Official 2008 New Shows/Seasons Thread

[Ksyrup]

Just an FYI about the following upcoming show debuts. Obviously, feel free to add your favorites.

Ax Men - March 9th, 10pm, History Channel (same as Deadliest Catch and Ice Road Truckers, except about loggers)

Beauty and the Geek, Season 5 - March 11th, 8pm, CW

Top Chef: Chicago - March 12th, 10pm, Bravo

Hell's Kitchen 4 - April 1st, 9pm, Fox

Deadliest Catch, Season 4 - April 15th, 9pm, Discovery Channel

[Pumpy Tudors]

Hell's Kitchen is by far my favorite of the "reality" shows. I'm really looking forward to it.

[Ksyrup]

I hope the writers go on strike every year, that way the reality shows get started that much earlier.

[Ksyrup]

Bump for those who missed it and/or want to contribute to the list as the year progresses.

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Originally Posted by Pumpy Tudors

Hell's Kitchen is by far my favorite of the "reality" shows. I'm really looking forward to it.

Hell's Kitchen is wicked good. I actually like his 'Kitchen Nightmares' show as well, though I haven't heard if they're bringing that back or not.

[Arles]

Originally Posted by Ronnie Dobbs2

Does anyone know whats in the next batch of HBO shows? I haven't been able to find anything. I think starting next week its John Adams until the end of April, but what's after that?

I am pumped for this. The first episode is this Sunday at 8/7c on HBO. Here's some info on it:

http://www.hbo.com/films/johnadams/index.html

[Ksyrup]

Originally Posted by Mizzou B-ball fan

Hell's Kitchen is wicked good. I actually like his 'Kitchen Nightmares' show as well, though I haven't heard if they're bringing that back or not.

If you've got BBCA, do yourself a favor and watch the UK version of Kitchen Nightmares. Not sure if I've posted about it here or not, but the difference is night and day. The UK version is actually a worthwhile show, and makes the US version look like the Jerry Springer cooking show. Of course, if that's why you like it then disregard...

[Lathum]

Glad to see another season of Deadlies Catch.

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Originally Posted by Ksyrup

If you've got BBCA, do yourself a favor and watch the UK version of Kitchen Nightmares. Not sure if I've posted about it here or not, but the difference is night and day. The UK version is actually a worthwhile show, and makes the US version look like the Jerry Springer cooking show. Of course, if that's why you like it then disregard...

I've watched several episodes of the UK version. Agreed that it's very good.

[jeheinz72]

Originally Posted by Ksyrup

If you've got BBCA, do yourself a favor and watch the UK version of Kitchen Nightmares. Not sure if I've posted about it here or not, but the difference is night and day. The UK version is actually a worthwhile show, and makes the US version look like the Jerry Springer cooking show. Of course, if that's why you like it then disregard...

Ditto this, BIG time.

[Lathum]

I saw one episode of kitchen nighmares and it was good I thought

[Flasch186]

wow, thanks for turning me on to John Adams that looks great!

[Ksyrup]

I think I posted something like this in another thread, but honestly, the US version of KN embarrasses me as an American, when viewed in contrast to the UK version. It's like a tangible product of the concept of dumbing down TV for a US audience. That's not to say it isn't entertaining, but when you see how they've changed the original to tailor it to be loud and obscene with a simplistic plot and obvious bad guy, packaged up with a neat ending that looks the same every episode, it leaves you with the thought, "My God! THAT'S what we look like to the rest of the world?" It's quite a kick to the stones.

[Big Fo]

Originally Posted by Flasch186

wow, thanks for turning me on to John Adams that looks great!

Ditto.

South Park season 12 started out pretty good last night, hadn't seen that mentioned yet though someone created a thread yesterday.

[bosshogg23]

The Riches Season 2 on FX March 18th at 10pm

The Tudors Season 2 on Showtime March 30th at 10pm

Battlestar Galactica on Season 4 on SciFi April 4th at 10pm

Robin Hood Season 2 on BBC America at April 26th at 9pm

[rkmsuf]

Originally Posted by bosshogg23

The Tudors Season 2 on Showtime March 30th at 10pm

WTF

[korme]

WTF what?

