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For CBS, big
changes may be in order
Expect a slew of new shows in a push for 18-49s
By Toni Fitzgerald
Buyers praise the stability of CBS’s
schedule, which boasts top-rated drama, comedy and reality shows
with minimal problem spots. So you might expect the network to have
the fewest new shows on the fall schedule.
In fact, CBS may have the most. There are six hours of
programming that could be replaced if the network decides it wants
to aggressively pursue the season title among 18-49s, and it looks
like it will. Rumors have CBS with eight new series orders.
CBS can
afford to tinker with its schedule more than the other networks
because the bulk of it remains strong, and “CSI,” “Survivor”
and “Two and a Half Men” can make up for any early missteps.
What follows is a look at CBS’s likely schedule for the
coming season, based on a variety of sources, from analyses by the
big media agencies to what the network has said to snippets of
speculation by media buyers. The network formally announces it
schedule on Wednesday at 3 p.m.
“JAG” and “Everybody Loves Raymond” are
definitely gone. “Joan of Arcadia,” which had a disappointing
second season, and “Judging Amy,” never a hit among 18-49s, are
also rumored to be out.
Of “Still Standing” and “Listen Up,” one, probably the
latter, will be
yanked, and “60 Minutes II” seems more endangered than ever
after last year’s botched report on President Bush.
New dramas will include Jerry Bruckheimer’s “American
Crime,” about a prosecutor, and “Quantico,” about FBI
profilers starring Mandy Patinkin. The requisite supernatural show
that all the networks seem to be ordering is “Threshold.”
David Mamet’s Delta Force drama “The Unit” and
Jennifer Love Hewitt’s “Sixth Sense”-like “Ghost
Whisperer” are also rumored to get slots.
“How I Met Your Mother,” a comedy with TV veterans Neil
Patrick Harris and Alyson Hannigan, and “Flesh and Blood,” from
two “Frasier” writers starring Henry Winkler and Stockard
Channing, will also be picked up.
Monday could get several new sitcoms. The network
may move Wednesday’s “Yes, Dear” or “King of Queens” back
to Monday to help “Two and a Half Men,” which will take over “Raymond’s”
9 p.m. slot.
In contrast to its long tradition of schlubby
men-with-beautiful-women sitcoms, CBS also has a few comedy
contenders with a different focus: Jenna Elfman’s “Everything I Know
About Men” will get a spot, while “Old Christine,” with “Seinfeld”
veteran Julia Louis-Dreyfus, is bidding for midseason.
On Tuesday, “NCIS” will return at 8 followed by “Amazing
Race.” If “Amy” gets the boot, "Threshold" or “American
Crime” may land here.
Wednesdays are a problem. “CSI: NY” will stay at
10, but “60 Minutes” and the 9 p.m. comedy block seem
questionable. CBS may switch to drama at 9, booting “Queens”
back to Monday.
“Survivor,” “CSI” and “Without a Trace”
will return Thursday.
Friday’s “Joan” lost buzz as the season went on,
and a return seems unlikely with all of CBS's pickups. "Quantico,"
"The Unit" or "Ghost Whisperer" may take two of
the open spots. The edgier drama “Commuters” or Tom Cavanagh’s
quirky “Love Monkey,” which haven't received a commitment yet, would be good Friday fits.
Mild midseason hit “Numb3rs” should return at 10.
CBS may plug a reality show into Saturdays at 8, but since
the networks seemed to have basically abandoned original Saturday
programming, repeats seem more likely.
Sundays will also remain the same, with “60 Minutes”
followed by “Cold Case” and the “Sunday Night Movie.”
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May 17, 2005
2005
Media Life
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Toni Fitzgerald is a staff writer for
Media Life.
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