Shows to watch if you love CBS procedurals (and where to stream them!)

These days, CBS is well known for its procedural shows. The NCIS and FBI universes are huge and there’s also Elsbeth, Fire Country and others. That’s just the current slate, as CBS has also boasted titles such as Hawaii Five-O, Magnum P.I., and so many more. For fans of procedural dramas, there are other options, such as NBC’s slate of One Chicago and Law & Order, while ABC has The Rookie and Will Trent.

However, there are scores of great procedural shows from other networks now on streaming. Some are older, by decades in fact, while others are newer but might have slipped under the radar. Thanks to the wider range of streaming services, the chances of finding these shows is better than ever. For any fan of CBS procedural shows, these 20 series should be worth checking out. 

NYPD Blue

When NYPD Blue hit ABC in 1993, it was a stunner. No network show before it was so daring in its content with language and adult situations that had the show banned in some areas. Yet it was also a huge critical hit, each episode balancing multiple plotlines of the detectives handling various murder cases with some dark outcomes. It can be seen as quaint in some of the technology yet also top-notch in drama.

That was aided by the great cast, with Denis Franz winning a few Emmys for his turn, David Caruso made a star in his first two seasons, and later stars of Kim Delaney, Jimmy Smits, Gordon Clapp, Esai Morales, James McDaniel, and more, providing some amazing work. Its 12-season run remains one of the best for any crime drama and streaming allows a new generation to enjoy this remarkable cop show.

NYPD Blue is streaming on Hulu and Tubi.

The Closer

TNT’s first original scripted show is still one of its best. In an Emmy-winning turn, Kyra Sedgewick plays Brenda Leigh Johnson, a sassy Southerner who takes up command of an LAPD unit. While often seeming charming and light-hearted in a case, when Brenda gets a perp into the interrogation room, she turns the screws to force a confession in a fantastic climax. 

The show’s tone can vary from episodes of straight drama to flat-out comedy (mostly revolving around bumbling detectives Provenza and Flynn) while always entertaining. Sedgwick is the reason to watch, making Brenda one of TV’s best cops and little wonder the show spawned an equally successful sequel to prove its legacy.

The Closer is streaming on Peacock.

Major Crimes

Once you’ve finished off The Closer, you might as well try out its immediate spinoff, which has most of the cast returning. They’re led by Mary McDonnell, reprising her role as Sharon Raydor, who takes over the unit. The unique touch is that rather than just busting killers, the unit has to get them to confess to plea bargains to save the L.A. court system some money. Meaning sometimes justice doesn’t feel as good as it should.

The show has the same vibe and feel as its predecessor, with the occasional humor-filled episode and addressing more daring plotlines. McDonnell has the subplot of caring for a foster kid and her health issues in later seasons, leading to a stunning turn. Any fan of The Closer or CBS procedurals will get a major kick out of the follow-up show as well.

Major Crimes is streaming on Philo.

Rizzoli & Isles

A huge hit for TNT, this adaptation of the mystery novel series rests on the chemistry of the two leads. Jane Rizzoli (Angie Harmon) is a sardonic Boston detective with Maura Isles (Sasha Alexander), her best friend and medical examiner, who dresses to the nines for a crime scene. The pair handle murders in Boston, usually involving some nastier crimes, yet it’s with a great light-hearted feel with the title couple sharing barbs over a case.

The actresses are astounding and suck you in with one of the best female friendships on television. Rizzoli’s laid-back style and Maura’s more intellectual air never cease to provide entertainment beyond just the murder cases and the supporting cast (like Lorraine Bracco as Jane’s mom) provide more fun for a show right up the alley of any CBS crime show fan.

Rizzoli & Isles is streaming on Philo and Sling TV.

New York Undercover

Dick Wolf is famous for producing the Law & Order, One Chicago and FBI franchises. So it’s easy to forget this underrated 1994-99 Fox series. Malik Yoba and Michael DeLorenzo are two NYPD cops who handle undercover operations in various aspects of New York life. Each episode is notable for a dialogue-free opening set to cool music showing the initial crime. There’s also the personal lives of the cops, from Yoba’s son to DeLorenzo’s issues with his addict dad.

