CBS's hit sitcom Ghosts is shaking things up for its sixth season, and the change comes straight from the top. Rose McIver, who plays Samantha, recently welcomed her second child and will be absent for the start of the season. In her place, Ben Feldman's Kyle—a living human who can also see ghosts—will take on the role of ghost-sitter at Woodstone Manor. It's a major shift for a show that has largely followed Sam's perspective since its debut.
Feldman first appeared in the Season 4 episode "Kyle," where his character gained the ability to see ghosts after a bizarre roller-coaster accident involving a bird. He was promoted to series regular ahead of Season 6, making him the first new main cast member added in the show's history. Kyle isn't a perfect substitute for Sam: unlike her, he lacks a stable home life and has seen his relationships and jobs suffer because of ghostly interference. In fact, one attempt to help a ghost fulfill a dying wish landed him in prison. But that instability might be exactly what makes him interesting.
The ghosts themselves are already viewing Kyle differently. As Asher Grodman, who plays the pantless ghost Trevor, told TVInsider, "There are moments that we are all like kindergartners and Jay and Sam are our parents, and when Kyle shows up it's like having the sub [or] the babysitter's there, and we get to watch TV and stay up late at night." That substitute-teacher energy promises a looser, more chaotic vibe at Woodstone Manor—at least until Sam returns.
Kyle's expanded role was set up in the Season 5 finale, "Across the Pond," when Sam finally sold her first film script and realized she'd need to be out of town for the shoot. The ghosts enthusiastically chanted Kyle's name as he agreed to help communicate between the living and the dead in her absence. He's filled in before for short trips, but this will be his first long-term stay. Meanwhile, the Season 5 cliffhanger found Kyle, Jay (Utkarsh Ambudkar), and ghost Pete (Richie Moriarty) in London, racing to secure proof that Woodstone Manor is a historic landmark and save it from demolition. They succeeded, but Pete seemed to fade away just as they were running out of time. Fans can rest easy: Moriarty has been confirmed to return in Season 6, though how Pete comes back remains a mystery. As Danielle Pinnock, who plays Alberta, told People, "I know he's coming back, but we don't know how. So it's still very much a mystery for the cast as well."
After five seasons, Ghosts has settled into a familiar rhythm: the ghosts rope Sam and Jay into awkward situations, and hilarity ensues. Adding Feldman as a full-time player disrupts that formula in a good way. Kyle's presence will inevitably change the group's dynamics, and the show seems eager to explore what happens when the ghosts have a less authoritative figure in charge. It's a smart way to keep the series fresh while McIver is on maternity leave.
Fans won't have to wait until the full season returns in 2027 to see the new setup. CBS will air a two-episode Halloween special on October 29, followed by a two-episode "Ghostmas" event on December 10. Those specials will give viewers an early taste of Kyle's ghost-sitting skills—and the chaos that comes with them. If you're looking for more supernatural sitcoms to fill the void, check out our review of Eternally Yours, or see why these fantasy shows nailed it from start to finish.
With Feldman's Kyle at the center and the ghosts acting like kids left with a babysitter, Ghosts Season 6 is shaping up to be its most unpredictable yet. The show returns with its Halloween special on October 29 on CBS.
