Once again, CBS will be going into the "upfronts" in May with the least number of wholes to fix in their schedule. CBS is in the envious position of not having any real flops on their schedule right now (a few of their low rated series would be minor hits on any of the other networks). With the standard set high for CBS, any show that finishes in the middle of the ratings pack is in danger of cancellation.

The following shows are sure fire renewals for 2009-2010:
- The Big Bang Theory
- How I Met Your Mother
- Two and a Half Men
- CSI: Miami
- NCIS
- The Mentalist
- Criminal Minds
- CSI: New York
- Survivor
- CSI
- Ghost Whisperer
- 60 Minutes
- Cold Case

The following have a better than 50% of renewal for 2009-2010:
- Without a Trace
- The New Adventures of Old Christine
- Numbers
- 48 Hours

The following are on the "bubble" with less than 50% chance of returning (though may pull out a renewal for 13-episodes next season, or be held back for mid-season):
- The Unit
- The Amazing Race
- Flashpoint

I feel the following will not be asked back at all next season:
- Worst Week
- Gary Unmarried
- The Eleventh Hour
- Rules of Engagement (yet to air this season, but needs to do considerably better than Worst Week to get a fourth season renewal).

So,if you take the shows with a better than 50% chance for returing (see above), plus The Amazing Race (which I actually see returning next season), and taking Saturdays out of the equation, CBS has only three hours it needs to shore-up for fall 2009.

"Christine" is down this season, since being set off to Wednesdays, but this show proves it can pull decent numbers on Mondays.

Next Season I would like to see:

Mondays
800 - New Sitcom
830 - The New Adventures of Old Christine
900 - Two and a Half Men
930 - New Sitcom
1000- CSI: Miami

Tuesdays:
800 - NCIS
900 - New Drama
1000 - The Mentalist

Wednesdays:
800 - Survivor
900 - Criminal Minds
1000 - CSI: New York

Thursdays:
800 - The Amazing Race
900 - CSI
1000 - New Drama

Fridays:
800 - Ghost Whisperer
900 - New Drama
1000 - Numbers

Saturdays:
800 - CrimeTime
900 - CrimeTime
1000 - 48 Hours

Sundays:
700 - 60 Minutes
800 - The Big Bang Theory
830 - How I Met Your Mother
900 - New Drama
1000 - Cold Case

Held for Mid Season:
- Without a Trace
- Flashpoint
- Password (in either Survivor's or Amazing Race's s slots when they are on hiatus at mid-season)

This makes for three new dramas and two new comdeies.

Hey Piney!!!!!

Welcome back!!!

Considering how things are stacking up so far, this is what I'd like to see on CBS next fall:

Mondays
800 - Big Bang Theory
830 - How I Met Your Mother
900 - Two and a Half Men
930 - Rules of Engagement
1000- CSI: Miami

It's time to end the 9:30 carousel and hand the slot over to a true worthy successor of 2.5 Men - RoE. No other show has performed as decently as it, and CBS needs to simply stop yanking it around the schedule and allow it to foster an audience.

Tuesdays:
800 - NCIS
900 - The Mentalist
1000 - Without a Trace

If it ain't broke, don't fix it. Also, with no SVU competition because of NBC's stupid Leno deal, WaT should flex some muscles next season. If it doesn't, they can start billing it as the show's final season and give it a big send-off next May.

Wednesdays:
800 - I Witness (New Drama)
900 - Criminal Minds
1000 - CSI: New York

I Witness is a new drama pilot from Pam Veasey. She currently serves as an EP on CSI:NY, and she was a long-time writer/producer on The District. The show is about a college professor who assists the police in solving crimes. At this point, I would only be interested in the show if CBS were to cast one person as the professor - Tyne Daly. They could then cast a younger guy as her son (Scott Wolfe, Shane West, etc.) to appeal to the demos. If they also gave the show a slight Judging Amy vibe by focusing on some family issues, it would also set it apart from the more typical crime dramas.