[Ksyrup]

He wants to know when the first season of the Pumpy Tudors show is coming to DVD.

[rkmsuf]

Originally Posted by Ksyrup

He wants to know when the first season of the Pumpy Tudors show is coming to DVD.

Nothing came up on Google!

[Ksyrup]

I understand and appreciate your situation.

[Pumpy Tudors]

I watched that "The Tudors" shit on Showtime once, and it pissed me off. If you're gonna make a show about me, at least have a black person playing my part. That show was full of whitey.

So fuck Showtime.

[Jas_lov]

The Tudors is ok, but the best part of Season 1 was Sam Neil as Cardinal Woolsey and now he's gone. They got Peter O'Toole to play the Pope this season. I'll still probably check it out because I've got nothing better to do.

[rkmsuf]

Tudors is low in the game.

[Pumpy Tudors]

Originally Posted by rkmsuf

Tudors is low in the game.

Do you have stairs in your house?

[Bee]

Originally Posted by Pumpy Tudors

I watched that "The Tudors" shit on Showtime once, and it pissed me off. If you're gonna make a show about me, at least have a black person playing my part. That show was full of whitey.

So fuck Showtime.

Danny Glover was contacted about playing you but is still holding a grudge.

[rkmsuf]

Is there like a lot of bowling in that show?

[Pumpy Tudors]

You guys are so fucking done.

[rkmsuf]

Originally Posted by Pumpy Tudors

You guys are so fucking done.

I heard that's the last line of every episode.

[Ksyrup]

An early lineup for NBC
01:00 PM PT, Apr 2 2008

Ben Silverman, NBC's co-chairman of entertainment and Universal Media Studios, announced his first NBC lineup today in New York, six weeks ahead of his competitors. Silverman has promised to "bring sexy back" to the network, and by that, we guess, he means a new calendar year that is 65 weeks long. Silverman is beginning his programming season this summer and extending it all the way to the end of next year. This is how it will work.

NBC PRIMETIME SCHEDULE FOR FALL 2008

*New programs in bold

MONDAY
8-9 p.m. "Chuck"
9-10 p.m. "Heroes"
10-11 p.m. "My Own Worst Enemy"

TUESDAY
8- 9:30 p.m. "The Biggest Loser: Families"
9:30-10 p.m. "Kath & Kim"
10-11 p.m. "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit"

WEDNESDAY
8-9 p.m. "Knight Rider"
9-10 p.m. "Deal or No Deal"
10-11 p.m. "Lipstick Jungle"

THURSDAY
8- 8:30 p.m. "My Name Is Earl"
8:30-9 p.m. "30 Rock"
9- 9:30 p.m. "The Office"
9:30-10 p.m. "The Office"/ "SNL Thursday Night Live"
10-11 p.m. "ER"

FRIDAY
8-9 p.m. "Crusoe"
9-10 p.m. "Deal or No Deal"
10-11 p.m. "Life"

SATURDAY
8-9 p.m. "Dateline NBC"
9-10 p.m. "Knight Rider" (Encores)
10-11 p.m. "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (Encores)

SUNDAY
7- 8:20 p.m. "Football Night in America"
8:20-11 p.m. "NBC Sunday Night Football"

NBC PRIMETIME SCHEDULE FOR WINTER 2008-09

*New programs in bold

MONDAY
8- 9 p.m. "Chuck"
9-10 p.m. "Heroes"
10-11 p.m. "The Philanthropist"

TUESDAY
8- 9:30 p.m. "The Biggest Loser: Couples"
9:30-10 p.m. "Kath & Kim"
10-11 p.m. "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit"

WEDNESDAY
8-9 p.m. "Knight Rider"
9-10 p.m. "Deal or No Deal"
10-11 p.m. "Law & Order"

THURSDAY
8- 8:30 p.m. "My Name Is Earl"
8:30-9 p.m. "30 Rock"
9- 9:30 p.m. "The Office"
9:30-10 p.m. "The Office" spinoff
10-11 p.m. "ER"/"The Celebrity Apprentice"

FRIDAY
8-9 p.m. "Deal or No Deal"
9-10 p.m. "Friday Night Lights"
10-11 p.m. "Life"

