Synopsis: Elsbeth stars Emmy Award winner Carrie Preston as Elsbeth Tascioni, an astute but unconventional attorney who utilizes her singular point of view to make unique observations and corner brilliant criminals alongside the NYPD. After leaving her successful legal career in Chicago to tackle a new investigative role in New York City, Elsbeth finds herself jockeying with the toast of the NYPD, Captain C.W. Wagner (Wendell Pierce), a charismatic and revered leader. Working alongside Elsbeth is Officer Kaya Blanke (Carra Patterson), a stoic and ethical officer who quickly develops an appreciation for Elsbeth’s insightful and offbeat ways. Elsbeth is based on the character featured in The Good Wife and The Good Fight. (Courtesy CBS, 2024)
The Cast:
Carrie Preston as Elsbeth Tascioni
Carra Patterson as Maya Blanke
Jane Krakowski as Joann Lenox
Wendell Pierce as Captain Wagner
Linda Lavin as Gloria Blecher
Peter Grosz as Leonard Rosen
Johnny M. Wu as Det. Joey Browner
Greg Hildreth as Lewis Blecher Jr.
Production Credits:
The series is a CBS Studios production. The series is co-created and executive produced by Robert and Michelle King along with executive producers Liz Glotzer and Jonathan Tolins.
The Episodes:
Season One Episode Guide (CBS)
1-01 Pilot--02/29/2024
When a college theater student is mysteriously found dead in her high-rise New York City apartment, Elsbeth immediately suspects foul play and enters a game of wits against the victim’s popular theater director Alex Modarian (guest star Stephen Moyer) who she believes is involved. Throughout the evolution of the murder investigation, Elsbeth must balance her consent decree role with the NYPD and her uncommon methods to make her case and uncover the real killer.
1-02 A Classic New York Character--04/04/2024 - [episodic photo gallery]
After the loathed co-op board president (guest star Linda Lavin) of a luxury pre-war building falls off her balcony to her death, Elsbeth and Kaya are called to the scene to dig for a lead when they meet Joann (guest star Jane Krakowski), a high-powered Manhattan real estate broker with huge clients and even bigger secrets.
Written by: Bryan Goluboff
Directed by: Robert King
1-03 Reality Shock--04/04/2024
When a larger-than-life reality TV star is found dead in her bathtub, Elsbeth and Kaya investigate the circumstances around her death to determine if it was an accident or murder. As they get deeper into the events surrounding her demise, they meet Skip Mason (guest star Jesse Tyler Ferguson), the mercurial producer behind the popular, guilty-pleasure reality series “Lavish Ladies,” who becomes a prime suspect after he is accused of going to dangerous lengths to concoct “good TV.”
Written by: Jonathan Tolins
Directed by: Ron Underwood
1-04 Love Knocked Off--04/11/2024
Things turn deadly when elite matchmaker Margo Clarke goes to extreme lengths to keep her socialite client from finding out the truth about her perfect new husband. When the husband goes missing, Captain Wagner assigns Elsbeth and Kaya to investigate.
Written by: Erica Shelton Kodish
Directed by: Rosemary Rodriguez
1-05 Ball Girl--04/18/2024
Things turn deadly when elite matchmaker Margo Clarke goes to extreme lengths to keep her socialite client from finding out the truth about her perfect new husband. When the husband goes missing, Captain Wagner assigns Elsbeth and Kaya to investigate.
Written by: Eric Randall
Directed by: Rob Hardy
1-06 An Ear For An Ear--04/25/2024
After one of New York's most sought-after plastic surgeons is found dead, Elsbeth has her eye on the victim's former boss, Dr. Vanessa Holmes, who she believes has motives that are more than skin-deep. Also, Kaya keeps tabs on Elsbeth's whereabouts as her investigation into Captain Wagner heats up.
Written by: Zoe Marshall
Directed by: Nancy Hower
1-07 Something Blue--05/02/2024
Elsbeth suspects foul play after a posh country club wedding meticulously planned by an esteemed, but shady, financial advisor, Ashton Hayes, ends in the golf cart death of the hapless groom. Also, Elsbeth plans a housewarming party with some old friends.
Written by: Erica Larson
Directed by: Fong-Yee Yap
1-08 Artificial Genius--05/09/2024
Elsbeth goes to battle with artificial intelligence when Quinn the young CEO of a location-based crime alert app, murders a journalist and uses her app to divert authorities and create a phony killer. Meanwhile, Wagner hatches a plan to fight the D.O.J. investigation.
