–2016) and The Good Fight (2017–2022), from which Carrie Preston originated the role of Elsbeth Tascioni, an unconventional attorney who ends up working as a de facto detective.[2][3] In April 2024, the series was renewed for a second season, which premiered on October 17, 2024.[4][5]

Most, though not all, episodes of Elsbeth use the "howcatchem" mystery format rather than the traditional "whodunit", showing the audience from the start who the killer is, how and why they commit the crime, and how they are caught.[6]

Premise

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The series focuses on the offbeat Elsbeth Tascioni, an unconventional but astute attorney who, after a successful career in Chicago, uses her singular point of view to make unique observations and corner criminals alongside the NYPD. Ostensibly assigned by the United States Department of Justice to oversee a monitorship or consent decree after some controversial arrests,[7][8] her real mission (revealed over the course of the first season) is to investigate Captain C.W. Wagner for corruption. Nine of the first 10 episodes use the inverted detective story format.[9]

Cast

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See also: List of The Good Wife and The Good Fight characters

Main

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Recurring

[edit]

Guest

[edit]

Episodes

[edit]

Series overview

[edit]
SeasonEpisodesOriginally aired
First airedLast aired
110February 29, 2024 (2024-02-29)May 23, 2024 (2024-05-23)
220[18]October 17, 2024 (2024-10-17)TBA

Season 1 (2024)

