Elsbeth Season 3: Premiere Details, Star Guests, & Big Changes!

Elsbeth Tascioni is officially back for a third season on CBS and Paramount+, bringing a fresh batch of New York's most "well-heeled murderers," a rotating roster of guest stars, and some lingering emotional fallout for our favorite quirky attorney.

TL;DR

• Season 3 kicks off with a special premiere on Sunday, October 12, before moving to its regular Thursday night slot on October 16.
• Prepare for a star-studded guest list including Stephen Colbert, Amy Sedaris, and Andy Richter in the premiere episode!
• Elsbeth is still grappling with last season's emotional ending, and fan-favorite Kaya Blanke will be returning as a recurring guest.

Elsbeth Tascioni Returns: What's New For Her and Us?

Get ready to dive back into the wonderfully unconventional world of Elsbeth Tascioni! Carrie Preston's Emmy-winning character is returning for a third season, promising more of her unique intuitive insights to help the NYPD solve cases. If you've been missing her signature hats and keen observations, you won't have to wait much longer to see her in action again.

This season, Elsbeth is truly living her dream. In a June interview with TheWrap, Carrie Preston called her spinoff show her "dream job." She shared, "This is something I’ve wanted and hoped to get, but never really dreamed that I would at this stage in my life. So the fact that it’s happening now makes me appreciate it maybe more than had it happened in my 20s.” It's clear that Preston is as excited about Elsbeth's return as we are, and that passion definitely shines through on screen.

"This is something I’ve wanted and hoped to get, but never really dreamed that I would at this stage in my life. So the fact that it’s happening now makes me appreciate it maybe more than had it happened in my 20s.”

— Carrie Preston on her role in "Elsbeth"

When and Where Can You Catch Elsbeth's Latest Cases?

Mark your calendars, because Elsbeth is hitting our screens sooner than you think! Season 3 of Elsbeth premieres on CBS on Sunday, October 12, at a special time of 9:30 p.m. ET/PT (which is 8:30 p.m. CT/MT). Some reports also indicate a 9:00 p.m. ET start for the first episode, so it’s always a good idea to double-check your local listings!

After this special Sunday premiere, new episodes will settle into their regular time slot, airing every Thursday at 10 p.m. ET/PT, starting October 16.

For our streaming-savvy fans, Elsbeth Season 3 episodes will be available on Paramount+ at the same time as they broadcast live for Premium subscribers. If you have Paramount+ Essential, you can catch up on all the new cases the very next day. So, whether you're watching live or on-demand, Elsbeth has you covered!

International Viewers: How to Tune In

Good news for our friends up North and Down Under! Canadian viewers can watch Elsbeth Season 3 on Global TV, following the same schedule as the U.S. New episodes will be available to stream the next day on the Global TV website and app (with a TV provider login) or via a StackTV subscription through Amazon Prime.

In Australia, new episodes will stream on Paramount+ the day after their U.S. debut, starting Monday, October 13, and then shifting to Fridays for weekly releases.

For those in the U.K., while Seasons 1 and 2 recently arrived on Sky, there's no confirmed release date for Season 3 just yet. Stay tuned for updates!

Who's Joining the Quirky Attorney in Season 3's Star-Studded Episodes?

The main cast bringing Elsbeth's world to life includes the amazing Carrie Preston as Elsbeth Tascioni and Wendell Pierce as her boss, Captain C.W. Wagner. And while Carra Patterson's Kaya Blanke isn't a series regular this season, she'll be back as a recurring guest star – more on that later!

This season is kicking off with a bang, bringing in some seriously big names as guest stars, a staple of the Elsbeth series. The premiere episode, titled "Yes, And…," features a trio of comedic talent:

• Stephen Colbert as Scotty Bristol, a late-night talk show host.
• Amy Sedaris as Laurel Hammond-Muntz, his head writer.
• Andy Richter as Mickey Muntz, Laurel's husband and the show's on-air sidekick.

Carrie Preston raved about working with Colbert, calling him "such a great actor" and noting that showrunner Jonathan Tolins specifically wrote the script for him. It was a bit of a nail-biter for the production team, as Colbert's appearance was announced shortly after the cancellation of The Late Show, making them "very nervous" he wouldn't be able to come. But he did, and according to Preston, he was "fully prepared" and "so happy to be there."

Preston also highlighted the fun dynamic among the guest stars, mentioning that Colbert, Sedaris, and Richter are old friends. The episode even includes a clever "Easter egg" tying their characters' falling out to the musical "Merrily We Roll Along," which is about three friends who have a similar experience.

The guest star parade doesn't stop at the premiere! Episode 2, "Doll Day Afternoon," will feature David Cross as Nolan, a "hapless ex-con" caught in a toy store hostage crisis. Other confirmed guest stars for Season 3 include Annaleigh Ashford, William Jackson Harper, Lindsay Mendez, and Sarah Steele, promising an exciting mix of new and familiar faces to challenge Elsbeth.

