Usually the big thing during sweeps is guest stars. But this week it’s guest writers, at least on CBS. The network’s top drama and top comedy, “CSI” and “Two and a Half Men,” cooked up a cute scheme to swap writing staffs for one episode apiece.
Earlier this week, “CSI” writers penned an episode of “Men” in which a team of crime scene investigators looked into a mysterious death at Charlie’s house. Tonight at 9 p.m., the “Men” scribes take a stab at drama, with the story of a sitcom diva (“Married with Children’s” Katey Sagal) who is killed while on location shooting in Las Vegas.
It’s a clever twist that has received a lot of publicity, and it may have given “Men” a small bump Monday night, when nearly every network show saw a dip from the previous week. "Men” added 690,000 viewers compared with the previous week, up 5 percent to 13.6 million viewers.
“CSI,” like most of the top shows on broadcast right now, could use the lift.
The show is coming off its two least-watched episodes ever, averaging 18 million total viewers last week. It still managed to finish ahead of ABC’s competing “Grey’s Anatomy” in total viewers, though it was well behind in adults 18-49.
With the third week of the May sweeps beginning tonight, CBS ranks third behind Fox and ABC in adults 18-49, with an average 2.6 rating, off 21 percent from last year. CBS does lead in households with a 6.4 average, just ahead of No. 2 ABC at 6.1.
|
A look at this week’s top TV draws
|
|
THURSDAY, MAY 8
|
|
Time
|
Network
|
Program
|
Description
|
|
7 a.m.
|
ABC
|
“Good Morning America” (N)
|
New York Yankees stars Derek Jeter and Alex Rodriguez both guest.
|
|
8 p.m.
|
CW
|
“Smallville” (D)
|
A stranger attacks Lex, but it’s really a message to Clark.
|
|
9 p.m.
|
NBC
|
“The Office” (C)
|
Jim tries to secure a deal while golfing, except he has Andy and Kevin with him.
|
|
9 p.m.
|
CBS
|
“CSI” (D)
|
Katey Sagal guests a TV sitcom star who’s murdered.
|
|
9 p.m.
|
ABC
|
“Grey’s Anatomy” (D)
|
Seattle Grace enacts a date-and-tell policy.
|
|
10 p.m.
|
NBC
|
“ER” (D)
|
Morris sees a therapist after he’s robbed.
|
|
10 p.m.
|
ABC
|
“Lost” (D)
|
Locke finds out the location of Jacob’s cabin.
|
|
FRIDAY, MAY 9
|
|
Time
|
Network
|
Program
|
Description
|
|
7 a.m.
|
NBC
|
“Today” (N)
|
Actor Henry Winkler guests and Mary J. Blige performs.
|
|
8 p.m.
|
CBS
|
“Ghost Whisperer” (D)
|
Melinda looks back a murder that took place in 1979.
|
|
8 p.m.
|
ESPN
|
“NBA Basketball” (S)
|
A conference semifinal playoff game, teams still to be decided.
|
|
9 p.m.
|
CBS
|
“Moonlight” (D)
|
The grandson of one of Mick’s friends from WWII is kidnapped.
|
|
9 p.m.
|
Sci Fi Channel
|
“Doctor Who”
|
The doc learns some not-so-nice things about the human race.
|
|
10 p.m.
|
CBS
|
“Numb3rs” (D)
|
Our heroes look into the drive-by murder of a rap star.
|
|
SATURDAY, MAY 10
|
|
Time
|
Network
|
Program
|
Description
|
|
2 p.m.
|
NBC
|
“PGA Golf” (S)
|
Third-round coverage of the so-called “fifth major,” The Players Championship.
|
|
3:30 p.m.
|
Fox
|
“Major League Baseball” (S)
|
Yankees-Tigers, Cards-Brewers or Diamondbacks-Cubs.
|
|
7 p.m.
|
Fox
|
“NASCAR Racing” (S)
|
The Dodge Challenger 500 from Darlington, S.C.
|
|
8:15 p.m.
|
ABC
|
“NBA Basketball” (S)
|
The playoffs come to broadcast primetime, teams still to be determined.
|
|
9 p.m.
|
Sci Fi Channel
|
“Aztec Rex” (M)
|
Spain’s Cortes finds an Aztec tribe that offers human sacrifices to a T-Rex.
|
|
11:30 p.m.
|
NBC
|
“Saturday Night Live” (C)
|
Shia LeBeouf hosts, My Morning Jacket performs.
|
|
SUNDAY, MAY 11
|
|
Time
|
Network
|
Program
|
Description
|
|
2 p.m.
|
NBC
|
“PGA Golf” (S)
|
Final round of The Players Championship, won last year by Phil Mickelson.
|
|
3:30 p.m.
|
ABC
|
“NBA Basketball” (S)
|
More conference semifinal playoff action.
|
|
8 p.m.
|
CBS
|
“Survivor” (R)
|
Season finale. Two-hour finale followed by the hour-long reunion show.
|
|
8 p.m.
|
Fox
|
“The Simpsons” (C)
|
Homer’s mother dies before he can forgive her for abandoning him.
|
|
9 p.m.
|
ABC
|
“Desperate Housewives” (D)
|
Carlos and Gaby find out a secret about their new tenant.
|
|
9 p.m.
|
Showtime
|
“The Tudors” (D)
|
The Catholic Church loses power during Reformation.
|
|
10 p.m.
|
ABC
|
“Brothers & Sisters” (D)
|
Season finale. Kevin and Scotty move their relationship forward.
|
|
A = awards show or special, C = comedy, D = drama, DD = daytime drama, G = game show, K = kids, M = movie, N = news/documentary, R = reality, S = sports, T = talk/variety show.
|