[edit]
No.
overall		No. in
season		TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air dateU.S. viewers
(millions)
11"Pilot"Robert KingRobert King & Michelle KingFebruary 29, 2024 (2024-02-29)4.59[19]
In New York City, theatre professor Alex Modarian murders one of his students, Olivia Cherry, who threatened to expose their affair. Cloning her phone's SIM card, Alex carefully stages Olivia's death as a suicide. Chicago attorney Elsbeth Tascioni arrives to the city, sent by Department of Justice Agent Celetano, under a consent decree to observe the police, much to NYPD Captain Wagner's chagrin. Elsbeth befriends Officer Kaya Blanke, who is investigating Olivia's death, and they spot a man's deodorant in her bathroom. Suspicious of Alex, Elsbeth questions his current and former leading ladies, confirming that he had a history of inappropriate relationships with students. Suicidal texts sent from Olivia's phone contain old-fashioned sentence spacing and typos that Elsbeth ties to Alex, but the deodorant implicates his teaching assistant Todd, Olivia's boyfriend. Elsbeth is ordered to apologize to Alex, but she and Kaya dupe him into trying to plant his SIM card cloning tool in Todd's bag; caught red-handed by Wagner & Bobby Smullen, Alex is arrested.
A phone call with Celetano reveals Elsbeth's real mission in NYC: investigating Wagner for corruption.
22"A Classic New York Character"Robert KingBryan GoluboffApril 4, 2024 (2024-04-04)5.43[20]
Gloria Blecher, the loathed president of her co-op board, vetoes a lucrative offer from real estate broker Joann Lenox, angering her fellow board members. As revenge, Joann climbs to loosen Gloria's balcony and convinces Gloria's son, Lewis, that he is being evicted. Arguing with Lewis, Gloria falls from the balcony to her death. At the crime scene, Elsbeth encounters Joann, who retrieves her handbag from the building's dumbwaiter and plants the incriminating wrench in Lewis' garden. Surprising Joann at her rock-climbing gym, Elsbeth matches her liquid chalk to residue on the balcony and makes an offer on an apartment in the building. Meeting with Joann and the board, Elsbeth deduces that they all played a role in Joann's plot to kill Gloria: Annie secured Lewis' fingerprints on the wrench, sending it to Leonard's apartment in the dumbwaiter; Daniel distracted the doorman, allowing Joann inside; Dorothy used her barking dog to lure Gloria out to the balcony; and Leonard cleared the sidewalk below. The board members immediately turn on Joann after Elsbeth reveals her deal Gloria was a hoax. In another shocking twist, it's revealed Joann's father was Gloria's husband, who Gloria killed after she discovered that he was having an affair with the housekeeper, Joann's mother. The corpse of Gloria's husband is recovered in the building, and Joann happily pleads guilty with her revenge completed.
Elsbeth connects Wagner to a man named Martin Wali and a company called FlairAll.
33"Reality Shock"Ron UnderwoodJonathan TolinsApril 4, 2024 (2024-04-04)4.60[20]
Skip Mason, producer of the reality show Lavish Ladies, electrocutes one of his stars, Wendy Wexler, in her bathtub when she attempts to blackmail him. Kaya, a Lavish Ladies superfan, guides Elsbeth through the show, which former star Katricia left after an inebriated on-camera meltdown. Elsbeth suspects Skip, noticing glitter from Wendy's bath on his hands and on glassware he removed from the bathroom to cover his tracks. A voicemail he left Wendy at the time of her death seems to prove he was with another star, Tracy, and he provides footage painting intern Valencia as a suspect. Kaya tracks down Katricia, who has a high tolerance for alcohol and believes Skip and Wendy drugged her to elicit a meltdown. Rewatching the show, Elsbeth realizes Skip's voicemail used an old sound clip of Tracy. At Wendy's memorial service, Tracy finds a text she sent that contradicts Skip's voicemail, and Katricia confronts Skip. He tries to intimidate her by admitting he killed Wendy, but Elsbeth reveals his confession was captured by a hidden microphone, and Skip is arrested.
Elsbeth tries to get information on Wali from Lieutenant Noonan, but he proves fiercely loyal to Wagner.
44"Love Knocked Off"Rosemary RodriguezErica Shelton KodishApril 11, 2024 (2024-04-11)4.35[21]
Margo Clarke, a celebrity matchmaker, coaches petty criminal Dennis Pagano to pose as "Gabriel Erwood", a perfect match for her demanding client Lainey Belfort. They are married six months later, fulfilling Margo's contract, but after a year of marriage, "Gabriel" visits Margo's home in the Hamptons, planning to tell Lainey the truth. An angry Margo clubs him to death with a statuette of Cupid, dumping his body and the murder weapon off shore. Captain Wagner assigns Kaya to investigate Gabriel's disappearance, as Lainey is an important donor to Wagner and his wife Claudia's charitable foundation. Suspicious of Margo, Elsbeth deduces that she burned a rug to destroy evidence. Gabriel's body is found and identified as Dennis, leading Kaya and Elsbeth to his ex-girlfriend Tina and a file cabinet full of evidence of his transformation into Gabriel funded by Margo. A previous magazine photoshoot of Margo's home reveals the statuette is missing; Margo hurriedly buys a replacement, but Elsbeth confronts her with the recovered Cupid, and she is arrested.
Invited to Claudia's foundation gala, Elsbeth sees Wagner with the head of FlairAll but chooses not to tell Celetano. Wagner realizes Elsbeth may be investigating him.
55"Ball Girl"Rob HardyEric RandallApril 18, 2024 (2024-04-18)4.28[22]
Cliff McGrath, father and coach of professional tennis player Hunter McGrath, is determined for his son to win against top-ranked Johann "Yoyo" Arnaldo. Cliff laces Yoyo's towel with nitroglycerin ointment during a tournament in NYC, noticed by ball girl Ashlee, and Yoyo collapses on the court and dies. Wagner, hoping to learn about Elsbeth and her secret investigation, treats her to sushi, but an oshibori leads her to realize how Yoyo died. Ashlee approaches Cliff with a scheme to win bets on Hunter by sabotaging his opponents, and plants the incriminating towel in Yoyo's hotel room. She tips off the police, leading them to suspect Yoyo's girlfriend Irina, who reveals that she gave him erectile disfunction medication; an inadvertent adverse reaction with the ointment resulted in his death. Suspicious of Cliff, Elsbeth learns from Hunter that his late mother had the ointment, and Hunter comes to suspect his father as well. In Hunter's final match, he and Elsbeth manipulate Cliff into believing Ashlee has sabotaged his son's towel. Cliff incriminates himself, and he and Ashlee are arrested.