SATURDAY
8-9 p.m. "Dateline NBC"
9-10 p.m. "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (Encores)
10-11 p.m. "Law & Order" (Encores)

SUNDAY
7-8 p.m. Specials/"Dateline NBC"
8-9 p.m. Specials/"Merlin"
9-10 p.m. Specials/"Medium"
10-11 p.m. Specials/"Kings"

NBC PRIMETIME SCHEDULE FOR SUMMER 2009

*New programs in bold

MONDAY
8-9 p.m. "American Gladiators"
9-10 p.m. "America's Toughest Jobs"
10-11 p.m. "Dateline NBC"

TUESDAY
8-9 p.m. "Most Outrageous Moments"
9-10 p.m. "America's Got Talent"
10-11 p.m. "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (Encores)

WEDNESDAY
8-9 p.m. "Shark Taggers"
9-10 p.m. "America's Got Talent" (Results Show)
10-11 p.m. "Law & Order" (Encores)

THURSDAY
8- 8:30 p.m. "The Office" (Encores)
8:30- 9 p.m. "The Office" spinoff (Encores)
9-10 p.m. "Last Comic Standing"
10-11 p.m. "The Listener"

FRIDAY
8-9 p.m. "Chopping Block"
9-11 p.m. "Dateline NBC"

SATURDAY
8-9 p.m. Drama Encores
9-10 p.m. Drama Encores
10-11 p.m. Drama Encores

SUNDAY
7-8 p.m. "Dateline NBC"
8-9 p.m. "Monk"
9-10 p.m. "Nashville Star"
10-11 p.m. "Kings" (Encores)



2008-09 NEW SERIES DESCRIPTIONS:

NEW DRAMAS

MY OWN WORST ENEMY -- Henry Spivey (Christian Slater, "Bobby") is a middle-class efficiency expert living a humdrum life in the suburbs with a wife, two kids, a dog, and a minivan. Edward Albright is an operative who speaks 13 languages, runs a four-minute mile and is trained to kill with his teeth. Henry and Edward are polar opposites who share only one thing in common: the same body. When the carefully constructed wall between them breaks down, Henry and Edward are thrust into unfamiliar territory where each man is dangerously out of his element. "My Own Worst Enemy" explores the duality of a man who is literally pitted against himself. And it raises the question: Whom can you trust when you can't trust yourself? [ The series is produced by Universal Media Studios. Jason Smilovic ("Kidnapped") is the executive producer; David Semel (director of the "American Dreams," "Heroes" and "Life" pilots) is the director and executive producer.

KNIGHT RIDER -- On the heels of NBC's hit movie, the iconic 1980s television classic comes roaring back to life as an updated drama series showcasing the new customized KITT (Knight Industries Three Thousand) Ford Mustang. As the sequel resumes, KITT is absolutely the coolest car ever created: Its supercomputer capable of hacking almost any system, its weapon systems efficient and its body -- thanks to its creator's work and nanotechnology -- capable of shifting shape and color. It is the ultimate car -- and someone will be willing to do anything to obtain it. "Knight Rider" stars Justin Bruening ("Cold Case"), Deanna Russo ("NCIS"), Sydney Tamiia Poitier ("Veronica Mars") and Bruce Davison ("Breach"). David Bartis ("Heist," "The O.C."), Doug Liman ("Mr. & Mrs. Smith," "The Bourne Identity") and Gary Scott Thompson ("Las Vegas," "The Fast and the Furious") are executive producers, and David Andron serves as supervising producer and writer. Based on characters created by Glen Larson, "Knight Rider" is from Universal Media Studios and Dutch Oven Productions.

CRUSOE -- Based on the classic novel by Daniel Defoe, this is the tale of Robinson Crusoe. A young man leaves his true love to embark on an adventure -- only to end up shipwrecked on a remote tropical island for 28 years, completely detached from the life he once knew. His desire to return to his wife and his strong and unlikely friendship with Friday are the only things that keep him sane. While stranded, Crusoe encounters enemies and braves the elements. Equal parts "MacGyver," "Cast Away" and "Pirates of the Caribbean," this series is an inspirational tale of survival rife with action and comedy. Power Entertainment produces "Crusoe."

