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Wednesday, May 16, 2007
CBS’s Fall Schedule, AND some “24” News
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Fox won’t announce its new fall schedule until Thursday, but it jumped the gun a bit and went ahead and revealed that it has extended the Emmy-winning “24” two additional years, through the 2008-09 season. Better take a vacation now, Jack, while you can….
But Wednesday belonged to CBS. Here’s the story:
Jessica Fletcher has definitely left the building.
Forget homespun fare like “Murder She Wrote.” Even “CSI” seems downright drab compared to CBS’s new fall schedule announced Wednesday.
Gone are predictable sitcoms like “The Class” and that run-of-the-mill nuclear holocaust drama “Jericho.” In are vampires, wifeswapping and a mystery drama where the characters sometimes break out in song and Tony winner Hugh Jackman makes occasional appearances.
“We approached our development this year with a specific goal in mind — to be daring and different,” said CBS Entertainment president Nina Tassler.
Indeed, CBS has the fewest schedule holes and potentially the most to lose by altering its game plan. Its solidly predictable lineup of military-oriented dramas and procedurals — including three versions of “CSI” — brings it consistently high ratings, if not lots of buzz.
The network didn’t exactly go crazy, announcing just six new series, including one for midseason. Among its veteran shows, CBS cancelled the Friday legal procedural “Close to Home” and renewed former Mariettan Eric Haney’s Special Forces drama “The Unit,” which will to continue to wage Tuesday night war against “Fox” and “House.” Meanwhile, “Without A Trace” and “Shark” will flop places, with the latter moving from the cushy Thursday post- “CSI” slot to 10 p.m. Sundays.
It’s with its four new dramas where CBS is breaking taboos and taking chances. Biggest among them may be “Viva Laughlin,” the 8 p.m. Sunday saga of a freewheeling businessman (Lloyd Owen), who tries to open a happenin’ casino in rundown Laughlin, Nev. But first he has to deal with a murdered partner and approach his archrival (Jackman) for help. And the characters sing. Right after Andy Rooney signs off each week on “60 Minutes.”
A better, more biting, fit may come on Fridays, when the new drama “Moonlight” will follow “Ghost Whisperer” at 9 p.m. While the latter’s Jennifer Love Hewitt helps the dead cross over, “Moonlight’s” Mick St. John (Alex O’Loughlin) is an “undead” private investigator who uses his “acute vampire senses” to protect the living.
“Cane” is a somewhat more traditional drama starring Jimmy Smits as the head of a large Cuban-American family and an extremely successful rum and sugar business in South Florida. The stellar cast includes Rita Moreno, Hector Elizondo and Nestor Carbonell. And if it’s untraditional drama you want, just wait ’til midseason, when CBS promises to unveil “Swingtown.” Set in the 1970s, it follows a married couple to an affluent Chicago suburb where the sexual and social revolution is playing out in full, swinging fashion.
Other CBS developments:
“The Big Bang Theory” will air Mondays at 8:30 before “Two and a Half Men.” The sitcom from “Men’s” creator is about two genius type guys (including “Roseanne’s” Johnny Galecki) who are social dunces.
“The Amazing Race” and “The New Adventures of Old Christine” both will return at midseason.
“Survivor” returns at 8 p.m. Thursdays. CBS announced one other new reality show, “Kid Nation” (8 p.m. Wednesdays), in which 40 kids have 40 days to build a new world in a 19th century ghost town.
Other returning shows not already mentioned above: “How I Met Your Mother,” “Rules of Engagement,” “CSI: Miami,” “NCIS,” “Criminal Minds,” “CSI: NY,” “CSI,” “NUMB3RS,” and “48 Hours Mystery.”
