Episode 2×09 “A Hard Nut to Crack”
ELSBETH LEAPS INTO THE CUTTHROAT WORLD OF BALLET
SYNOPSIS: When an avant-garde choreographer’s “Nutcracker” rehearsal turns deadly, Elsbeth leaps into the cutthroat world of New York ballet.
WRITTEN BY: Sarah Beckett and Anju Andre-Bergmann
DIRECTED BY: Ron Underwood
AIR DATE: Thursday, Dec. 18 (10:00-11:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network, and streaming on Paramount+
Episode 2×08 “Basket Case”
ELSBETH GOES FROM THE SQUAD ROOM TO THE LOCKER ROOM
SYNOPSIS: Elsbeth goes from the squad room to the locker room when a campus murder rocks the world of college basketball after an athletic director winds up dead following a heated confrontation with his basketball coach’s 22-year-old girlfriend (Lana Condor).
WRITTEN BY: Eric Randall
DIRECTED BY: Mary Lou Belli
AIR DATE: Thursday, Dec. 4 (10:00-11:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network, and streaming on Paramount+
Episode 2×07 “And Then There Were Nuns”
ELSBETH TAKES ON A REVEREND MOTHER
SYNOPSIS: A pop star’s (Lindsey Normington) purchase of a failing convent turns divine real estate into a murder scene as Elsbeth takes on the Mother of all nuns (Dianne Wiest).
Meanwhile, Teddy digs into Alec Bloom’s past for a feature he is working on.
AIR DATE: Thursday, Nov. 20 at a special time (9:01-10:00 PM, ET/PT), on the CBS Television Network and streaming on Paramount+
WRITTEN BY: Matthew K. Begbie
DIRECTED BY: Peter Sollett
Episode 2×06 “Bunker Down”
ELSBETH RACES TO FIND A MISSING BILLIONAIRE BEFORE IT’S TOO LATE
SYNOPSIS: When a crisis manager vanishes inside a billionaire’s panic room, Elsbeth unravels the highly equipped fortresses that blur the lines between security and paranoia.
Meanwhile, Elsbeth meets the late Judge Crawford’s widow, Winnie (Henny Russell).
WRITTEN BY: Erica Shelton Kodish
DIRECTED BY: Nick Gomez
AIR DATE: Thursday, Nov. 13 (10:00-11:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network and streaming on Paramount+
Episode 2×05 “Poetic Justice”
ELSBETH QUESTIONS THE MOTIVES OF A POETRY JOURNAL FOUNDER
SYNOPSIS: After a donor’s death shakes New York’s nonprofit arts scene, Elsbeth questions the motives of the victim’s friend, Gary (William Jackson Harper), the founder of a prominent poetry journal.
Also, Elsbeth runs into her old friend Marissa Gold, who is following in her father Eli’s footsteps and working as the campaign manager for a mayoral candidate.
WRITTEN BY: Leah Nanako Winkler
DIRECTED BY: Robin Givens
AIR DATE: Thursday, Nov. 6 (10:00-11:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network and streaming on Paramount+
Episode 2×04 “Ick, a Bod”
ELSBETH MUST SEPARATE TRICK FROM TREAT
SYNOPSIS: Elsbeth must separate trick from treat in Sleepy Hollow when a rivalry reaches a ghoulish climax on Halloween night after a suburban housewife (Annaleigh Ashford) butts heads with a new neighbor.
Meanwhile, Captain Wagner makes a frightening discovery about his daughter,.
AIR DATE: Thursday, Oct. 30 (10:00-11:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network and streaming on Paramount+
WRITTEN BY: Erica Larson
DIRECTED BY: Lionel Coleman
Episode 2×03 “Good Grief”
ELSBETH MEETS A GRIEF INFLUENCER
SYNOPSIS: When “grief influencer” Raquel Drabowski’s (Julia Fox) presumed-dead husband makes a miraculous return, their reunion takes a fatal plunge.
Meanwhile, Elsbeth’s surprise reunion with an old friend could expose a dangerous undercover operation.
WRITTEN BY: Bryan Goluboff
DIRECTED BY: Ron Underwood
AIR DATE: Thursday, Oct. 23 (10:00-11:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network and streaming on Paramount+
Episode 2×02 “Doll Day Afternoon”
A MURDER INVESTIGATION AT A TOY STORE SPIRALS INTO A HOSTAGE SITUATION
SYNOPSIS: When a murder investigation at a famous New York toy store spirals into a hostage crisis, Elsbeth must negotiate with Nolan (David Cross), the hapless ex-con inside.
Outside, Captain Wagner clashes with a rival whose reckless tactics could turn the standoff deadly.
WRITTEN BY: Robert King & Anju Andre-Bergmann
DIRECTED BY: Robert King
AIR DATE: Thursday, Oct. 16 (10:00-11:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network and streaming on Paramount+
Episode 2×01 “Yes, And…”
SYNOPSIS: Elsbeth dives into the world of late-night comedy when backstage tensions rise between a talk show host (Stephen Colbert), his head writer Laurel (Amy Sedaris) and her on-air sidekick husband, Mickey (Andy Richter).
Also, Elsbeth meets a new police officer (Lindsay Mendez) who is an aspiring stand-up comic when off the clock.
WRITTEN BY: Jonathan Tolins
DIRECTED BY: Joe Menendez
AIR DATE: Sunday, Oct. 12 (9:30-10:30 PM, ET/9:00-10:00 PM, PT) on the CBS Television Network, and streaming on Paramount +.
Note: Original episodes of Elsbeth will return to their regular time slot (10:00-11:00 PM, ET/PT) beginning on Thursday, Oct. 16, 2025.