KINGS -- "Kings" is an exploration of the timeless David-versus-Goliath struggle. The show is set in a modern metropolis under siege, where the fighting has gone on for too long and cost far too many lives. When David Shepherd (Christopher Egan, "Resident Evil: Extinction"), a brave young soldier, rescues the king's (Golden Globe winner Ian McShane, "Deadwood") son from enemy territory, he sets events in motion that will finally bring peace. David is thrust into the limelight, earning the affections of women -- including the king's daughter. When he's promoted to captain, he becomes the reluctant poster boy for hope. But for David, the line between his allies and enemies will blur as the power players in the kingdom go to great lengths to see him fall. Sebastian Stan ("Gossip Girl") also stars. "Kings" is a production of Universal Media Studios; Michael Green (NBC's "Heroes") is the executive producer. Francis Lawrence ("I Am Legend") is the director and executive producer and Erwin Stoff ("I Am Legend") also is executive producer.

MERLIN -- "Merlin" brings to life a new legend for a modern audience. The hourlong fantasy series is set in the mythic city of Camelot but is inspired by contemporary storytelling. Before Merlin (Colin Morgan, "Doctor Who") and Arthur (Bradley James, "Lewis") became legends, they were ambitious young men looking for adventure, hoping to live up to their family's expectations, discovering love and finding their destiny, and making mistakes along the way. Anthony Head ("Buffy the Vampire Slayer"), Richard Wilson ("A Passage to India"), Angel Coulby ("Magicians") and Katie McGrath ("The Tudors") also star. A FremantleMedia Enterprises distribution of a Shine production for BBC.

THE PHILANTHROPIST -- This one-hour drama is about a rebel with a cause. Teddy Rist loves women, money and power. After the death of his only child, Teddy has an awakening and becomes the world's first vigilante philanthropist -- a renegade billionaire who uses his wealth, connections and power to help people in need. He'll do anything to achieve his goals -- bargain with the self-righteous, trade with the nefarious and even tell the truth. Instead of spending $25,000 a plate at a fundraiser, he's dodging bullets in third-world countries to hand-deliver a vaccine. It's a global adventure that will take viewers to the ends of the Earth and will inspire them as well. "The Philanthropist" is produced by Universal Media Studios, Original Media and the Levinson/Fontana Co. Tom Fontana and Barry Levinson ("Homicide: Life on the Street") and Charlie Corwin ("L.A. Ink") are the executive producers; Jim Juvonen is a co-executive producer.

THE LISTENER -- In this one-hour drama, Toby Logan (Craig Olejnik, "The Runaway") is a 24-year-old paramedic lwho can read people's minds, and he struggles to solve crimes with his gift. It balances high-stakes drama with irreverent humor and sends Toby on an intellectual and emotional adventure. Ennis Esmer ("The Path to 9/11") also stars. "The Listener" is a production of Program Partners and Shaftesbury Films. The executive producers are Christina Jennings, Scott Garvie, Michael Amo, Russ Cochrane, Glen Davis and Bill Laurin.

NEW COMEDIES

THE OFFICE SPINOFF -- From Greg Daniels, the executive producer of the Emmy Award-winning American version of NBC's "The Office." New faces and new locations, but with the same sense of humor from Daniels and his creative team.

KATH & KIM -- They're the most dysfunctional duo in suburbia. Kath Day (Molly Shannon, NBC's "Saturday Night Live") is the mom, a foxy, 40-something divorcée who finally has time for herself and her search for love. Kim Day (Selma Blair, "Hellboy," "Hellboy II") is the daughter, a princess recently separated from her husband who finds consolation in food. When Kim decides to move back home, Kath reluctantly agrees -- but Kath is not about to cater to her whims anymore. Based on an Australian comedy. The series is produced by Universal Media Studios and Reveille. The executive producer/writer is Michelle Nader ("The King of Queens") and the executive producer/director is Paul Feig ("Freaks and Geeks," "The Office"). Gina Riley, Jane Turner and Rick McKenna also are executive producers.

SNL THURSDAY NIGHT LIVE -- "SNL" expands its "Weekend Update" coverage to Thursdays in prime-time for three live half-hour shows beginning Oct. 16. The program is a production of Broadway Video in association with SNL Studios. Lorne Michaels is the executive producer.

