Fall 2007 - CBS

Let’s give CBS some major credit. Our friends at the eye network are taking some serious chances with their new Fall lineup. The network that perfected the procedural crime drama, to the point where procedurals seemed to take up 75% of its prime-time schedule, is being bold and risky. They’re stepping outside of their comfort zone with several new high-concept series.


Instead of more detectives on the prime-time beat, CBS is turning to vampires, kids, swingers, and musicals. This is most definitely not your father’s CBS. Now do I agree with all of the changes? Hardly. But I will give the eye credit for trying something different. However, the credit I give for being different is overwhelmingly diminished by the points I deduct from CBS for cancelling Jericho. I won’t soon forgive them for that one.

Here's the new CBS lineup:


MONDAY

8:00 How I Met Your Mother
8:30 The Big Bang Theory
9:00 Two and a Half Men
9:30 Rules of Engagement
10:00 CSI: Miami


TUESDAY

8:00 NCIS
9:00 The Unit
10:00 Cane


WEDNESDAY

8:00 Kid Nation
9:00 Criminal Minds
10:00 CSI: NY


THURSDAY

8:00 Survivor
9:00 CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
10:00 Without a Trace


FRIDAY

8:00 Ghost Whisperer
9:00 Moonlight
10:00 Numb3rs


SATURDAY

8:00 drama repeats
9:00 drama repeats
10:00 48 Hours Mysteries


SUNDAY
7:00 60 Minutes
8:00 Viva Laughlin
9:00 Cold Case
10:00 Shark


Here’s a quick rundown of what’s coming to CBS this Fall:

The Big Bang Theory
From Two and a Half Men executive producer Chuck Lorre comes this comedy about a pair of scientific nerds who meet a beautiful woman.


Cane
Cane is a show that sounds remarkable like CBS’ vintage 80s soap Falcon Crest. It features Jimmy Smits in a soapy drama about a large Cuban-American family that runs a successful sugar and rum business. Also featured in the cast is Nestor Carbonell, who these days can be found playing Richard on Lost. So, Nestor: does this casting mean that your days on the island are numbered???


Kid Nation
A new reality entry in which 40 kids will be given 40 days to rebuild a deserted, 19th-century ghost town in New Mexico. And no, this is not a joke.


Moonlight
While it’s true that this is the story of a detective, Moonlight is no CSI. You see, the detective also happens to be a vampire. Yes, a vampire.


Viva Laughlin
Just when you thought CBS couldn’t top a vampire detective series… here comes Viva Laughlin! Viva Laughlin is a “musical mystery drama” about a Nevada casino owner and his family. Being that prime-time hasn’t had a "good" musical since Cop Rock, this one should be “interesting.”


The Amazing Race and The New Adventures of Old Christine are being held for midseason. Sadly (and stupidly, in my humble opinion), CBS has ordered only 13 episodes of Old Christine. Hardly a vote of confidence.

New at midseason… the 70s flashback swinger drama – yes, you read that correctly: a drama about swingers - Swingtown (yet another of CBS’s high-concept shows).

Say goodbye to The Class, the aforementioned Jericho, King of Queens, and Close to Home.

** ** ** ** **

This Just In...

Word from the inside of Fox is that the net is strongly considering a major shakeup of its prime-time lineup. Scenarios being thrown around include a move of the Sunday animation to block to Wednesdays, and a shift of House to Sundays. Now THAT would be some aggressive television programming!