Meanwhile, Elsbeth is conflicted after Wagner arranges a new job for her son.
66"An Ear for an Ear"Nancy HowerZoe MarshallApril 25, 2024 (2024-04-25)4.28[23]
Plastic surgeon Vanessa Holmes, furious at her protégé Astrid Olsen for starting a rival practice, poses as a patient and poisons and hits Astrid to death. Vanessa flirts with a guard at the Museum of the City of New York to establish an alibi, but the museum is later disrupted by a climate change protest. Elsbeth suspects Vanessa of arranging the fake patient's appointment using fellow surgeon Dr. Yablonsky's phone. Celetano introduces Elsbeth to Martin Wali, who believes Wagner is covering up FlairAll's illegal labor practices in exchange for bribes through his foundation. Elsbeth approaches Wagner about the alleged bribes, but he implies that her son's new job could be viewed in the same light. Paint on Vanessa's shoes is matched to paint from the museum protest, confirming her alibi, but Elsbeth realizes the fake patient's medical history actually belongs to Vanessa's wife, Carolyn, and Yablonsky confirms that Carolyn went to Astrid to correct Vanessa's work. Elsbeth finds evidence in Vanessa's trash that she splattered her own shoes, and Vanessa is arrested.
Elsbeth lets Kaya in on her investigation into Wagner; meanwhile, Lt. Noonan accepts a bribe from FlairAll on Wagner's behalf.
77"Something Blue"Yap Fong-YeeErica LarsonMay 2, 2024 (2024-05-02)4.23[24]
Wealth management CEO Ashton Hayes reveals his unethical business practices to his employee/future son-in-law, Derek. At his bachelor party, Derek blabs to Capri, an exotic dancer hired by Ashton to test his discretion. Betrayed, Ashton gets Derek drunk following the wedding and sinks him in the lake in a golf cart. Elsbeth and Kaya doubt Derek's death was accidental when his autopsy determines he suffocated. Ashton's daughter Nora confesses she cheated on Derek with Rob, the wedding choreographer. Elsbeth interviews Rob under the guise of a private dance lesson and he leads her to Capri, who in turn leads her to Ashton. Discovering dissolving tape at Ashton's country club kitchen, Elsbeth realizes Derek died as a result of Ashton gagging him with the tape, while a wedding video shows Derek wearing a watch Ashton gave him, which Ashton took back before killing him. Wagner helps lure Ashton to plant the watch at Rob's dance studio, where Elsbeth intercepts Ashton and talks him into an impromptu dance. The watch falls out and Ashton is arrested.
At Elsbeth's housewarming party, Wagner reveals he suspects Noonan of being the real corrupt cop, leaving Elsbeth unsure who to believe.
88"Artificial Genius"Tyne RafaeliLeah Nanako WinklerMay 9, 2024 (2024-05-09)4.20[25]
Investigative journalist Josh Johnson prepares an exposé on Cerberus, a crime-reporting app led by entrepreneur Quinn Powers. Using Cerberus to create a fictional cattle prod-wielding dog-kidnapper, Quinn plays a prerecorded presentation during a virtual company meeting and sneaks away to Josh's apartment. She beats him to death with a cattle prod, destroys his article, and steals his dog to implicate the fictional dog-napper. Elsbeth becomes suspicious after neighborhood dog walker Mimi does not recognize the supposedly kidnapped dogs, while Kaya suspects Cerberus is generating posts with AI. Video of Quinn's meeting reveals that she lost her headband during the murder. Unable to find it at the murder scene, Elsbeth and Kaya find evidence leading them to Quinn's former high school friend Ellen Davis, the true creator of Cerberus. Ellen reveals data flaws that Josh discovered, which Elsbeth confirms by feeding Quinn false information which is later reported on Cerberus. When Mimi finds Josh's dog in the park and Elsbeth brings it home, she realizes the dog must have hidden the headband. Finding the headband, Elsbeth crashes a Cerberus team meeting and Quinn is arrested.
Meanwhile, Wagner tells Wali his suspicions about Noonan, promising to bring the corrupt lieutenant down.
99"Sweet Justice"Kevin Rodney SullivanBryan Golubuff & Erica Shelton KodishMay 16, 2024 (2024-05-16)4.26[26]
Cocktail bar owner Joe Dillion learns from Ivy Benson, his favorite customer, about her former college roommate and bully Gemma Nelson. A vengeful Joe strangles Gemma in her sleep, but the police discover it was actually Jane Dunhill, Gemma's housesitter, who was killed. Elsbeth suspects Joe, who left a footprint at the crime scene, and Kaya links a mark on Jane's neck to Joe's bottle opener ring. Ivy's online comments toward Gemma make her a suspect, and an angry Gemma unleashes her followers on the NYPD, demanding Ivy's arrest. Joe's regulars reveal he is fiercely protective of his customers, and he admits to Elsbeth that he would do anything for Ivy. Elsbeth stages the arrest of Dion, Joe's employee, who receives a grateful kiss from Ivy, goading Joe into confessing. Joe is arrested, and Gemma's boyfriend Brad breaks up with her, exposing her bullying in a humiliating video.
Wagner tells Claudia his suspicions about Noonan, and lures him into a secret meeting with FlairAll's CEO, Declan Armstrong. With Elsbeth recording the incriminating conversation, Wagner intervenes when Noonan pulls a gun, and Noonan and Armstrong are arrested. Wagner is exonerated, but orders Elsbeth back to Chicago for betraying his trust.
1010"A Fitting Finale"Rosemary RodriguezJonathan TolinsMay 23, 2024 (2024-05-23)4.90[27]
Retiring supermodel Nadine Clay walks her final runway at her soon-to-be-ex-husband Nick Garrison's fashion show, where photographer Ezra Tate is shot dead. Nadine explains that Ezra, her former lover, was desperate for money, and a pawn shop owner reveals Ezra was involved with gambling debts, blackmail, and a mysterious "Pangaea Project". Elsbeth surprises Nadine at the home of designer Matteo Hart, who declares Elsbeth his new muse. Nadine claims Ezra had compromising photos of her, and suspects a jealous Nick killed him. Matteo tells Elsbeth that Ezra and Nadine, as fashion students, created Pangaea Project: a misguided photoshoot of Nadine made up as different ethnicites. Nick tells the police that he suspects Ezra was blackmailing Nadine over Pangaea, and she killed him. At Matteo's fashion show, built around Elsbeth and her unique fashion sense, Elsbeth has an epiphany. She confronts Matteo with Ezra's photos of Nadine's final shoot, revealing Matteo killed him. Matteo also confesses to killing an enforcer who threatened Ezra over his debts, burying him in the backyard, and Elsbeth gives Nadine the Pangaea photos.
Wagner changes his mind, fast-tracking Kaya as a detective and convincing Celetano to give Elsbeth her own position investigating corruption in NYC.