Later cast members included Lauren Velez and Anthony LaPagila with a few future famous faces like Allison Janney, JK Simmons and future Law & Order stars Ice-T and Jesse L. Martin. The fourth season reboot was rough yet the first three years remain some of Wolf’s best TV work and a show deserving of rediscovery.

New York Undercover is streaming on Peacock.

Rookie Blue 

Missy Peregrym is best known for her turn as Maggie on CBS’ FBI. Before that, she got attention on this Canadian drama that later aired on ABC. She plays Andy McNally, one of five rookie cops starting their days on patrol in Toronto. Episodes revolved around their daily lives, from the problems of crime on the street to the often messy personal dynamics they carried.

The show could be fun in the clashes of the street cops with the detectives, some fun crimes in Toronto and some steamy scenes between the cops. The cast was stellar, and it all wrapped up in a great finale after six seasons. If nothing else, it should be recognized by Peregrym fans to prove the woman had a knack for playing law enforcement figures for a while.

Rookie Blue is streaming on Vix.

Bosch

A fantastic adaptation of the best-selling books, Bosch stars Titus Welliver in the title role of Harry Bosch, a veteran LAPD detective. The seven-season run nicely showcases Bosch on the job, usually with cases that can be solved in a single hour although a few story arcs can expand across the seasons. It touches on the detective often butting heads with his superiors and politicians and the difficult issues cops face. 

The supporting cast is terrific, especially the late great Lance Reddick as his boss. Even better is that after it concludes, we get the Bosch: Legacy spinoff, with Bosch now a PI while his daughter is a rookie cop with her own challenges. Either show is a delight for police show fans and worthy of its literary roots. 

Bosch is streaming on Prime Video.

Clarice

Briefly airing on CBS in 2021, this series imagines what happened to Clarice Starling after the events of The Silence of the Lambs. While now a full FBI agent, Clarice (Rebecca Breeds) still faces the problem of being taken seriously by others as she’s often ignored while trying to stop serial killers. The real genius is the show being set in 1993, so there’s no Internet, cell phones barely exist, and DNA work is in its infancy.

Thus, the series has a fun “old school” appeal that also captures the tough attitudes of the time on gender and racial issues. It’s also pretty moody and quite dark, with the hunt for the killers taking twisted turns. It’s a shame it only lasted one season, as it’s a good showcase for one of the best female characters ever and deserved a second life.

Clarice is streaming on cwtv.com and the CW App.

The FBI 

No, this isn’t the CBS franchise. Rather, it’s the 1965-74 ABC series that set the bar for so many procedural dramas to follow. Each episode opens with a federal crime committed and then the FBI called in with Lewis Erskine (Efrem Zimbalist Jr.) leading the team hunting the quarry. It’s fun seeing the way investigations worked in a pre-computer era while often tackling issues of war, race, and the changing culture of the 1960s. 

The real reason to watch are the guest stars as practically every character actor of the period shows up in great turns. There’s also seeing some future famous stars like Robert Duvall, Gene Hackman, James Caan, Jeff Bridges and even a young Harrison Ford. The wonderful guest stars sparked a show that was a pioneer for many CBS series we know today. 

The FBI is streaming on Tubi.

Wild Cards

This new Canadian drama was a great hit on The CW and looks set for another year of fun. It’s a classic setup: Con artist/thief Max (Vanessa Morgan) is arrested and put in the custody of Cole Ellis (Giacomo Gianniotti), a detective busted down to river patrol. Max cuts a deal to help the cops with her inside knowledge of how criminals think with Cole as her unlikely partner. 