NEW ALTERNATIVE

CHOPPING BLOCK -- It's not just about the meal, it's about the business of food. From the producers of "Hell's Kitchen," chef Marco Pierre White comes to America to host a food fight: a reality competition set in the high-drama, high-stakes world of New York City restaurants. The teams, which are made up of couples, will be tested in challenges that will include having less than a week to design and revamp a restaurant space, planning a menu and creating a signature dish. The winning couple will get a chance to open their own restaurant in Manhattan. The series is produced by Granada America.

AMERICA'S TOUGHEST JOBS - From creator/executive producer Thom Beers ("Deadliest Catch," "Ice Road Truckers") and executive producers Gail Berman and Lloyd Braun, "America's Toughest Jobs" is an extreme competition series that will test 12 people who venture out of their careers and into some of the most challenging jobs on Earth, such as logging in the Oregon forest and oil drilling in Texas, and they'll have to live up to pro standards. In the end, their new boss and co-workers will determine success or failure, and those who don't make the grade get sent home. The annual salary of each job will be thrown into the pot to be given to the winning rookie. Created by executive producer Beers and produced by Original Productions and BermanBraun.

SHARK TAGGERS -- From creator/executive producer Thom Beers ("Deadliest Catch," "Ice Road Truckers") and executive producers Gail Berman and Lloyd Braun, "Shark Taggers" is a one-hour reality series that follows marine biologists as they track down the ocean's top predators and hand-tag them with satellite transmitters or investigate bull sharks' attacks on surfers. The series is produced by Original Productions and BermanBraun.

MOST OUTRAGEOUS MOMENTS -- This half-hour show offers outtakes from some of NBC's most popular shows, as well as from home videos, newscasts, game shows and commercials from around the globe. Produced by Universal Media Studios and Scott Satin Productions. Scott Satin ("Who Wants to Be a Superhero?") serves as executive producer.

NEW EVENTS/MINISERIES/MOVIES

THE LAST TEMPLAR -- In this four-hour miniseries, Oscar winner Mira Sorvino ("Mighty Aphrodite") stars in an action-adventure tale. At the New york Metropolitan Museum, four horsemen dressed as 12th century knights storm the gala opening of an exhibition of Vatican treasures and steal an arcane medieval decoder. For archaeologist Tess Chaykin (Sorvino) and FBI agent Sean Daly (Scott Foley, "The Unit"), this is the start of a game of cat and mouse as they race across three continents in search of the enemy -- and the lost secret of the Knights Templar. The miniseries is produced by MUSE Entertainment Enterprises. Victor Garber ("Alias") and Omar Sharif ("Doctor Zhivago") also star. Robert Halmi Sr. ("Tin Man," "Gulliver's Travels"), Robert Halmi Jr. ("The Poseidon Adventure," "The Christmas Card") and Michael Prupas ("Human Trafficking") are executive producers.

XIII -- The thriller miniseries stars Val Kilmer ("The Doors") and Stephen Dorff ("World Trade Center"). It begins as the first female U.S. president is killed by a sniper during her Veteran's Day speech. Three months later, a wounded man is found tattered in a forest with no memory of his identity. The only clue is a tattoo on his neck, "XIII." Submerged in a far-reaching conspiracy, which threatens to overthrow the government, XIII's identity becomes the key to unraveling a secret. "XIII" is produced by Prodigy Pictures and Cipango.

-- Maria Elena Fernandez

[Ksyrup]

Watching the Dodgers game last night, who should pop up but Christian Slater? This guy is the king of crashing sports events. He ruined a Monday Night Football broadcast, and now that he's on NBC, I assume he'll make an unwanted appearance on a Sunday Night Football game, as well. Terrific.

Oh, and "America's Toughest Jobs"? I hope Mike Rowe personally sticks a sandblaster up Silverman's ass.

[Raiders Army]

I'll be watching Knight Rider. It wasn't too bad.

[wade moore]

Wow - these new shows look awful.

Merlin is the only one that by description interests me in the least.

[kurtism]

Wait, NBC tapped Christian Slater to play someone with a dual personality? I wonder if both are Jack Nicholson impersonators...

