Exploring the Rise and Unexpected Cancellation of DMV: A Sitcom Saga
By Published May 11, 2026, 4:00 PM EDT Zach Moser has been writing for ScreenRant since 2026, covering movies, classic TV, and streaming TV. His areas of expertise cover a wide range of genres with a particular interest in horror and drama, and the conversations around the TV and film industry. When he's not covering the latest film releases or chronicling the latest season of a new show, he's writing humor pieces for McSweeney's Internet Tendency, Slackjaw, and Points In Case or working on short stories and his second novel. follow Follow followed Followed Like Like Log in Here is a fact-based summary of the story contents: Try something different: Show me the facts Explain it like I’m 5 Give me a lighthearted recap
CBS's premiered on October 13, 2026, with the last episode airing 18 episodes later on May 11, 2026, so some may be wondering what's happening with season 2. DMV is following the workers at the East Hollywood DMV, grappling with workplace problems, interoffice romances and rivalries, and dealing with the impatient public.
Harriet Dyer stars as Colette, a driving examiner who tries to make everyone's day a little better but is not the best with boundaries when it comes to the public who are uninterested in her "helpful" approach, and her coworkers, like Noa (Alex Tarrant), who is new, and for whom she has a growing affection.
Tony Cavalero, Molly Kearney, Gigi Zumbado, and Tim Meadows also star. The series earned a 65% on and has the , but offers some good laughs and interesting character moments. Based on Katherine Heiny's short story, "Chicken-Flavored and Lemon-Scented", DMV is a classic single-camera comedy, but what's next for the series?
CBS Already Canceled DMV Ahead Of Season 2
Sadly for fans of the series, DMV was canceled before the final episode of season 1 even aired (via ). CBS announced on March 27, 2026, that it would be pulling the plug on DMV and Watson, an adaptation of Author Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes stories, centering on Dr. John Watson, here a medical physician working in Pittsburgh and played by Morris Chestnut.
Showrunner Dana Klein's DMV earned a series order in April 2026 and got the full-season greenlight a few months later. At the same time, CBS announced it was recommitting to shows like Marshals, George & Mandy's First Marriage, Tracker, Ghosts, Matlock, and a few other staples.
Why CBS Canceled DMV (Can It Still Be Saved)?
CBS did not give any reasons for why it decided to cancel DMV, but as always, declining ratings and low audience scores are likely to blame. Online, viewers on sites like expressed some mild disappointment, though not much surprise. It's a bit of a lukewarm show that was taking too much time to find its footing.
Sitcoms, and most non-streaming TV shows, often struggle with the first season. Look back at The Office or Parks and Rec seasons 1, where things just feel off. It can take some time for showrunners to figure out what kind of show they have on their hands. DMV struggled to make a name for itself, but that doesn't mean it couldn't have, given the time.
CBS is also an unusual network for a sitcom like DMV to premiere on. Comedies are not the most popular fare on a network better known for shows like FBI, NCIS, Boston Blue, and CIA. The Big Bang Theory and Young Sheldon are just about the only popular original comedies for CBS, and they are more the exception that proves the rule.
What DMV Season 2's Story Could Have Been
The second season of DMV could have gone in just about any direction. That's the brilliance of a sitcom. The series could last 30 seasons as long as viewers keep enjoying the characters. The Noa and Colette romance is still in the will they/won't they phase at the end of season 1, so there is still a lot to explore there.
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A workplace with a crew of oddball characters is the impetus behind a lot of comedy TV shows, and there are very many directions DMV could take. We probably won't end up seeing what those storylines could end up being, though, and unless something miraculous happens, DMV will join the long list of TV shows not given the chance they were hoping for.
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