The chemistry of the leads sells the series nicely as they get along great with Max shifting up in her con games while showing some surprising heart. Jason Priestly is a nice presence as her imprisoned father with Cole’s past leading to some strong plots. It’s good it’s coming back as this was a fun spin on the police procedural and how Canada provides some nice crime shows.

Wild Cards is streaming on cwtv.com and the CW App.

Murderville

Shifting gears a bit to more comedic option, this Netflix comedy stars Will Arnett as Teddy Seattle, a cliché sardonic detective. What makes it shine are the two great gimmicks. First, every episode has Teddy partnered with a different celebrity, from Conan O’Brien to Sharon Stone to Marshawn Lynch. Why they’re trying to be cops is never explained as the stars have fun playing themselves. 

The second gimmick is the guest actor is given no script and no idea what’s coming. Watching them roll with these bizarre situations and often breaking character to crack up is hysterical. Each episode ends with the celebrity trying to guess the killer’s identity. Add in a Chrismtas special and it’s a wonderful “improv crime show” that’s also a laugh riot.

Murderville is streaming on Netflix.

Almost Paradise

Well known for his role on Leverage, Christian Kane gets a starring turn in this Prime Video series. He plays Alex Walker, a DEA agent forced to retire due to high blood pressure. He figures he can enjoy a quiet retirement on an island only to discover it’s a massive tourist spot. Despite himself, Alex is pulled into helping the local cops on cases, partnering with Kaie Mendoza (Samantha Richelle). 

Kane is good in the role, handling himself in fight and action scenes with the clever touch of Walker, who has a monitor for his blood pressure and has to do odd exercises to calm himself on a case. The cases are good, mixing in local mobs, a wider arc of a killer and more, all in a gorgeous island setting. Kane makes it watchable to show an intriguing turn on a crime-solver who is more interested in his personal health than in solving a crime.

Almost Paradise is streaming on Prime Video.

L.A’s Finest

The Bad Boys movies are monster hits so it’s little wonder someone tried a TV spinoff. Gabrielle Union reprises her Bad Boys II role as Syd Burnette, formerly DEA and now with the LAPD. She’s partnered with Nancy McKenna (Jessica Alba), a reformed crook turned cop who’s distracted by her stepdaughter. The pair trade some sassy lines amid cracking heads with cases of drug cartels, killers and more. 

Union and Alba are the reason to watch as they bond wonderfully on screen together. The action is like the movies, a bit over the top but still a thrill and some unexpected turns on both women’s personal lives. It’s too bad it only lasted two seasons as the leads alone make it a great run that can entertain anyone who enjoys those blockbuster action films. 

LA's Finest is streaming on Tubi.

Pretty Hard Cases

This show is much like L.A.’s Finest, featuring two offbeat female cops paired together. The difference is that it’s also meant as a comedy and a fine one, too. Sam Wazowski (Meredith MacNeill) is a tightly wound, all-business gang cop. Kelly Duff (Adrienne C. Moore) is a sardonic street cop working with the gangs unit. The pair end up joining together, and their offbeat partnership results in them bonding as they clash with superiors.

The comedy aspects are fun with the dynamic that while the pair are great on the job, their personal lives are total disasters. Each of the three seasons has an overarching story arc but there are a few stand-alone episodes to draw you in, mixed with wonderful comedy. For those wanting a light-hearted approach to a female cop show, this is a great choice.

Pretty Hard Cases is streaming on Prime Video.

My Life Is Murder

Any show featuring Lucy Lawless deserves attention. The former Xena stars as Alexa Crowne, a former cop who now works as a private eye aiding the Auckland, New Zealand police force on murders. She balances that with running a bakery and keeping an eye on her brother. Lawless’ charms are on full blast as Alexa can look calm most of the time but shows her steely drive on cases.

There’s good banter between Alexa and her hacker friend Madison (Ebony Vagulans), along with the various cops. Expect some good guest stars, including Lawless’ former Xena co-star Renee O’Connor and a great use of the New Zealand setting. It’s equal parts cop and PI show and either way it goes, Lawless makes it a winner. 

