| We are CBS: WCBS, KCBS, WBBM, KYW, KTVT, KPIX, WBZ, WGCL, WUSA, WHOU, et al... |
| CBS Sunday starts the way it has since late 1975 with 60 Minutes at 7pm. The Amazing Race is back where it belongs at 8pm. Cold Case is in its customary slot at 9pm. A very nice move for The Unit to 10pm. Most didn't expect this one back. There's not a whole lot to talk about, CBS Sunday is boring in a good way. Of course, they're against football, like everyone else, but The Eye will do just fine here.
As it has since September 1989, CBS Monday starts with comedy. Last year's Big Bang Theory returns followed by strike-bubble show How I Met Your Mother. (I'm a big fan of Mother, but I have the feeling this might be its final season. Hope I'm wrong.) Two and a Half Men, TV's number one comedy, takes the CBS comedy flagship slot at 9 with newcomer Worst Week at 9:30. CSI: Miami (LY tied #4 drama), now in Season 7, ends the night. Monday is essentially a two-horse race between CBS and a Dancing with the Stars-powered ABC. NBC might, heavy on might, be a factor if...well, check out NBC for that nugget.
Tuesday night on CBS, once home to the CBS Tuesday Night Movie, is now the site of three dramas. The now venerable (Season 6!) NCIS (and #3 scripted drama) kicks off the night in a pretty competitive slot, I expect it to be a close second behind Fox's House and then hold very nicely against Idol in January. New drama The Mentalist joins two other new dramas (CW and Fox) and feels as if it is going to get the short end of the ratings stick. It's a candidate for First to Die. Without A Trace joins Tuesday and should be the tipping point for a CBS Tuesday victory.
For the first time since 2005, CBS starts Wednesday with a comedy block. New Adventures of Old Christine is taken off the bench and given a home at 8, followed by the new Gary Unmarried. They're the only comedy in the slots and the hour is a competitive, albeit soft one. Criminal Minds, now with Joe Mantegna, will most likely take the 9pm hour if Private Practice doesn't get it together by their first act break of the season premiere. CSI: NY closes out the night and will take the hour. We're probably looking at yet-another CBS win, this one being closer than others and much more fluid as well. It won't be a walkover, especially if some new (and retooled) programming on other nets takes off.
Do you even know where Gabon is? Africa, but don't worry, all you need to know is that it's where the 17th (no kidding) iteration of Survivor takes place at 8pm. It's nowhere near the ratings force it used to be, but will generally win the slot. A Warrick-less CSI returns at 9pm and before too long, it's exit lab-left for Grissom. His shoes will be filled by Forest Whitaker. Another candidate for First to Die is the 10pm entry, Eleventh Hour. The slot is up-for-grabs and the CSI lead-in should be excellent...I'm not feeling this one at all. It's yet another likely nightly CBS victory.
CBS Friday is all about ghosts, missed opportunities and math. No, seriously. The night launches with Season 4 of Ghost Whisperer. The 9pm hour brings the all-new The Ex List. It's in a pretty easy slot (it's the only scripted show, but as I've said elsewhere, launching a drama on Friday is a difficult prospect. Because of that it's a First to Die Candidate.) A move might save it, but there doesn't seem to be a place on the sked. The night wraps with Numb3rs, which has done well for the Eye on Friday, but might get a push from NBC. Probably wins anyway. I'm not feeling anything from CBS Friday, but it's still positioned to win the night.
Saturday is the night that the networks forgot. At least CBS is using it to showcase other dramas from the week. They end the evening with 48 Hours Mystery and as such, there's not much to CBS Saturday.
CBS has been touting they're the overall #1 network for a couple of years now and with the pathetic state of the season, I see no reason why they won't do it again. I'm not sold on any of their three new dramas and just one of their two sitcoms. The Eye sked is strong enough that it shouldn't matter. As of now, only Rules of Engagement is waiting for midseason, but we both know that will change. |
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