Thursdays:
800 - NCIS: Legend (New Drama)
900 - CSI
1000 - Washington Field (New Drama)

The NCIS spinoff is a no-brainer, and this would be the best timeslot for CBS to get the most bang for its buck. It should also help CSI with its recent cast changes by providing it with an extremely compatible lead-in. As for Washington Field, this is one pilot that excites me. It's from the creator of Criminal Minds, and it focuses on a special ops unit fighting terrorism. BTW, think of the sweeps event CBS could do with this schedule. On one night, they could have Legend as a conclusion to a crossover episode with NCIS, a visit by Grissom/Sara on CSI, and WF as a conclusion to a crossover episode with CM.

Fridays:
800 - Ghost Whisperer
900 - Cold Case
1000 - Numbers

If that night doesn't have flow, I don't know what does.

Saturdays:
800 - CrimeTime
900 - CrimeTime
1000 - 48 Hours

Agree, but I would like CBS to develop its own version of Cops to better compete with FOX in the demos. I believe Bruckheimer is working on one.

Sundays:

Fall
700 - 60 Minutes
800 - Survivor/TAR
1000 - Miami Trauma (New Drama)

Spring
700 - 60 Minutes
800 - TAR/Survivor
900 - New Drama
1000 - Miami Trauma

Survivor would definitely help out the night. Not only will it significantly improve the night's demos, but it could provide them some flexibility with football overruns. On nights with the overrun, CBS could air a post-game show, start 60M at 800 with Survivor at 900 and MT at 1000. On nights without an overrun, they could go with two-hour episodes of Survivor followed by MT at 1000. BTW, MT is a pilot by Bruckheimer that focuses on a group of trauma surgeons trying to save lives at a hospital in Miami. Think early ER, Marcus Welby, Medical Center, not House or Grey's. An even added bonus for the show, and CBS, would be if they cast Gregory Harrison in the lead.

Then, immediately after Survivor concludes, they could have a short mid-year edition of TAR, and premiere the second Survivor at the end of February. As for the other new show in the spring, I'm waiting to see what Harper's Island does this April. If it surprisingly hits, they can go with a second installment after Survivor at 900 (HI was always billed as a mystery event and it WILL conclude in July. If they do another installment, they would hire a totally new cast and film it in an entirely different setting. I'd personally love to see them cast Nicolette Sheridan as the lead for that edition so she could kick DH's a$$!!! ). If HI flops, they can go with something else.


Held for Mid Season:
- Flashpoint

New at Mid Season:
- One New Drama, 6-8 episodes
(In addition to whatever CBS puts on Sunday at 900 at midseason)
- Two New Comedies, 6-7 episodes each
(CBS can use them to cut down on Monday repeats in March/April)
- One New Reality Show

Hi Rajin--

I have been lurking around here recently, but don't post that much anymore.

I like Survivor/TAR on Sundays as you suggest. And the NCIS spinoff on Thursdays at 8 (vs Tuesdays at 9 where I would have put it), probably makes more sense, and could be the shot in the arm that Thursdays need.

If "Rules" comes back to the fall lineup, then there is no place for new sitcoms in the fall on your schedule. I really think that CBS would want to trot out at least one sitcom this fall, which would mean they would need to find spots for sitcoms outside of the Monday block. Wednesdays have not worked for sitcoms in eons (I think The Nanny did OK there in the mid-90s, but even they fell when yanked away from Mondays). Either Thursdays or Sundays are the only logical spots left for sitcoms. You failed to include "Christine" in your fall lineup. Do you see that series not coming back, or will they use it for mideseason yet again as they did last season. This series has potential, and one of their few series that brings Emmy nominations each year (and a win a few years back from Julia Louis-Dreyfeus). I would be really shocked if they dumped this show at this point (still needs two more seasons to have a healthy syndication run).

The situation with CBS is that so many shows are doing well and working that some "middling" shows are going to have to get the ax unfortunately.

Also, like your Tyne Daly scenario, one of my all time favorite TV actresses.

Yeah, I now the young-uns could be a little much at times, but thankfully, there's some more mature sane Zapppers like bats, Frannie, babs, Vogs, and even Gd at times.