My Life is Murder is streaming on Acorn TV.

The Brokenwood Mysteries

One of New Zealand’s biggest hit shows, this series is set in a fictional Auckland town. Neill Rea is Mike Shepherd, a big-city cop who relocates to this quiet town, thinking it’ll be a good place to settle down. As it turns out, Brokenwood is home to murder involving bizarre events from a Lord of the Rings fan convention to a woman who lives like she’s in the Victorian era.

Rea is aided by Kristin Sims (Fern Sutherland), with the fun twist that it’s the rumpled older male cop who has a quirky attitude while the younger female one is deeply cynical. The pair work well together with their personal lives brought into each case and the ten season run shows how this show has become an international success.

The Brokenwood Mysteries is streaming on Acorn TV.

Mindhunter

Running only two seasons, this show was based on the real-life creation of the FBI Behavioral Science Unit that would later inspire Criminal Minds. Jonathan Groff and Holt McCallany are the two FBI agents who team with Anna Torv’s psychologist in the 1970s to explore what makes serial killers tick. Seeing as how most cops of the time barely know these guys exist, it’s a unique new field. 

The show uses real-life infamous killers like Edmund Kemper, David Berkowitz and the Atlanta child murders. The investigations are good but the real pull is watching the agents and shrink try to understand what drives these monsters on, a question that can never be answered. Directed by David Fincher, it’s a moody piece that should have gone longer yet remains a top show for anyone into serial killer hunting.

Mindhunter is streaming on Netflix.

Prodigal Son

This wild Fox show puts a unique spin on the classic “serial killer profiler” motif. Malcolm Bright (Tom Payne) is a psychologist who aids the NYPD hunting serial killers. It turns out Malcolm has first-hand knowledge as his imprisoned father (a scene stealing Michael Sheen) was a killer himself. Malcolm is often forced to turn to his dad for insight on cases, leading to the weirdest father-son dynamic you’ll ever see on television.

The show can have a dark comedy edge with the cases and good supporting turns from Bellamy Young and Lou Diamond Phillips among others. The second season has Catherine Zeta-Jones and Alan Cumming in fun arcs. Sheen is the reason to watch with his sometimes hilarious performance which puts this show ahead of others in terms of a fun take on hunting killers.

Prodigal Son is streaming on cwtv.com, the CW App, and Max.

Lethal Weapon

TV shows based on movies can have a hit-and-miss track record. Fox scored a hit with this take on the blockbuster action films. Clayne Crawford is the Mel Gibson role of Riggs, a cop on the edge and acting like a lunatic risking his life. Damon Wayans steps into the Danny Glover role of Murtaugh, the older, family man partner putting up with Riggs’ insane antics. 

The show does a good job capturing the fun feel of the movies with wild action and some interesting cases. There’s great humor too, especially the bumbling attorney Leo Getz. Real-life controversies led to Crawford leaving after season 2, and he was replaced by Seann William Scott yet the show retained its fun dynamic. While lasting just three seasons, it should be regarded well among movie to TV adaptations. 

Lethal Weapon is streaming on Hulu.

The Catch

This underrated 2016-17 ABC show has a nice vibe of romantic comedy amid some crime capers. Alice Vaughn (Mireille Enos) is an insurance fraud investigator who gets a bitter dose of irony when she discovers her fiancé, Ben (Peter Krause), is the con artist/thief she’s been hunting. Since her reputation would be ruined if it gets out, Alice keeps it quiet, balancing cases for her firm while trying to hunt down Ben, who’s gotten in trouble with a dangerous mob boss.

It’s a fun show with a “case of the week” structure mixed with the Alice/Ben relationship as they still clearly have feelings for each other while on opposite sides. Season 2 shifts it up with both working with the FBI and some wider story arcs. Enos and Krause are wonderful together and whether it’s enjoying the stand-alone cases or the cat and mouse game they play, it’s an underrated romantic crime series.

The Catch is streaming on Hulu.