Season 2 (2024)

[edit]
No.
overall		No. in
season		Title [18]Directed byWritten byOriginal air date [18]U.S. viewers
(millions)
111"Subscription to Murder"Nancy HowerJonathan TolinsOctober 17, 2024 (2024-10-17)4.76[28]
Ex-lawyer Philip Cross's free shows at the opera are routinely disrupted by Eddie Reese, a womanizing stockbroker who becomes an obnoxious patron. Hitting his breaking point, Philip follows Eddie home and brutally stabs him to death. Going through Eddie's selfies from the opera, Elsbeth is curious to see Philip in the background of each one, so she and Kaya attend the opera themselves to meet him. There, they encounter Dr. Yablonsky, who tells Elsbeth about Philip's obsession with the opera. Upon seeing that Elsbeth genuinely likes the shows, Philip invites her to his home. Unknown DNA is found on Eddie's body, as well as a bruise from the knife's hilt but with no puncture wound. At Philip's apartment, he shows Elsbeth a gift he received from the baritone of his first opera, which is the same prop knife Philip used to kill Eddie. Elsbeth manages to get ahold of Philip's DNA off his opera glasses, but the DNA does not match the unknown sample. Stumped, Elsbeth abruptly realizes that the DNA was the baritone's, whose blood was still on the knife when Philip used it to kill Eddie. Elsbeth returns to Philip's apartment with an old costume the baritone wore when he performed in New York, with his DNA still on it. Philip is arrested, but praises Elsbeth's love of opera one last time.
Lt. Steve Connor is brought on to replace Noonan and discovers that Kaya was mistakenly admitted to the police academy without the proper credits. As a result, Kaya's promotion is put on hold until she earns the credits back by taking classes part-time. At the end of the episode, Elsbeth is walking her dog when a black SUV pulls up, and an unknown person orders her to get in.
122"The Wrong Stuff"Aisha TylerErica Shelton KodishOctober 24, 2024 (2024-10-24)4.45[29]
While going through an exclusive private space training simulation, self-made paint billionaire Neal Dorsey is repeatedly humiliated by renewable energy CEO, Gavin Morrissey. Neal becomes jealous when his son Randy starts to idolize Gavin, and Neal retaliates by putting a lithium battery in the shoe lifts of Gavin's boots. When Gavin enters a centrifuge, the battery explodes and kills him. Elsbeth investigates while dealing with a handsome fire marshal who constantly flirts with her, and she quickly learns of Neal's rivalry with Gavin and the tension between Neal and his son. When Elsbeth discovers that Gavin's hoverboard stopped working shortly before his death, she theorizes the battery came from there, but Neal has already replaced it with another stolen battery. However, when Elsbeth pries out the new battery, she finds a gold pen tip that was specifically customized for Neal. The tip allows Elsbeth to seal the case and Neal is arrested.
The person in the black SUV is revealed to be Elsbeth's old colleague Carter from Chicago, who tells her one of their clients from a divorce case they handled is now getting divorced a second time, and details of the previous case are causing issues with the new one. Carter strictly orders Elsbeth not to discuss either case under threat of retribution from the firm.
133"Devil's Night"Robin GivensBryan GoluboffOctober 31, 2024 (2024-10-31)4.84[30]

Mackenzie "Mac" Altman, a former child actress turned professional party girl, wakes up on Halloween morning with no memory of the night before, except possibly killing someone. Elsbeth helps Mac retrace her steps, only for them to stumble upon the body of Mac's boyfriend Sonny Miller. Mac soon becomes the prime suspect and cannot help her own case, while her lawyer/manager Danny refuses to let Elsbeth get involved. Despite this, Elsbeth manages to track Mac's movements all the way to a bar where she was not long before Sonny was killed. Elsbeth realizes that Mac did kill Sonny, but Danny orchestrated the killing by drugging Mac at the bar and manipulating her to do it. Danny's motive was to stop Sonny from revealing that Danny had been embezzling from Mac's estate. Mac and Danny are arrested, with the former deciding to give up her hard-partying lifestyle.

Lt. Connor puts up an opinion sheet at the precinct, which shows morale is low since Noonan's arrest, while suggesting Wagner's leadership skills are faltering. Connor insists this problem be corrected, which Wagner discusses with his wife while contemplating how to do so.
144"Diamonds Are for Elsbeth"Mary Lou BelliZoe MarshallNovember 7, 2024 (2024-11-07)4.25[31]

Socialite Rosalyn Bridwell plans a heist with her best friend Celeste to rob Vivian's, an exclusive jewelry store, after the new creative director Valentina bars them from attending the store's grand re-opening. When Rosalyn realizes one of their associates in the heist plans to expose them, Rosalyn poisons him with cyanide in his tea, while feigning to be poisoned herself. Elsbeth quickly proves how Rosalyn faked being poisoned and also discovers her shaky finances. She goes to Rosalyn's apartment, interrupting a meeting of the heist group. Judith and Huey manage to hide, but Elsbeth sees Judith's trademark blazer, while also noticing that Rosalyn's dining set does not include silverware. Elsbeth then realizes that Rosalyn hid the silverware set because she used one of the spoons from that set to scoop the polish into the tea. Judith is brought in for questioning and confesses to the heist. That night, Rosalyn, Celeste, Huey, and Judith put their plan into action, distracting Valentina and switching out the jewels, with Huey making off with the real jewelry. Rosalyn also tries to steal a spoon to replace the one missing from her silverware set, but Elsbeth, Kaya, Wagner and Detective Donnelly interrupt her, having already found the incomplete set, and Rosalyn is arrested, while Judith is granted a deal. Huey is also arrested before he can escape, and the jewels are recovered. However, Judith subsequently flees to Paris, having stolen all of Rosalyn's jewelry while in hiding after Elsbeth crashed the meeting.

Kaya moves in with Elsbeth while having her home renovated so she can rent out a room to pay for her college classes. Kaya insists on paying rent, but Elsbeth feels their friendship entitles her to a free stay. In the end, Elsbeth finally concedes on the condition they have a mandatory fro-yo night. Meanwhile, Wagner tries to bring fun into the workplace by raffling off a free lunch, which isn't as successful as he hoped.
155"Elsbeth Flips the Bird"Ron UnderwoodSarah BeckettNovember 14, 2024 (2024-11-14)4.30[32]

Renowned chef Genevieve Hale prepares to entertain prominent businessman Roger Montebello at her exclusive restaurant, hoping to secure a position at his luxury hotel chain. However, her kitchen staffer Jordan deliberately double-books the restaurant to sabotage Montebello's experience, as payback for dealing with her notorious temper. When Genevieve confronts him, Jordan goads her into attacking him with a meat tenderizer. When Genevieve realizes that Jordan recorded the assault, she strangles him to death in a fit of rage. She deletes Jordan's video and inflicts injuries on herself to make it appear as if someone else attacked them both. Elsbeth quickly doubts Genevieve's story upon learning of her violent history. Genevieve tries to prevent Elsbeth from investigating her restaurant, but Nadine Clay brings Elsbeth there as a plus one. Elsbeth soon discovers the deal between Genevieve and Montebello, as well as Jordan's scheme of selling reservations behind Genevieve's back. At home, Elsbeth tries to make Genevieve's most famous dish, which has disastrous results but allows Elsbeth to solve the case: Genevieve had turned the food over while she staged the crime scene, proving that she was fully conscious when the murder happened.