[wade moore]

Originally Posted by kurtism

Wait, NBC tapped Christian Slater to play someone with a dual personality? I wonder if both are Jack Nicholson impersonators...

Congratulations, you win the thread!

[Swaggs]

Crusoe sounds like it could be interesting if done well.

It shows how bad off the network is when they decide to expand SNL during one of its worst periods ever. I'm guessing they'll do some Weekend Update-type of thing for election news.

Also, not too excited to see a spin-off of the Office. It is one of my favorite two shows on TV right now, but it doesn't need a spin-off.

[Thomkal]

I cannot believe Knight Rider made it to the schedule. That movie was just awful. And no Journeyman. *sigh*

[dervack]

I'm used to seeing movies based on games, but not TV shows. Interesting.

[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by Thomkal

I cannot believe Knight Rider made it to the schedule. That movie was just awful.

That "awful" movie was also one of the most watched shows on television that week, just behind Lost and just ahead of Survivor in the all important 18-49's.

Even if the series settles in at half the viewers the movie pulled it'll be a bonafide hit for NBC. And the signs were pretty good, as the ratings didn't show sampling (tuned in & then tuned out), instead it held 100% of it's rating in the final hour, meaning that those who checked it out liked it well enough to stay to the end.

[Thomkal]

Originally Posted by JonInMiddleGA

That "awful" movie was also one of the most watched shows on television that week, just behind Lost and just ahead of Survivor in the all important 18-49's.

Even if the series settles in at half the viewers the movie pulled it'll be a bonafide hit for NBC. And the signs were pretty good, as the ratings didn't show sampling (tuned in & then tuned out), instead it held 100% of it's rating in the final hour, meaning that those who checked it out liked it well enough to stay to the end.

I'll refer back to this thread when Knight Rider the series is cancelled five shows into the season

[JonInMiddleGA]

Originally Posted by Thomkal

I'll refer back to this thread when Knight Rider the series is cancelled five shows into the season

Not likely ... this is NBC we're talking about, it's not like they have anything better waiting in the wings

[Thomkal]

Sorry if this has been posted elsewhere already.

So I've been watching various ABC shows and right before they came back to the show, they would show a 2 or 3 second frame of the title screen from my favorite reality game show, The Mole. I thought it was a bit odd since the Mole hasn't been on in like 5 years or so. Thought it was some weird glitch with the local station. Then I saw it again, and then last night a new one, a 2 or 3 second frame saying the Mole is here or the Mole is back. So I went looking and found...

http://www.variety.com/article/VR111...goryid=14&cs=1

Woohoo! Love this show and never thought it would come back. Too bad Anderson Cooper won't be the host again. Don't know anything about the new host. ABC has not made an official announcement yet from what I can see, but they do have a page up on their site saying its coming this summer.

http://abc.go.com/specials/themole/index

The Mole fans rejoice! I read elsewhere that the producers say they haven't "dumbed it down", but made it easier for the people at home to participate, and the elimination quiz the contestants take at the end of each round will be shorter. Worries me a bit, but just glad to have the show back on the air.

[Mizzou B-ball fan]

Loved The Mole, though I could have done without the Ahmad Rashad Celebrity version of it. Hopefully they take it back to a bunch of regular people and stick to the premise of the first few seasons that Anderson Cooper hosted.

[DaddyTorgo]

maybe my standards have gone down, but some of these sound pretty decent

[Thomkal]

Originally Posted by Mizzou B-ball fan

Loved The Mole, though I could have done without the Ahmad Rashad Celebrity version of it. Hopefully they take it back to a bunch of regular people and stick to the premise of the first few seasons that Anderson Cooper hosted.

Good news Mizzou, it is going back to that premise with regular people instead of celebrities.

[rjolley]

I enjoyed the original version of the Mole and hated the celebrity version. I'll be following along to see how well it does.

Does anyone remember Murder in Small Town X? I'm surprised they haven't brought that one back yet.

[Thomkal]

Originally Posted by rjolley

I enjoyed the original version of the Mole and hated the celebrity version. I'll be following along to see how well it does.

Does anyone remember Murder in Small Town X? I'm surprised they haven't brought that one back yet.