My problem with CBS is they're trying to force their comedies. They don't have the promotional capabilities of ABC/Disney where they could just launch something new and unique and have them succeed. As a matter of fact, the only reason TBBT & HIMYM are doing so well now is the little Britney stunt after the strike really paid off for them. If it wasn't for that, the shows wouldn't be performing any better than they were last fall. I also don't like how CBS seems gung-ho on these damn single-cam comedies like Worst Week (several of their comedies in development are similar ) instead of sticking with the good old multi-cam laugh track comedies that work best for them. That's why I'd like for them to keep RoE on the schedule next fall and keep the same line-up intact for the first time in years. I really like RoE as there were times when the shows returned from the strike that I thought it was the funniest comedy of the night, and if CBS were to really give it a shot, it could be a long-term performer for them. What they need to do is just order a couple of midseason comedies and show them instead of repeats of HIMYM and RoE in March & April. If they work and develop an audience, CBS can then try to develop another hour of comedies on Sundays in the Fall 2010. This would also give them time to produce the best possible episodes. Some of CBS' past comedies like The Class, Out of Practice, and Courting Alex actually got much better in later episodes, but unfortunately, we're in an age in TV where first impressions count the most and viewers just bailed and didn't stick around to see them improve. By saving these shows until midseason, CBS could put its best foot forward.

As for Christine, it's had its shot. The ratings on Wednesday are horrid, and when a repeat aired after 2.5 Men this week, those numbers weren't great either. What WB should do is cut a deal with CBS and move the show over to The CW, which needs all of the viewers it can get. If that doesn't work, WB can produce the necessary episodes to get the series in syndication and air it on TBS with that cable net's comedy line-up.



I thought you'd like that one!

Oh, and did you get my little Gregory Harrison casting??


Trapper John - CBS' last successful medical show!

It was a moderate performer and a critical darling, but TJ was the last Top 10 medical show for CBS. CH's biggest problem was that it debuted the same year as ER, and it could never move out of that show's shadow.

Monday
8 The Big Bang Theory/How I Met Your Mother
9 Two and a Half Men/Waiting to Die(NEW)
10 CSI: Miami

Tuesday
8 NCIS
9 The Mentalist
10 Without a Trace

Wednesday
8 Cold Case
9 Criminal Minds
10 CSI: NY

Thursday
8 Survivor
9 CSI
10 Miami Trauma(NEW)

Friday
8 Ghost Whisperer
9 I Witness(NEW)
10 Numb3rs

Saturday
8 CrimeTime
9 CrimeTime
10 48 Hours Mystery

Sundays
7 60 Minutes
8 The Amazing Race
9 NCIS: Legend(NEW)
10 Washington Field(NEW)

Midseason:
Rules of Engagement
Flashpoint
Back(NEW)
The Big D(NEW)
The Bridge(NEW) if its not aired or does well in the summer.

Pine!!!!!

Good to hear from you...since you've been lurking I'm sure you've seen where Ragin and I "disagree" (he just won't admit I'm right)

As for the schedule, with 2.5 Men getting a 3 year renewal I believe the best thing to do is keep that 9:30 slot rotating until you find a successor. Rules does good but CBS needs something better (and after 3 years Rules will be pretty old as well).

Monday
BBT
HIMYM
2.5 Men
New Comedy (The Karensky's)
CSI:MIAMI

Tuesday
NCIS
The Mentalist
WAT

*I agree with Ragin, if it ain't broke why fix it

Wednesday
Gary Unmarried
Rules of Engagement
Criminal Minds
CSI:NY

*It's obvious that CBS is planning to keep this hour of comedy, I think though that Christine is the issue and not Gary. These male-centered comedies should do better with the Criminal Minds lead-out

Thursday
Survivor
CSI
Miami Truama

Friday
Ghost Whisperer
Cold Case
Numb3rs

Saturday
Comedy Repeats
Drama Repeats
48 Hours Mystery

Sunday
60 Minutes
The Amazing Race
NCIS: Legends
Washington Fields

*I'm iffy with Sunday due to football but honestly I don't know what elst to do