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S.W.A.T. Star Secures New CBS Role After Series Finale

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2025 TV Lineup for S.W.A.T.: A Rollercoaster Ride

The television schedule for 2025 has been quite a ride in the world of S.W.A.T., as the show’s third cancellation by CBS proved to be permanent, with no last-minute reprieve. Following the series finale on the network, it was announced that Shemar Moore would reprise his role as Hondo for a spinoff titled S.W.A.T. Exiles, featuring a fresh cast. Despite the final goodbye on S.W.A.T., Rochelle Aytes, who recurred between Seasons 3-8, still has a place at CBS due to Watson. In an interview with TopMob, Aytes discussed her decision to stay put after leaving S.W.A.T.

Approximately two months following Rochelle Aytes’ last performance in “S.W.A.T” as Nichelle Carmichael alongside ex-costar Shemar Moore from “Criminal Minds”, she made her debut as Dr. Mary Morstan opposite Morris Chestnut on the fresh CBS medical-detective series, “Watson”. The first season of this show received an early renewal for Season 2, which Aytes referred to as a “wonderful blessing.” When I inquired about how it felt for her to have “Watson” become her new home on CBS with the forthcoming end of “S.W.A.T.”, she shared:

It’s a mix of joy and sadness since I had a fantastic five-year stint on S.W.A.T., but at the same time, it’s truly fortunate. I can’t express enough my gratitude towards CBS for continuing to be part of their ‘family’, providing me with work opportunities, and allowing me to breathe life into another captivating character. The team behind S.W.A.T. was extraordinary, and now, I’m lucky to have another exceptional cast and crew on Watson, making this transition even more rewarding.

It wasn’t too surprising when Watson was renewed early, given its impressive debut following its post-NFL premiere in January. In fact, according to CBS, the series premiere was not only the most-watched scripted episode of the 2024-2025 TV season on CBS, but it was also the most-streamed original scripted episode on Paramount+. It seemed that viewers who didn’t watch live on CBS were still eager to catch up with the drama by subscribing to Paramount+.

After collaborating with Shemar Moore on “Criminal Minds” and then frequently working together on “S.W.A.T”, Rochelle Aytes has found it enjoyable to have Morris Chestnut as a fellow actor in “The Resident”. When I asked her about this, Aytes spoke highly of Chestnut’s portrayal of Dr. John Watson. She expressed:

Collaborating with Morris has been a real pleasure. To start, he’s an incredible individual, always eager to contribute. He’s dedicated, proficient, and just delightful. Our conversations often revolve around characters, rehearsals, and lines, and he’s more than happy to go over them repeatedly. We’re both fully invested in the process. I believe this shared commitment has allowed us to develop trust and understanding, a bond that I believe will only strengthen as time goes on. Essentially, we make a great team, and it’s been an enjoyable experience working alongside him.

Thankfully, neither Mary nor John perished in the Season 1 finale, so we can look forward to seeing more of these former partners when Season 2 debuts. The downside is that the second season will air midseason, much like the first, so fans won’t get their _Watson_ fix until early 2026 as part of CBS’ 2025-2026 television schedule unveiling.

Paramount Plus offers access to all Watson episodes. Choose between the Essential plan at $7.99/month or $79.99/year, or upgrade to the Premium plan for an ad-free experience plus double the catalog from Showtime at $12.99/month or $129.99/year. Or, save some money with a 10-month discount when you opt for the annual plan. Check it out now! Deal available here.

Currently, enthusiasts can repeatedly watch the initial 13-episode run of “Watson,” which is available for streaming on Paramount+. Additionally, the climactic eighth season of “S.W.A.T.” can be found there too. However, to access the first seven seasons of “S.W.A.T.,” a Netflix subscription is required.

According to Shemar Moore’s own statements during the struggle to save the show, the action-drama was a success on Netflix streaming. Regarding the S.W.A.T. Exiles spinoff, however, no network or platform has been confirmed as of this writing, so we’re all left in suspense for further news.

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2025-05-24 12:07

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