Lt. Connor discovers Elsbeth and Kaya are living together, causing Kaya to become worried about her promotion. Meanwhile, Elsbeth is contacted by pop star Tru-Rose, the plaintiff in the current divorce case involving Elsbeth's former client. Tru-Rose asks Elsbeth to help her in court, but Elsbeth is forced to refuse. Wagner hosts a poker night for the detectives, but this too falls short when Elsbeth wins the pot.
166"Gold, Frankincense, and Murder"Rachel RaimistErica LarsonDecember 5, 2024 (2024-12-05)4.40[33]

Christmas-curating power couple Dirk and DeeDee Dashers are preparing to launch their new vintage decor collection. DeeDee tells Dirk she wants out of the marriage, but Dirk refuses to get a divorce out of fear that it will tarnish their brand. Dirk tells DeeDee they can officially separate after the holidays, but he covertly plans to murder her instead. However, DeeDee discovers his plan and tampers with a display's wires that end up fatally electrocuting him. Elsbeth and Kaya investigate the "accident" and soon uncover both Dirk's murder plot and his affair with an assistant to the Dashers' publicist. Elsbeth solves the case by proving that DeeDee foiled Dirk's plan by wearing black shock-proof gloves, the same ones she wore to tamper the wires that killed Dirk. Ultimately, Elsbeth seals the case when she realizes the burned-out bulb DeeDee put on the string of Christmas lights broke the color pattern, because DeeDee is colorblind.

Kaya has aced her college classes and is now preparing to move out of Elsbeth's apartment, leaving Elsbeth all alone for the holidays as her son Teddy will be visiting her ex-husband this year. Meanwhile, Wagner turns to Elsbeth for ideas on Claudia's Christmas present. She ultimately suggests couple's dance lessons. Kaya and Wagner surprise Elsbeth by bringing Teddy to New York for the holidays.
177"One Angry Woman"Lionel ColemanEric RandallDecember 12, 2024 (2024-12-12)4.59[34]

One rainy night, Andy Meyers has a sexual fling with his neighbor Delia Bates in his apartment. While Delia goes to use the shower afterwards, judge Milton Crawford enters the apartment and bludgeons Andy to death. Delia is charged with the murder and Crawford presides over her trial. Elsbeth is appointed to Delia's jury and soon notices that Crawford appears to be manipulating the proceedings in the prosecution's favor, but she does not understand why. Regardless, Elsbeth manages to find proof that someone else was at the apartment that night, though cannot determine the identity of the third party. However, this is enough for the jury to acquit Delia. After the trial, Elsbeth finally begins to realize Crawford may be the actual killer, but has nothing to prove her suspicions.

Elsbeth's son Teddy is still staying with her, and Kaya shows him around New York. Despite having a good time, Teddy insists on knowing why his mother left Chicago so abruptly, which Elsbeth struggles to explain. Lt. Connor starts trying to improve the precinct by making a big deal out of minor complaints from the detectives, but Wagner convinces him to ease up.
188"Toil and Trouble"Darren GrantMatthew K. BegbieDecember 19, 2024 (2024-12-19)3.48[35]

Regina Coburn, female star of procedural police drama "Father Crime", is about to film the 20th season finale and is preparing to travel to London afterwards to perform in "Macbeth", with her character being in a coma at the start of the next season to accommodate her absence. However, producer Calvin Reed plans to change the ending so that Regina recovers quickly, leaving her unable to go to London. Feeling betrayed, Regina distracts the rest of the cast and crew by hiring an ice cream truck, then sneaks into Calvin's office and kills him by ramming the heel of a stiletto shoe in his eye, copying the murder in an original script written by an obsessed fan. Upon finding the script, the police lure the fan into a trap and arrest him, but Elsbeth is convinced Regina is responsible, and soon discovers a history of animosity between Regina and Calvin. Elsbeth ultimately proves Regina's guilt with the discovery that she was in a habit of only reading her own character's lines and nothing else, thus not realizing that the stiletto in the fan's script was a knife, not a shoe.

Kaya meets a handsome ME at the crime scene and invites him to move into the spare room she just renovated at her house. Elsbeth obtains the transcript from Delia Bates' trial, but Crawford learns of this and informs Wagner. Wagner confronts Elsbeth, who tells him she suspects Crawford of being the real killer. Wagner agrees to help Elsbeth investigate, but wars her that Crawford is extremely powerful. Kaya and Crawford both discover Elsbeth's role in the Van Ness case after the identities of the legal team are exposed on the national news.