Elsbeth's Emotional Journey and the Season's Big Shake-Ups

Season 2 left Elsbeth in a pretty intense place, especially after witnessing the murder of Judge Milton Crawford (played by Carrie Preston's real-life husband, Michael Emerson). Preston revealed to TV Insider that Elsbeth is still very much struggling with that trauma in Season 3. "That’s something that she gets easily brought right back to," Preston explained. "She’s very connected to her emotions and to her intellect. She’s very in her body, and so she’s going to carry that throughout the season." We'll even see a character associated with Judge Crawford pop up around six episodes in, so that storyline definitely isn't over!

The Return of Kaya Blanke and New Faces in the Precinct

One of the biggest changes this season is the absence of Elsbeth's best friend, Detective Kaya Blanke (Carra Patterson), who left for an undercover training opportunity in Washington, D.C. While Elsbeth misses her friend, she's also "selfless" in wanting Kaya to "blossom" in her career, much like Elsbeth herself reinvented her life. Don't worry, Kaya fans – Carra Patterson will be back as a recurring guest star, with her first return slated for Episode 3!

With Kaya away, Elsbeth will be working with a rotating cast of new uniformed officers as escorts. The premiere introduces Lindsay Mendez as Officer Grace Hackett, an aspiring stand-up comic. Later, Angus O’Brien joins as Officer Summerville in Episode 2. Preston loves this shake-up, saying it "keeps the show fresh and it keeps Elsbeth on her game more. She’s working with newer people, younger people and people that she hasn’t met before." While no one can truly fill Kaya's shoes, these new partnerships will bring fresh dynamics to Elsbeth's investigations.

Meanwhile, the bond between Elsbeth and Captain Wagner (Wendell Pierce) is stronger than ever. After their Season 1 falling out, they're now a united front. Preston noted, "Even if it seems like she’s going out on a limb, he’ll let her go out on that limb... he knows that her success rate is pretty high, and it makes his department look good when Elsbeth does well." It's great to see their partnership solidify as they tackle new challenges!

Elsbeth Season 3 Episode Rundown: Mark Your Calendars!

Here's a look at the confirmed episode titles and air dates for the first few episodes of Elsbeth Season 3. Get ready for some thrilling cases!

• Season 3, Episode 1: "Yes, And…" – Sunday, October 12 (Special Premiere, 9:30 p.m. ET/PT)
• Season 3, Episode 2: "Doll Day Afternoon" – Thursday, October 16 (Regular Time Slot Premiere, 10 p.m. ET/PT)
• Season 3, Episode 3: "Good Grief" – Thursday, October 23 (10 p.m. ET/PT)
• Season 3, Episode 4: "Ick, a Bod" – Thursday, October 30 (10 p.m. ET/PT)
• Season 3, Episode 5: Thursday, November 6 (10 p.m. ET/PT)
• Season 3, Episode 6: Thursday, November 13 (10 p.m. ET/PT)
• Season 3, Episode 7: Thursday, November 20 (10 p.m. ET/PT)
• Season 3, Episode 8: Thursday, November 27 (10 p.m. ET/PT)
• Season 3, Episode 9: Thursday, December 4 (10 p.m. ET/PT)
• Season 3, Episode 10: Thursday, December 11 (10 p.m. ET/PT)
• Season 3, Episode 11: Thursday, December 18 (10 p.m. ET/PT)
• Further episodes (up to 22 in total) will be announced.

Frequently Asked Questions About Elsbeth's Return

What time does Elsbeth Season 3 premiere?

Elsbeth Season 3 premieres on Sunday, October 12, at a special time of 9:30 p.m. ET/PT (8:30 p.m. CT/MT). After that, new episodes will air weekly on Thursdays at 10 p.m. ET/PT, starting October 16.

Where can I stream Elsbeth Season 3 episodes?

You can stream Elsbeth Season 3 on Paramount+. Paramount+ Premium subscribers can watch live as it airs, while Essential subscribers can catch new episodes the day after broadcast.

Is Kaya Blanke returning to Elsbeth in Season 3?

Yes, while Carra Patterson's character, Kaya Blanke, is not a series regular this season (she's off for training in D.C.), she will return as a recurring guest star, with her first appearance in Episode 3.

What is Elsbeth Season 3 about?

Season 3 continues to follow Emmy Award winner Carrie Preston as Elsbeth Tascioni, the clever and unconventional consent decree attorney working with the NYPD. She'll be tracking down New York's most sophisticated criminals using her unique intuitive insight. This season features fresh cases, new characters, and unexpected challenges for Elsbeth and Captain Wagner, all while Elsbeth deals with the lingering emotional impact of last season's dramatic finale.

Sources

• TheWrap: "'Elsbeth' Season 3 Release Schedule: When Are New Episodes Out?"
• Deadline: "Carrie Preston Thinks Stephen Colbert Has A Bright Onscreen Future Despite Recent Events"
• TV Insider: "'Elsbeth': Carrie Preston Reveals How Crawford's Death Impacts Season 3"
• Us Weekly: "'Elsbeth': Carrie Preston Reveals How Stephen Colbert Cameo Almost Didn't Happen"
• Tom's Guide: "How to watch Elsbeth season 3 online and from anywhere"
• CinemaBlend: "Carrie Preston Talks Stephen Colbert's Elsbeth Guest Role And More Comedy Stars In Season 3"