Six new shows over five nights

By Andrew Wallenstein

      Being No. 1 in household ratings hasn't kept CBS from tinkering with its primetime weeknight schedule, which will feature six new series this fall. Leslie Moonves, president of CBS Television, yesterday proudly announced the return of 14 series from last season. Although still fourth in the ratings for adults 18-49, CBS has regained its young male audience, which Moonves credited to the return of NFL Football.
      Three dramas and three sitcoms--all of which are being co-produced in-house to maximize profits in syndication--will premiere on five different nights. CBS didn't touch its strong Saturday and Sunday lineups. Happy with its broad viewership, the network isn't taking any measures to attract particular demographics. With few big shifts, CBS will protect its position in several key areas, as well as make marginal improvements on its two most troublesome nights: Wednesday and Friday.
      The network is taking pieces of its strongest weeknights, Monday and Tuesday, to help rebuild Wednesday. Monday anchor ''Cosby'' will replace ''The Nanny,'' which limped to its series finale last week, at 8 p.m. The new sitcom ''Work With Me'' follows. The CBS Tuesday movie will switch to Wednesday at 9 p.m. While ''Cosby'' is barely stronger than ''The Nanny,'' the only sitcom competition it will probably get is from ABC's so-so ''Two Guys, a Girl and a Pizza Place.''
      Still, Monday and Tuesday probably won't suffer much from their losses. On Monday, ''King of Queens,'' a solid performer at 8:30 p.m., will slide back into the anchor slot, followed by the new sitcom ''Ladies Man.'' ''Everybody Loves Raymond'' and ''Becker'' stay where they are, providing a powerful lead-in for the new drama ''Family Law,'' which replaces the canceled ''L.A. Doctors.'' Tuesday puts the hit drama ''JAG'' to better use than in past seasons, supporting ''60 Minutes II'' at 9 p.m. and the new drama ''Judging Amy'' at 10 p.m.
      ''Chicago Hope,'' the medical drama that struggled on Tuesday, will be revamped by executive producer David E. Kelley, who promised CBS he would take a more involved role in the series next season. Thursday at 9 p.m. is its new home, followed by ''48 Hours,'' which has turned ''ER'' reruns on NBC to its ratings advantage more than once at 10 p.m. ''Diagnosis Murder'' will continue at 8 p.m.
      Friday is CBS's only big question mark. At 8 and 10 p.m., ''Kids Say the Darndest Things'' and ''Nash Bridges'' will bookend two new series, the sitcom ''Love or Money'' and the drama ''Now and Again.'' Only if either turns out to be a sleeper hit could CBS jumpstart the night.
      For movies and miniseries, the network has a particularly strong roster. Former ''ER'' star George Clooney will star in a live production titled ''Fail-Safe''; ''Sarah Plain and Tall,'' a highly rated pair of TV movies, will get a third installment; and Mia Farrow and Farrah Fawcett will also star in films.
      The celebrity wattage isn't limited to the specials; all six pilots cast recognizable actors, including Sharon Lawrence, Swoozie Kurtz, Dixie Carter and Amy Brenneman.
      While CBS should easily retain its lead in households come fall--and probably make great strides in the 18-49 demographic--its strongest weapon may bow in the midseason. Steven Bochco, mastermind behind ''NYPD Blue'' and ''Hill Street Blues,'' is readying the medical drama ''City of Angels'' for January.