Co-creator Robert King directed an episode of the season.[36]

Production

[edit]

Development

[edit]

On January 31, 2023, it was announced that a pilot was ordered by CBS.[37] It was a straight-to-series order, with CBS Studios joining the production of the series.[38] Shortly after the premiere, creators Robert and Michelle King stated that, although the character of Elsbeth Tascioni originated on The Good Wife, they do not consider Elsbeth to be a spin-off but a "separate show" inspired by Columbo that happens to use a "character in [their] wheelhouse".[3] On April 18, 2024, CBS renewed the series for a second season.[4]

Casting

[edit]

Carrie Preston reprises her role as Elsbeth Tascioni from The Good Wife and The Good Fight. Also, Wendell Pierce joined as C.W. Wagner, and Carra Patterson joined in the role of Kaya Blanke.[39]

The Kings have indicated that, while they avoided recycling actors for different characters on The Good Wife and The Good Fight, Elsbeth would not adhere strictly to the Good series' shared universe, and therefore some guest stars from the earlier series, such as Linda Lavin, would appear as different characters in Elsbeth.[3]

Filming

[edit]

After the show was ordered to series, the rest of the first season began shooting in January 2024 [40] and wrapped in late April 2024.[41] The first season of the series was filmed in New York and consists of 10 episodes.[42]

During a conversation with the press and an open audience to promote the Spanish release of the whole first season, Preston stated that season 2 consists of 20 episodes.[43] Filming on the second season started on July 23, 2024.[44]

Release

[edit]

The first season of Elsbeth premiered on February 29, 2024, on CBS. The show is available to stream on Paramount+.[2] The second season premiered on October 17, 2024 on CBS.[5]

In Australia it premiered on Paramount+ on 26 April 2024[45]

In the UK it premiered on Sky Witness on 23 July 2024 and Germany on Sky One on 6 August 2024.

Despite strong viewership for the pilot episode, new episodes did not resume until April 4, five weeks later, when the second and third episodes aired back-to-back. This was blamed on preemptions caused by the 2024 State of the Union Address on March 7 as well as the 2024 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament on March 21 and 28. CBS opted to repeat the premiere episode on March 14 rather than schedule a standalone new episode between these events.[46]

Reception

[edit]

The review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes reported a 94% approval rating with an average rating of 7.2/10, based on 31 critic reviews. The website's critics consensus reads, "Carrie Preston's standout character from The Good Wife makes for a great detective in this amiable and clever spinoff."[47] Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned a score of 71 out of 100 based on 15 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".[48]

Ratings

[edit]
Viewership and ratings per season of Elsbeth
Season Timeslot (ET) Episodes First aired Last aired TV season Viewership
rank		 Avg. viewers
(millions)		 18–49
rank		 Avg. 18–49
rating
Date Viewers
(millions) 		Date Viewers
(millions)
1 Thursday 10:00 p.m. (1, 3–9)
Thursday 9:00 p.m. (2, 10)		 10 February 29, 2024 (2024-02-29) 4.59[19] May 23, 2024 (2024-05-23) 4.90[27] 2023–24 15 7.45[49] 56[a] 0.47[49]
2 Thursday 10:00 p.m.[18] 20[18] October 17, 2024 (2024-10-17) 4.76[28] TBA TBD 2024–25 TBD TBD TBD TBD

Season 1

[edit]
Viewership and ratings per episode of Elsbeth
No. Title Air date Rating/share
(18–49)		 Viewers
(millions)		 DVR
(18–49)		 DVR viewers
(millions)		 Total
(18–49)		 Total viewers
(millions)		 Ref.
1 "Pilot" February 29, 2024 0.29/4 4.59 — — — — [19]
2 "A Classic New York Character" April 4, 2024 0.34/4 5.43 0.19 2.64 0.53 8.07 [20]
3 "Reality Shock" April 4, 2024 0.29/4 4.60 0.18 2.84 0.47 7.44 [20]
4 "Love Knocked Off" April 11, 2024 0.28/4 4.35 — — — — [21]
5 "Ball Girl" April 18, 2024 0.28/4 4.28 0.22 3.20 0.50 7.47 [22]
6 "An Ear for an Ear" April 25, 2024 0.24/2 4.28 0.21 3.15 0.45 7.43 [23]
7 "Something Blue" May 2, 2024 0.27/3 4.23 0.22 3.20 0.49 7.43 [24]
8 "Artificial Genius" May 9, 2024 0.22/3 4.20 0.23 3.25 0.44 7.44 [25]
9 "Sweet Justice" May 16, 2024 0.26/3 4.26 0.21 3.09 0.47 7.34 [26]
10 "A Fitting Finale" May 23, 2024 0.28/3 4.90 — — — — [27]

Season 2

[edit]
Viewership and ratings per episode of Elsbeth
No. Title Air date Rating/share
(18–49)		 Viewers
(millions)		 DVR
(18–49)		 DVR viewers
(millions)		 Total
(18–49)		 Total viewers
(millions)		 Ref.
1 "Subscription to Murder" October 17, 2024 0.27/3 4.76 0.21 3.52 0.48 8.28 [28]
2 "The Wrong Stuff" October 24, 2024 0.27/3 4.45 0.20 3.43 0.47 7.88 [29]
3 "Devil's Night" October 31, 2024 0.31/4 5.82 0.21 3.26 0.53 8.10 [30]
4 "Diamonds Are for Elsbeth" November 7, 2024 0.22/2 5.31 0.20 3.36 0.42 7.61 [31]
5 "Elsbeth Flips the Bird" November 14, 2024 0.27/3 5.40 0.20 3.24 0.47 7.55 [32]
6 "Gold, Frankincense, and Murder" December 5, 2024 0.23/3 4.40 0.20 3.21 0.43 7.61 [33]
7 "One Angry Woman" December 12, 2024 0.23/3 4.59 — — — — [34]
8 "Toil and Trouble" December 19, 2024 0.20/2 3.48 — — — — [35]

