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| → CBS has lopped quite a few years of its overall demographic since the introduction of "Survivor" back in Summer 2000. The move of "CSI" from Friday to Thursday put a dent, actually a big hole, in NBC's powerhouse Thursday lineup: It was the first time NBC wasn't winning Thursday as a whole in decades. While "The Guardian" and "The Agency" are the only series to make it into their second year, CBS is debuting two new comedies and five dramas here in 2002-03. CBS is looking reasonably healthy for the 2002-03 season. CBS Sunday is shuffled a little. It'll begin most weeks with the NFL Football run over which has always benefited "60 Minutes." Following the 34-year old newsmag is a DOA sitcom, "Bram and Alice." This one's in the running for first to go. "Becker" has been moved from its Monday slot and essentially sacrificed on Sunday. Why, with "Bram..." being so seemingly awful, wouldn't they do a slot switch and hammock "Bram..." to give it a shot? Sunday ends with "CBS Sunday Night Movie", the only regularly skedded original movie slot on any net. CBS Monday is the new NBC Thursday. It doesn't draw as many viewers overall, but with "King of Queens," "Yes, Dear," and "Everybody Loves Raymond" keeping viewers tuned in, the addition of what I believe is the only slam-dunk of the season, "CSI: Miami," is going to solidify the night knocking down last season's slot winner, "Crossing Jordan." "Still Standing" will air between "...Raymond" and "CSI: Miami." It has a little potential and that's all they need: something to get the audience from "...Raymond" to "CSI: Miami." CBS Tuesday is unchanged from last year with "JAG," "The Guardian," (a show that really surprised me last year) and the only unchanged 10p slot on the CBS sked, "Judging Amy." CBS Wednesday starts with "60 Minutes II" followed by "The Amazing Race 3" and you'd think "Presidio Med IV." It's just "Presidio Med" and it's got stiff competition from "Law & Order." It's going to win the battle of Wednesday medical dramas, the other being ABC's "MDs." CBS Thursday starts "Survivor: Thailand" (Survivor 5) a week before NBC kicks off "Friends." It'll give it a head start but my feeling is that the luster is off the "Survivor" diamond...and the head start won't matter. "Survivor" will show a strong second. "CSI" will return stronger than when it left in May. It seemed to be the most watched program (ok, returning program, "American Idol" fans) this summer. It should slightly widen the gap between it and "Will & Grace" for the slot. Whether that gap between it and "ER" (for the #1 drama title) is widen, has to do with "Without A Trace." Buzz says this could begin expanding the cracks in "ER." So was "Chicago Hope." I'll believe it when I see it, but think of a flip between "Without..." and "CSI." Hour hammocks don't tend to work that well, but this could be an exception, especially "Without..." gets out of the gate. CBS Friday introduced two new dramas to follow the newly named "48 Hours Investigates." "Hack" will skew older, but I see it having a good chance. "Robbery Homicide Division" pairs well, but is up against "Law & Order: SVU" and "20/20." To round out the week, CBS Saturday starts with the yes-that's-still-on "Touched By An Angel" and continues with the moved "The District" and the retooled "The Agency," which surprised me by coming back. CBS has have Saturday as ABC and NBC both have 3-hour movie blocks. CBS' outlook is pretty good. They've made dents in NBC Thursday and are going to extend the "CSI" franchise again. (Look for one more "CSI" if Miami does well a la "Law & Order.) They've brought down their overall demo and could be a big winner if one of their five new dramas (in addition to "CSI") catches on. |
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