I liked that one, but I think it didn't come back for another season at the time because the winner was killed on 9/11. Enough time has passed that it be good for a second run.

[TazFTW]

The Mole (non-celeb version) was my favorite reality show. I even own season 1 on DVD.

[rjolley]

Woah, didn't know that.

[Ksyrup]

For CBS, the tried
and true, tried again

The network rolls out five new shows for the fall

By Toni Fitzgerald
May 14, 2008


CBS has suffered the deepest declines of any of the Big Four this season, and the longtime No. 1 network in households is in danger of finishing second for the first time since 2002.

But despite media buyers’ concerns about its aging shows and lack of a recent breakout new hit, CBS’s new show development looks very much in line with the mass-appeal, old-skewing shows that currently dominate its schedule.

The biggest change is where those shows will go. Unlike ABC, which left its fall schedule largely unchanged from last year, CBS will have new programs on every weeknight and will tweak its Sunday lineup as well.

The network has ordered five new shows—three dramas and two comedies--for the 2008-’09 season, three of them adaptations of already-proven foreign series.

The shows sound a lot like what is already airing on CBS. One of the comedies, Jay Mohr’s “Project Gary,” is another broad family sitcom, this one about a divorced dad.

Two of the new dramas have an investigative theme. “The Mentalist” is about a former psychic who helps the California Bureau of Investigation solve crimes. Though seemingly more character-driven than the network’s current forensic dramas, it will join more than a half-dozen other crime-focused dramas on the network. The second drama, Jerry Bruckheimer’s thriller “Eleventh Hour,” is about a scientific investigator for the government.

“Worst Week,” about the disastrous run-up to a young couple’s wedding, marks the third straight season in which CBS has picked up a new comedy focused on young people (following “The Class” and “The Big Bang Theory”). “Hour” and “Week” are both based on British shows.

The final new show, “The Ex List” starring “Grey’s Anatomy’s” Elizabeth Reaser, is the only one to blend comedy and drama. It is an adaptation of an Israeli program about a woman who is told by a tarot card reader that she has already dated the man she will marry, and she needs to reconnect with that man soon.

Meanwhile, CBS canceled “Moonlight” and “Shark” but picked up “The New Adventures of Old Christine,” “Rules of Engagement” and “The Unit,” all bubble shows, as well as "How I Met Your Mother," which has seen a recent ratings surge.

“Week” will air on Mondays, in the plum post-“Two and a Half Men” slot at 9:30 p.m., followed by “CSI: Miami.” “The Big Bang Theory” and “Mother” will continue to lead off the night.

“Mentalist” will be slotted after “NCIS” at 9 p.m. on Tuesdays, leading into “Without a Trace” at 10 p.m. It’s “Trace’s” fourth timeslot switch in three years, but perhaps the smartest scheduling move made by CBS, which has struggled to launch a new show in the timeslot the past three years.

Wednesday will house the network’s second comedy block, with “Christine” leading into 8:30’s “Gary.” The next two hours will be the same as the past three years, “Criminal Minds” followed by “CSI: NY.”
On Thursdays “Survivor” and “CSI” stay put at 8 and 9 p.m., followed by “Hour,” which shares a producer (Bruckheimer) with “CSI.”

“Ghost Whisperer” will continue to lead off Friday, followed by “List” and “Numb3rs.” Saturdays will be crime drama repeats at 8 and 9, with “48 Hours Mystery” at 10.

Sundays will also see a change, though no new shows. “60 Minutes,” “The Amazing Race” and “Cold Case” retain their timeslots, but “Unit” takes over “Shark’s” 10 p.m. slot.

Many of CBS’s scheduling changes were prompted by an often frustrating season for the network.

All of its signature “CSI” programs fell to series lows, and the highly touted new Jimmy Smits drama “Cane” tanked. Reality program “Kid Nation” drew controversy before it even premiered for its treatment of children, while the “Survivor” franchise stumbled to its lowest-rated finale in 16 seasons.

The network, which usually has the most steady schedule of the Big Four, had fewer original programs slated for midseason than any other network, and its ratings tumbled when the writers’ strike forced its scripted shows into reruns.

