Fan-favorite Criminal Minds star Matthew Gray Gubler is back in the upcoming new series Einstein. The original drama is set to premiere at midseason of the 2026-2027 TV season. The show will air on CBS and stream on Paramount+. A premiere date has not yet been announced, but stay tuned.
In Einstein, Gubler plays Lewis “Lew” Einstein, the great-grandson of Albert Einstein, and a tenured professor whose reckless behavior leads him to help out Detective Teresa “Teri” London (Melissa Fumero). Showrunner Andy Breckman, the creator of Monk, brings a drama with comedic undertones that is sure to please viewers. Keep reading to learn everything you need to know about Einstein: the story, cast, creative team, how to watch, and more.
Key facts
- Premiere: 2026-27 midseason
- Where to watch: CBS and Paramount+*.
- Genre: Drama with comedic elements/crime procedural
- Plot: Brilliant descendant of Albert Einstein is pressed into helping local police detective solve challenging cases
- Starring: Matthew Gray Gubler, Melissa Fumero and Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor
- Recurring guest star: Tony Shalhoub
- Showrunner: Andy Breckman
*New episodes of CBS shows stream live as they air on CBS with a Paramount+ subscription to the Paramount+ Premium plan. Episodes can be watched on demand the next day with a subscription to any Paramount+ plan.
When does it premiere?
Einstein is set to premiere at midseason during the 2026-2027 TV season. An exact date has not yet been announced.
CBS initially ordered the show to launch during the 2025-2026 season, but then hit pause. In an interview with Deadline, CBS Entertainment President Amy Reisenbach shed light on the decision. “At one point, Einstein was on the schedule, but then it just occurred to us that we had an opportunity with this show,” she said. “This show has a really high mix of comedy and procedure and we really felt that they could benefit from more writing time.”
How to watch
You can watch Einstein on CBS and Paramount+. Upon its premiere, you can catch new episodes by tuning in your local CBS station on your TV or device via a digital antenna, cable service, satellite service, live-TV streaming service – or Paramount+ with a subscription to the Paramount+ Premium plan. You can also stream episodes on demand on Paramount+ on the day after they air with a subscription to either the Paramount+ Premium plan or the Paramount+ Essential plan. Here’s a breakdown of how to watch Season 1 of Einstein:
Einstein Season 1
- Date: TBD, midseason 2026-2027 TV season
- Time: TBD
- Channel: CBS
- Streaming: Paramount+*
*New episodes can be streamed live on Paramount+ as they air on CBS via the Paramount+ Premium plan, or they can be streamed on the day after they air via any Paramount+ plan.
What is it about?
The upcoming CBS series Einstein is about Lew Einstein (Matthew Gray Gubler), the brilliant, but directionless great-grandson of Albert Einstein. Lew is a tenured professor at Princeton who lands in hot water because of his reckless behavior. Lew is pressed into helping police Det. Teri London (Melissa Fumero) solve her most puzzling cases.
Based on a German series of the same name, Einstein focuses on the duo of the unconventional genius (Lew) and disciplined law enforcement officer (Teri). Their differences bring a fun dynamic that mixes crime-solving and comedy.
Who is in the cast?
Meet the cast starring in the upcoming new CBS Original series Einstein:
Matthew Gray Gubler as Lewis “Lew” Einstein
Matthew Gray Gubler is well known for his role as Dr. Spencer Reid on Criminal Minds, and is making his return to CBS in Einstein. He plays Lew Einstein, the brilliant, but impulsive professor (and great-grandson of Albert Einstein). The reckless man may finally find a sense of purpose as he puts his abilities to use helping a local police detective with complex cases. Gubler also serves as a producer of the series.
Where you’ve seen him: Criminal Minds, Alvin and the Chipmunks, 68 Kill
Melissa Fumero as Teresa “Teri” London
Playing opposite Matthew Gray Gubler in Einstein is Melissa Fumero. She plays Teri London, the disciplined detective inspector for the New Jersey state police. She is sharp, disciplined, and a good counterbalance to the unconventional Lew Einstein.
Where you’ve seen her: Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Grosse Pointe Garden Society, Blockbuster
Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor as Captain Marcia Frost
Oscar® and Emmy® nominee Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor joins the series as Teri London’s boss, Captain Marcia Frost. Ellis-Taylor is best known for her award-nominated work in the movie King Richard and the TV shows When They See Us and Lovecraft Country. Her character is a veteran police officer who has logged many hours in the field and is counting the days until retirement.
Tony Shalhoub as Jack Einstein
Emmy®-winning actor Tony Shalhoub plays the recurring role of Jack Einstein, Lew’s father and Albert Einstein’s grandson. Shalhoub, known for his award-winning roles on Monk and The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, reunites with executive producers Andy Breckman and Randy Zisk who all worked together on Monk.
Who created the series?
CBS’ Einstein is the U.S. adaptation of a German series of the same name. Andy Breckman (Monk) is the showrunner and executive producer.
Randy Zisk, Michael Rauch, Tariq Jalil, Rose Hughes, Rodrigo Herrera Ibarguengoytia, and Laura Beetz also serve as executive producers. CBS Studios produces the series. Star Matthew Gray Gubler also serves as a producer.
Where was it filmed?
Einstein is filmed in Canada, specifically Toronto and Montreal. Fun fact, according to star Matthew Gray Gubler: The series shares its Montreal crew with fellow CBS show Ghosts.
Watch Einstein on Paramount+
For fans of Matthew Gray Gubler or character-driven crime procedurals with a mix of mystery and humor, Einstein is the show for you! Check back on Paramount+ during the midseason 2026-2027 season to stream the series when it premieres.
FAQ
Is Einstein about Albert Einstein?
No. But there is a connection. Einstein is a fictional drama that follows Lewis “Lew” Einstein, a character we’re told is Albert Einstein’s great-grandson.
Is Einstein based on another TV show?
Einstein is the U.S. adaptation of the German police procedural dramedy of the same name.
Is Matthew Gray Gubler returning to Criminal Minds?
While Matthew Gray Gubler starred as criminal profiler Dr. Spencer Reid for Seasons 1-15 of Criminal Minds, and returned to the BAU as a guest star on Season 18 of Criminal Minds: Evolution, he plays an entirely new character on Einstein.