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ Tied with Jeopardy! Masters and So Help Me Todd.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Tinubu, Aramide (February 28, 2024). "Carrie Preston Delights in CBS' Enchanting 'Good Wife' Spinoff 'Elsbeth': TV Review". Variety. Penske Media Corporation. Retrieved February 29, 2024.
  2. ^ a b Nellie, Andreeva (November 13, 2023). "CBS Sets 2024 Premiere Dates For Delayed Scripted Series, Confirms Matlock & Poppa's House Move To Next Season". Deadline Hollywood.
  3. ^ a b c Goldberg, Lesley (March 1, 2024). ""I Don't Think This Is Like The Avengers": The Good Fight Creators on Why Elsbeth Isn't Really a Spinoff". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved March 12, 2024.
  4. ^ a b Otterson, Joe (April 18, 2024). "'Elsbeth' Renewed for Season 2 at CBS". Variety. Retrieved April 18, 2024.
  5. ^ a b Pedersen, Erik (July 13, 2024). "CBS Fall Premiere Dates: 'Blue Bloods' Final Episodes, 'FBI' Trio, 'Matlock' Reboot, 'Survivor' & More". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved July 13, 2024.
  6. ^ "Elsbeth and the 7 best "howcatchem" mystery shows on TV to watch". Hidden Remote. April 4, 2024. Retrieved April 12, 2024.
  7. ^ Loofbourow, Lili (February 28, 2024). "Review | Elsbeth is a well-executed, frothy delight". The Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved March 1, 2024.
  8. ^ "The Good Wife Spinoff Elsbeth Is Too Much of a Good Thing". Time. February 29, 2024. Retrieved March 1, 2024.
  9. ^ Sepinwall, Alan (February 28, 2024). "'Elsbeth' Wants To Be the Next 'Columbo.' It Nearly Succeeds". Rolling Stone. Retrieved April 15, 2024.
  10. ^ Jacobs, Meredith (January 31, 2024). "Elsbeth Adds Gloria Reuben as Wendell Pierce's Wife". TV Insider. Retrieved February 1, 2024.
  11. ^ Wojnar, Zak (December 13, 2024). "Elsbeth Season 2 Newcomer Ben Levi Ross Shakes Things Up On The Hit CBS Series". www.msn.com. Retrieved December 14, 2024.
  12. ^ Franken, Claire (October 20, 2024). "Elsbeth Taps Michael Emerson for Recurring Role Opposite Real-Life Wife Carrie Preston". TVLine. Retrieved October 20, 2024.
  13. ^ Cordero, Rosy (November 15, 2024). "Sullivan Jones, Ioan Gruffudd & Alan Ruck Join 'Elsbeth' Season 2". Deadline. Retrieved November 16, 2024.
  14. ^ Jacobs, Meredith (January 4, 2024). "Elsbeth: Jesse Tyler Ferguson to Guest Star in Good Wife Spinoff". TV Insider. Retrieved January 27, 2024.
  15. ^ Hailu, Selome (January 26, 2024). "The Good Wife Spinoff Elsbeth Casts Jane Krakowski, Blair Underwood, Retta and Linda Lavin as Guest Stars (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved January 26, 2024.
  16. ^ Bastidas, Jose Alejandro (February 29, 2024). "Elsbeth Adds Keegan-Michael Key, Gina Gershon as Guest Stars". TheWrap. Retrieved March 2, 2024.
  17. ^ Cordero, Rosy (April 1, 2024). "'Elsbeth' Rounds Out Guest Cast With Elizabeth Lail, Arian Moayed & Laura Benanti". Deadline. Retrieved April 1, 2024.
  18. ^ a b c d e "Shows A-Z – Elsbeth on CBS". The Futon Critic. Retrieved October 25, 2024.
  19. ^ a b c Pucci, Douglas (March 1, 2024). "Thursday Ratings: Decent Start for Elsbeth on CBS As It Builds in Total Viewers from So Help Me Todd Lead-In". Programming Insider. Retrieved March 1, 2024.
  20. ^ a b c d Pucci, Douglas (April 5, 2024). "Thursday Ratings: Elsbeth Return to CBS After 5-Week Absence Improves Upon its Series Premiere Performance in Total Viewers". Programming Insider. Retrieved April 5, 2024.
  21. ^ a b Pucci, Douglas (April 12, 2024). "Thursday Ratings: Elsbeth on CBS Once Again Builds Out of So Help Me Todd Lead-In Among Total Viewers". Programming Insider. Retrieved April 12, 2024.
  22. ^ a b Pucci, Douglas (April 19, 2024). "Thursday Ratings: CBS and NBC Share Prime Time Victory". Programming Insider. Retrieved April 19, 2024.
  23. ^ a b Pucci, Douglas (April 26, 2024). "Thursday Ratings: Slight Year-to-Year Increase for First Round of NFL Draft on ABC, ESPN and NFL Network". Programming Insider. Retrieved April 26, 2024.
  24. ^ a b Pucci, Douglas (May 3, 2024). "Thursday Ratings: Ghosts Third Season Finale on CBS Leads Broadcast in its Slot Among Viewers, 18-49 and 25-54". Programming Insider. Retrieved May 3, 2024.
  25. ^ a b Pucci, Douglas (May 10, 2024). "Thursday Ratings: 9-1-1 on ABC Tops Penultimate Young Sheldon CBS Episodes Among Adults 18-49 Within the Hour". Programming Insider. Retrieved May 10, 2024.