Earlier this year, CBS head Les Moonves predicted that his network would slide to No. 2 in households behind Fox this season. Though the latter did take the lead during the strike, CBS has since regained a slight advantage, with a 6.7 Nielsen household rating season-to-date compared with Fox’s 6.6. Still, next week’s two-hour “American Idol” finale could push Fox back ahead when the season ends on May 21.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


MONDAY

8 p.m.
8:30 p.m.
9 p.m.
9:30 p.m.
10 p.m.

The Big Bang Theory ©
How I Met Your Mother ®
Two and a Half Men ©
Worst Week©
CSI: Miami (D)

TUESDAY

8 p.m.
9 p.m.
10 p.m.

NCIS (D)
The Mentalist (D)
Without a Trace (D)


WEDNESDAY

8 p.m.
8:30 p.m.
9 p.m.
10 p.m.

The New Adventures of Old Christine ©
Project Gary (D)
Criminal Minds (D)
CSI: NY (D)

THURSDAY

8 p.m.
9 p.m.
10 p.m.

Survivor ®
CSI (D)
Eleventh Hour (D)


FRIDAY

8 p.m.
9 p.m.
10 p.m.

Ghost Whisperer (D)
The Ex List (D)
Numb3rs (D)


SATURDAY

8 p.m.
9 p.m.
10 p.m.

Crimetime dramas (D)
Crimetime dramas (D)
48 Hours Mystery (N)


SUNDAY

7 p.m.
8 p.m.
9 p.m.
10 p.m.

60 Minutes (N)
The Amazing Race ®
Cold Case (D)
The Unit (D)

C = comedy, D = drama, M = movie, N = Newsmagazine, R = reality; S = sports.

Source: CBS

[Ksyrup]

www.latimes.com
NEW YORK -- As expected, ABC President of Entertainment Steve McPherson announced a fall schedule Tuesday that will look a lot like it did last September.

With only two shows to launch in the fall, "Life on Mars" and "Opportunity Knocks," the network will spend more of its promotional budget on relaunching its returning shows and wait until midseason to pick up more new shows. ABC has 17 pilots in contention for midseason slots, the time of year when the network's strong fall performance weakens, in part, because of Fox's "American Idol."

"For us, midseason sets up as a time when we have a lot of opportunity, and those pilots will be ready and can go through the full process without cutting corners," McPherson said during a press conference at ABC headquarters. "We don't really feel comfortable picking stuff up until it's been fully developed and piloted and tested."

"Opportunity Knocks" is a game show produced by Ashton Kutcher's Katalyst Films and will air at 8 p.m. Tuesdays before "Dancing With the Stars."

"This show is basically an amazing game show where we go to different neighborhoods around America and knock on people's doors and bring the game show directly to their front lawn," McPherson said. "It kind of combines 'Extreme Makeover: Home Edition' with 'Who Wants to Be a Millionaire.' "

"Life on Mars" is a remake of the popular BBC series about a detective who finds himself in 1972 after he's run over by a car. Jason O'Mara will play the lead character, Sam Tyler, who, for instance, knows things about DNA even though his '70s-era colleagues don't. It will air at 10 p.m. Thursdays.

David E. Kelley created and produced the pilot, but he gave up his rights to the format as part of his negotiation to keep "Boston Legal" on the air a little longer. Josh Applebaum, Andre Nemec and Scott Rosenberg ("October Road") will take over the production of "Life on Mars," which will have a different mythology at its core than the original version.

The final 13 episodes of "Boston Legal" will air at 10 p.m. Mondays with its two-hour finale slated for December. There will be a writing staff, but Kelley will pen most of the episodes.

McPherson also confirmed that ABC has picked up "Scrubs," which NBC canceled after what was supposed to be its seventh and final season. The single-camera comedy, produced by ABC Studios, would have ended its run this month, but NBC chose not to produce the final episodes.

Now it will air in midseason at 9 p.m. Tuesdays. The run could extend to future seasons if it performs well, McPherson said. "It helps us as we're expanding our comedy franchise," McPherson said.

The network also picked up the animated comedy "The Goode Family" and a Kutcher-Tyra Banks untitled reality co-production, a "beauty pageant you've never seen before," McPherson said.