Written by: Leah Nanako Winkler
Directed by: Tyne Rafaeli
1-09 Sweet Justice--05/15/2024
After hearing his favorite patron talk about being bullied mercilessly in college, the charismatic owner of an exclusive cocktail bar decides to seek revenge on her behalf, but his desire for justice leads to a deadly mistake, leaving Elsbeth and Kaya to connect the dots. Meanwhile, after learning that the DOJ investigation is close to an indictment, Elsbeth and Captain Wagner join forces to expose the real criminal.
Written by: Bryan Goluboff & Erica Shelton Kodish
Directed by: Kevin Rodney Sullivan
1-10 A Fitting Finale--05/23/2024
When an unlikable fashion photographer is murdered in the middle of a fashion show, Elsbeth and the team suspect the killer to be either the photographer's college ex – and leading model of the show – or her jealous husband. Meanwhile, Elsbeth's role at the precinct is thrown into question.
Written by: Jonathan Tolins
Directed by: Rosemary Rodriguez
Season Two Episode Guide (CBS)
2-01 Subscription To Murder--10/17/2024
When a womanizing finance executive is found stabbed to death after a night at the opera, Elsbeth suspects an obsessed opera lover was driven to murder because of a ringing cell phone.
Written by: Jonathan Tolins
Directed by: Nancy Hower
2-02 The Wrong Stuff--10/24/2024
When a billionaire dies in a freak accident during a space training simulation, Elsbeth suspects a fellow magnate and wannabe astronaut with a grudge named Neal is responsible; Elsbeth is reunited with a former colleague from Chicago.
Written by: Erica Shelton Kodish
Directed by: Aisha Tyler
2-03 Devil's Night--10/31/2024
When a billionaire dies in a freak accident during a space training simulation, Elsbeth suspects a fellow magnate and wannabe astronaut with a grudge named Neal is responsible; Elsbeth is reunited with a former colleague from Chicago.
Written by: Bryan Goluboff
Directed by: Robin Givens
2-04 Diamonds Are For Elsbeth--11/07/2024
While investigating the death of an employee at New York's most exclusive jewelry store, Elsbeth and the team uncover plans for a gala heist orchestrated by a chic VIP customer.
Written by: Zoe Marshall
Directed by: Mary Lou Belli
2-05 Elsbeth Flips The Bird--11/14/2024
Elsbeth investigates the death of a devious kitchen staffer after he causes havoc in New York's hottest restaurant and enrages one of America's most revered chefs.
Written by: Sarah Beckett
Directed by: Ron Underwood
2-06 Gold, Frankincense, And Murder--12/05/2024
Celebrity Christmas curators Dirk and DeeDee Dashers, go from tinsel to tragedy after Dirk is killed in a freak accident and Elsbeth begins to suspect his wife is behind the murder. Meanwhile, Elsbeth gets a holiday surprise courtesy of Wagner and Kaya.
Written by: Erica Larson
Directed by: Rachel Raimist
2-07 One Angry Woman--12/12/2024
Elsbeth is summoned to jury duty and lands on a murder trial where she faces off with the unusually difficult Judge Milton Crawford.
Written by: Eric Randall
Directed by: Lionel Coleman
2-08 Toil And Trouble--12/19/2024
Elsbeth is thrown into the world of procedural TV after a prolific producer is brutally murdered in his office.
Written by: Matthew K. Begbie
Directed by: Darren Grant
2-09 Unalive And Well--01/30/2025
When a young man is found dead in his car, Elsbeth visits the wellness center he'd just left.
Written by: Leah Nanako Winkler
Directed by: Nancy Hower
2-10 Finance Bros--02/06/2025
When a Wall Street titan is murdered after giving away his fortune, Elsbeth suspects the victim's twin brother and business partner in a deadly case of sibling rivalry. Meanwhile, the Van Ness case continues to cause trouble for Elsbeth.
Written by: Eric Randall & Anju Andre-Bergmann
Directed by: Nick Gomez
2-11 Tiny Town--02/13/2025
Sparks fly between Elsbeth and a handsome Scottish musician named Angus after he witnesses a murder through a video art installation linking Manhattan with his tiny seaside town. The two join forces to solve the case together from across the pond.
Written by: Zoe Marshall
Directed by: Robert King