  26. ^ a b Pucci, Douglas (May 17, 2024). "Thursday Ratings: Young Sheldon on CBS Reaches Four-Year High with Series Finale". Programming Insider. Retrieved May 17, 2024.
  27. ^ a b c Pucci, Douglas (May 24, 2024). "Thursday Ratings: Elsbeth Inaugural Season Finale Helps CBS to 13th Consecutive Thursday Broadcast Victory in Total Viewers". Programming Insider. Retrieved May 24, 2024.
  28. ^ a b c Pucci, Douglas (October 18, 2024). "Thursday Ratings: Georgie & Mandy's First Marriage Solid Debut and Matlock Time Slot Premiere Gives CBS Victory Among Broadcast Networks". Programming Insider. Retrieved October 18, 2024.
  29. ^ a b Pucci, Douglas (October 25, 2024). "Thursday Ratings: Matlock on CBS Improves from Prior Week, Georgie & Mandy's First Marriage Builds in Demos from Debut". Programming Insider. Retrieved October 25, 2024.
  30. ^ a b Pucci, Douglas (November 1, 2024). "Thursday Ratings: Ghosts on CBS Leads Halloween Night Linear Telecasts Among Key Demos". Programming Insider. Retrieved November 1, 2024.
  31. ^ a b Pucci, Douglas (November 8, 2024). "Thursday Ratings: CBS Leads Broadcast Networks in Each Prime Time Hour Among Total Viewers, Adults 18-49 and 25-54". Programming Insider. Retrieved November 8, 2024.
  32. ^ a b Pucci, Douglas (November 15, 2024). "Thursday Ratings: CBS Leads Linear as Each of its Shows Sees an Uptick in Viewership from Prior Week". Programming Insider. Retrieved November 15, 2024.
  33. ^ a b Pucci, Douglas (December 9, 2024). "Thursday Ratings: Packers-Lions Sets New TNF on Prime Viewer Record". Programming Insider. Retrieved December 9, 2024.
  34. ^ a b Pucci, Douglas (December 13, 2024). "Thursday Ratings: CBS Continues Prime Time Victory Among Linear Networks". Programming Insider. Retrieved December 14, 2024.
  35. ^ a b Pucci, Douglas (December 20, 2024). "Thursday Ratings: Christmas-Themed 'Ghosts' on CBS Tops Linear Telecasts in Prime Time". Programming Insider. Retrieved December 20, 2024.
  36. ^ King, Robert [@RKing618] (November 6, 2024). "Directing this morning on #Elsbeth. Good place to be" (Tweet). Retrieved November 6, 2024 – via Twitter.
  37. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (January 31, 2023). "CBS Orders Pilots For The Good Wife Spinoff Elsbeth Starring Carrie Preston & Matlock Reboot With Kathy". Deadline Hollywood.
  38. ^ White, Peter (May 9, 2023). "Matlock, Elsbeth & Wayans' Family Comedy Poppa's House Ordered To Series At CBS". Deadline Hollywood.
  39. ^ White, Peter (March 3, 2023). "Elsbeth: Wendell Pierce & Carra Patterson Join Carrie Preston in CBS' Good Wife Offshoot Pilot". Deadline Hollywood.
  40. ^ Preston, Carrie [@Carriepreston] (December 1, 2023). "First costume fitting today for Season 1 of @elsbethcbs! We start shooting in January. Scripts are being written, clothes are being tried on, sets are being built. I'm positively manic with excitement!" (Tweet). Retrieved April 21, 2024 – via Twitter.
  41. ^ Preston, Carrie [@Carriepreston] (April 20, 2024). "Lighting up your life at the #Elsbeth wrap party! 🪩 Love our crew & cast" (Tweet). Retrieved April 21, 2024 – via Twitter.
  42. ^ King, Robert [@RKing618] (November 23, 2023). "10" (Tweet). Retrieved November 26, 2023 – via Twitter.
  43. ^ García, Pedro [@fuertecito] (June 12, 2024). "La mismísima Elsbeth Tascioni, @carriepreston, hoy en Madrid 💕 Ha estado perfecta en el coloquio. Nos ha contado muchas cosas de #Elsbeth y ha avanzado que la T2 tendrá 20 episodios, indagará más en su pasado y (seguramente) conoceremos a su hijo. La T1 en @MovistarPlus ▶️" (Tweet). Retrieved June 13, 2024 – via Twitter.
  44. ^ Carrie, Preston [@carriepreston] (July 23, 2024). "First day of school (aka first day of filming), complete with an after-school treat courtesy of our director @nancyhower 🍦Thrilled to be back with all of these gems! #Elsbeth #BTS" (Tweet). Retrieved July 23, 2024 – via Twitter.
  45. ^ "Airdate: Elsbeth | TV Tonight". April 24, 2024.
  46. ^ Gelman, Vlada (March 11, 2024). "TVLine Items: Leighton Meester's CW Comeback, Elsbeth 's XL Return and More". TVLine. Retrieved March 11, 2024.
  47. ^ "Elsbeth: Season 1". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved May 27, 2024.
  48. ^ "Elsbeth: Season 1". Metacritic. Retrieved March 7, 2024.
  49. ^ a b Porter, Rick (June 11, 2024). "TV Ratings 2023-24: Final Numbers for (Almost) Every Network Series". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved November 28, 2024.
[edit]
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