Why There Is No Elsbeth Tonight, October 29, and When Season 4, Episode 4 Releases
CBS changes its Thursday lineup
Elsbeth season 4 began on October 8, 2026, and its first three episodes aired weekly at 9 PM ET. But CBS will skip episode 4 on October 29, shifting its schedule for Halloween.
Instead, the network plans to show a one-hour Ghosts special from 9 PM to 10 PM. The special is the first of two planned before Ghosts season 6 begins; a two-part Christmas special is scheduled for December 10, 2026.
The series returns November 5
Elsbeth season 4, episode 4 is set to air November 5 at 9 PM ET. The episode, titled “A Bad Lie,” follows Elsbeth and an insurance investigator as they look into the murder of a country club president after his fatal accident.
The episode will also bring Elsbeth and Lydia face to face with Teddy’s future in-laws. Their meeting follows tension between mother and daughter at the end of episode 3, leaving their relationship unresolved.
A pause, not a cancellation
The schedule break does not mean Elsbeth season 4 is ending. CBS has occasionally moved away from the show’s Thursday slot, including for sporting events or other programming.
The series stars Carrie Preston as attorney Elsbeth Tascioni, who joins the NYPD as an investigator and uses her skills to catch criminals. The show began airing on CBS and Paramount+ in 2024.
Key points
- CBS will air a one-hour Ghosts Halloween special instead of Elsbeth on October 29, 2026.
- Elsbeth season 4, episode 4 is scheduled for November 5 at 9 PM ET.
- “A Bad Lie” follows Elsbeth and an insurance investigator probing a country club president’s death.
- The episode will also feature a meeting between Elsbeth, Lydia and Teddy’s future in-laws.