Upfrontsgasm: CBS - 
by
By Umnata
As I continue my coverage from way beyond the sidelines, I take on the CBS schedule, which was revealed last week at the annual "upfronts", the first presentation of the networks fall schedules to advertisers. Here's what CBS has got going on in 2006-2007.
As much TV as I watch, and umm, it’s a lot, I don’t really get into much of the CBS lineup. Over the past few years CBS has dyed some of its grey hair and with the help of CSI and reality-hits like The Amazing Race and Survivor, has started to reach a younger, more lucrative, demographic. With so many shows performing well, they aren’t looking to make all that many changes to their schedule, only premiering 3 new dramas and 1 comedy at the start of the regular season. The fact that CBS is only putting one true procedural on the air (at least it’s a law show, and not another CSI – damn you William Peterson and your exemplary crime scene investigation skills!) is proof that the risks they are taking are existent, yet measured. Kind of like when a senior citizen changes their Metamucil flavor.
Since only four new shows are premiering, a lot of last year’s schedule remains intact: CBS wisely put Yes, Dear and Still Standing out of their (our) misery (although be careful, we’ve thought these shows had been gone before, and they’ve come back from the grave to haunt us at mid-season); Both Out of Practice and the mid-season Courting Alex were dumped once they moved out of the cushy post-Two and a Half-Menand 300 Hollywood Hookers timeslot and bombed on Wednesday nights. The only quality shows that didn’t make it were the underperforming Sci-Fi Threshold (someone please make Carla Gugino a star already) and the too-little too-late fan favorite, Love Monkey. And don’t worry, all you Kevin James/Stacey Carosi fans out there: The King of Queens will be back at midseason after a last minute deal was made with the stars that I’m assuming gave Kevin James more money and time off for his movie career, and, one can only imagine, the sacrifice of a holy virgin to appease the Scientology Gods for Leah Remini. Let’s see what else is in store for us next season on the least cool network on television.
Sunday
DAMN YOU ANDERSON COOPER STOP STARING THROUGH MY SOUL
I don’t know how long it’s been on, but at 7:00 pm will be yet another season of 60 Minutes. Seems like pretty standard stuff, but there’s actually a mini-shake up with the retirement of Mike Wallace and the hiring of news’ very own silver fox (no, not Taylor Hicks), Anderson Cooper, for a few segments over the course of the season. The Amazing Race (which with House over at FOX is my most regrettable wish-I-watch-it show on television) is in its third time slot in as many years, anchoring the night at 8:00 pm. Cold Case sticks around at 9:00 pm and will continue to be Television’s least buzzed about hit show. In one of it’s boldest schedule moves, CBS moves the second highest rated drama on television, Without a Trace to Sundays at 10:00 pm, which might be a pretty smart move with the relocation of Grey’s Anatomy to Thursdays on ABC. Without a Trace has really hit its stride this year, and it's fun to watch because all of the FBI agents are just oh so pretty. Well, except for the unfortunate Marianne Jean-Baptiste whom no amount of new hairstyles and makeup can fix. As a matter of fact, half the pleasure of the show happens whenever there is an interrogation. You can tell the person on the other side of the table thinks they have been arrested by two “FBI Agents” for excessive naughtiness and are going to be treated to a striptease and a spanking. Honestly, what federal agents look like Poppy Montgomery?! Or maybe that’s just what I’m thinking about while watching…
Monday
COOLEST CAST ON TELEVISION? TRUST ME I DIDN’T SEE IT COMING EITHER.
Moving to 8:00 pm is my biggest surprise from last year, How I Met Your Mother. As I mentioned in my FOX recap, I’m contractually bound by Joss Whedon to watch anything involving a Buffy/Angel cast member, in this case the Sapphic Sorceress herself, Willow Rosenberg, a.k.a. Alyson Hannigan. What I was not expecting was to fall so hard and so quickly in DVR–season pass–level adoration with this show. If you haven’t checked it out yet, it’s definitely worth a look. It can get a little too romantic comedy-ish (says the guy who just wrote the word adoration), but it more than makes up for it in the laughs department. Neil Patrick Harris erases all memories of Doogie Howser and channels the Neil Patrick Harris many of us fell in love with not in Clara’s Heart, but rather in Harold & Kumar Go To White Castle. AND to top off its cool quotient (even though it’s on the CBS), Nick/Eric from Freaks and Geeks/Undeclared is in it! What more do you need? After a great season finale (Marshall and Lily- NOOO Ted & Robyn YAY), if any show is poised to break out in its sophomore season, I’ve got to think this is the one.
| 1 | 2 | 3 Next Page... ( Comments ) | Discuss In Our Forums