CBS Plots Fall Crimewave
CBS is awash in criminal activity, as usual.
The network announced Thursday its first 11 renewals for the 2008-2009 television season, among them the reliable CSI trio and five other procedurals that presumably will continue to keep viewers happy and Nielsen's top 10 stuffed.
Also given a new lease on life were the sitcoms Two and a Half Men and The Big Bang Theory, the latter the only freshman series to get the go-ahead from CBS so far this year.
But the reigning most-watched network--during normal, non-strike-afflicted times--knows what butters its bread.
In addition to CSI, CSI: Miami and CSI: NY, which before the writers walked out Nov. 5 accounted for 51.2 million pairs of eyeballs each week, CBS reupped Cold Case, Criminal Minds, NCIS, Numb3rs and Without a Trace.
Ghost Whisper, which certainly follows a formula if not exactly a procedure, will also be getting a fourth season.
The sitcoms still on the bubble are How I Met Your Mother, a fan favorite but never a ratings winner; The New Adventures of Old Christine, which won Julia Louis-Dreyfus an Emmy but hasn't particularly caught on with viewers; and "that show with David Spade and Puddy from Seinfeld," The Rules of Engagement.
Meanwhile, no word yet on the vampire-themed Moonlight, which returns Apr. 11 with four new episodes but could still end up facing a stake through the heart; Cane, which was not mentioned when CBS announced spring premiere dates for series shut down by the strike; and Jericho, whose nut-fueled return Tuesday attracted about 7.2 million people—lower than the numbers that got it canceled last year (9.5 million), unfortunately.
CBS' news follows similar scheduling announcements from NBC and ABC.
To date, the Peacock Network will be heralding the return of Heroes, Chuck and Life this fall, while ABC gave the good news to nine showrunners, specifically the ones in charge of Ugly Betty, Grey's Anatomy, Lost, Brothers & Sisters, Desperate Housewives, Private Practice, Pushing Daisies, Dirty Sexy Money and Samantha Who?
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