CBS' Fall Guys: Charlie, Doogie, Fonzie

Wed., May. 18, 2005 10:30 AM PDT by Kimberly Potts

Who ever would have guessed that you might one day read this sentence: Charlie Sheen and Pam Anderson are the king and queen of TV comedy.

But with CBS announcing Wednesday at its annual upfront presentation in New York that Sheen's Two and a Half Men sitcom will move into the prized Monday night time slot vacated by the just retired Everybody Loves Raymond, and Fox's pre-upfront surprise renewal of Anderson's Stacked, the two Hollywood tabloid faves are among the highest profile comedy stars on the tube.

Two and a Half Men, in fact, was the only comedy other than Raymond to rank among Nielsen's top 20 shows this season, which means it will return next fall as the most watched sitcom on TV.

As for CBS' other big plans, the number one network--in viewers and the prized 18-49 demographic--will add six new shows to its schedule, including yet another Jerry Bruckheimer drama and, in a move designed to show that the network most identified with older viewers is actually trying to keep up with the youngsters, a pair of sci-fi/paranormal-themed dramas (i.e., Everybody Loves Lost).

Both stars of defunct ABC comedy Dharma & Greg, plus several cast members of the WB's Felicity, also pop up in new CBS series.

The net also confirmed that the 11th season of reality adventure Survivor, this time set in Guatemala, will continue in its Thursday at 8 p.m. slot, which means there is likely to be at least one ratings casualty in that spot next season. Earlier this week, the WB announced it would move teen Superman drama Smallville to Thursdays at 8, while ABC is also moving spy drama Alias to that space. Currently, Fox airs one of its biggest series, teen drama The O.C. at that same time. (Memo to Fox execs, who announce their official 2005-06 lineup on Thursday: schedule Cops reruns Thursday at 8. Trust us.) NBC, which announced Tuesday, has Joey in the slot.

Missing from the Eye's stable, meanwhile, are on-the-bubble dramas Judging Amy and Joan of Arcadia, the once popular series that lost viewers and buzz this season when it strayed from its original focus, as well as JAG, which aired its series finale earlier this month. And in a move that surprised some insiders, CBS also canceled its Wednesday edition of 60 Minutes, which had been steeped in controversy since the show aired Dan Rather's infamous report on President Bush's military record.

"This was a ratings call, not a content call," CBS Chairman Leslie Moonves said Wednesday. He added that Rather will be contributing stories to the Sunday episodes of 60 Minutes.

A rundown of CBS's new series:

Close to Home: Producer Jerry Bruckheimer's (CSI) latest CBS drama stars Jennifer Finnigan (Committed) as a new mom and prosecutor who is assigned to cases that take place in her own community. Kimberly Elise (Diary of a Mad Black Woman) costars.
Criminal Minds: A drama about an elite squad of FBI profilers assigned to especially twisted crimes; Mandy Patinkin (Chicago Hope), Dharma & Greg's Thomas Gibson and Daytime Emmy winner Shemar Moore (The Young and the Restless) star.
Ghost Whisperer: Jennifer Love Hewitt stars as a psychic who helps the dead communicate with their survivors, based on the works of James Van Praagh. Former E! Talk Soup host Aisha Tyler costars.
How I Met Your Mother: This romantic comedy that unfolds via flashbacks stars Jason Segel (Freaks and Geeks), Alyson Hannigan (Buffy the Vampire Slayer), Neil Patrick Harris (Doogie Howser, M.D.) and Josh Radnor (Not Another Teen Movie), with Wonder Years-ish voiceovers by Bob Saget (Full House).
Out of Practice: Kelsey Grammer directed the pilot episode of this comedy pilot about a dysfunctional family of doctors. Henry "The Fonz" Winkler, Stockard Channing (The West Wing) and Christopher Gorham (Felicity) star.
Threshold: Star Trek: Enterprise producer Brannon Braga is at the helm of this drama about a team of Navy investigators assembled to investigate an alien spacecraft that's discovered in the Atlantic Ocean. Carla Gugino (Spy Kids), Charles S. Dutton (Roc), Brent Spiner (Star Trek: The Next Generation) and Robert Patrick Benedict (Felicity) costar.
Everything I Know About Men (midseason): Dharma & Greg alumna Jenna Elfman stars as a woman trying to understand men and find love. Dabney Coleman plays her father, and Emmy winner James Burrows directed the pilot.
The Unit (midseason): From writer David Mamet and The Shield producer Shawn Ryan, the drama follows the actions of a team of military special-ops agents, and stars 24's Dennis Haysbert, Felicity's Scott Foley and The X-Files' Robert Patrick.
The following is a night-by-night look at the network's fall schedule:

MONDAY: The King of Queens; How I Met Your Mother; Two and a Half Men; Out of Practice; CSI: Miami

TUESDAY: NCIS; The Amazing Race; Close to Home

WEDNESDAY: Still Standing; Yes, Dear; Criminal Minds; CSI: New York

THURSDAY: Survivor: Guatemala; CSI; Without a Trace

FRIDAY: Ghost Whisperer; Threshold; Num3ers

SATURDAY: Crimetime Saturday; 48 Hours Mystery

SUNDAY: 60 Minutes; Cold Case; CBS Sunday Movie