CBS Shakes Up Schedule, Adds Seven New Shows - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Brett Ferino · 05-14-2003, 12:17 PM

Although CBS will almost surely finish the season on top of the Nielsen ratings among total viewers, the network is making a number of changes for next season.

Only the powerful Thursday lineup of "Survivor," "CSI" and "Without a Trace" is returning intact in 2003-04. Every other night of the week has either a new show or a returning series in a new time period.

Most significantly, the network will try to launch a new comedy block on Wednesdays by moving "The King of Queens" to 9 p.m. ET that night and pairing it with "The Stones," a new series about two twentysomething siblings (Jay Baruchel, "Undeclared" and Lindsay Sloane, "Grosse Pointe") who are shocked when their parents (Robert Klein and Judith Light) announce they're getting a divorce.

The Wednesday comedy hour will have to survive in one of the tougher hours on network TV, with a lead-in of "60 Minutes II." Closing Wednesday night is a new family drama from David E. Kelley, who returns to CBS and "Picket Fences" territory with "The Brotherhood of Poland, N.H." about three brothers living in a small New England town.

"Yes, Dear" will move up a half-hour to lead off CBS' Monday slate. "Still Standing" moves from 9:30 to 8:30, while the new comedy "Two and a Half Men," starring Charlie Sheen, gets the 9:30 spot behind "Everybody Loves Raymond." "CSI: Miami" remains at 10 p.m.

As was the case this season, several of the network's new dramas are about crimes and the people who solve them. "Navy CIS," a "JAG" spinoff about officers who investigate crimes committed by Navy or Marine personnel, takes its parent show's old spot at 8 p.m. Tuesday. The Jerry Bruckheimer-produced "Cold Case," about a female detective (Kathryn Morris, "Minority Report" ) who investigates old crimes, will follow "60 Minutes" on Sundays.

"JAG" moves to 9 p.m. Friday, where it will serve as a bridge between two new series, "Joan of Arcadia" and "The Handler."

"Joan" is definitely different from most network fare. The title character (Amber Tamblyn) is the daughter of Arcadia's new police chief (Joe Mantegna, "First Monday") who keeps running into people who introduce themselves as God and give her instructions to do certain things with her life. Mary Steenburgen also stars.

Joe Pantoliano ("The Sopranos") stars in "The Handler" as an L.A.-based FBI agent who trains other agents for undercover work and oversees their operations.

"Hack" and "48 Hours Investigates," which aired on Fridays this season, move to Saturday.

Related Stories:

See the night-by-night schedule for CBS this fall, plus complete descriptions and photos. Check back for video clips.
(http://tv.zap2it.com/shows/features/features.html?31575)

Nanny Fine · 05-14-2003, 12:41 PM

No Big Fat Greek Life, eh?

Bummer

BLT · 05-14-2003, 01:10 PM

CBS is so predictable, every year it's five new dramas & two new comedies. Too bad they still refuse to ditch the sunday movie.

05-14-2003, 12:17 PM	#1
Brett Ferino Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Jul 18, 2000 Location: PA Posts: 3,782	CBS Shakes Up Schedule, Adds Seven New Shows Although CBS will almost surely finish the season on top of the Nielsen ratings among total viewers, the network is making a number of changes for next season. Only the powerful Thursday lineup of "Survivor," "CSI" and "Without a Trace" is returning intact in 2003-04. Every other night of the week has either a new show or a returning series in a new time period. Most significantly, the network will try to launch a new comedy block on Wednesdays by moving "The King of Queens" to 9 p.m. ET that night and pairing it with "The Stones," a new series about two twentysomething siblings (Jay Baruchel, "Undeclared" and Lindsay Sloane, "Grosse Pointe") who are shocked when their parents (Robert Klein and Judith Light) announce they're getting a divorce. The Wednesday comedy hour will have to survive in one of the tougher hours on network TV, with a lead-in of "60 Minutes II." Closing Wednesday night is a new family drama from David E. Kelley, who returns to CBS and "Picket Fences" territory with "The Brotherhood of Poland, N.H." about three brothers living in a small New England town. "Yes, Dear" will move up a half-hour to lead off CBS' Monday slate. "Still Standing" moves from 9:30 to 8:30, while the new comedy "Two and a Half Men," starring Charlie Sheen, gets the 9:30 spot behind "Everybody Loves Raymond." "CSI: Miami" remains at 10 p.m. As was the case this season, several of the network's new dramas are about crimes and the people who solve them. "Navy CIS," a "JAG" spinoff about officers who investigate crimes committed by Navy or Marine personnel, takes its parent show's old spot at 8 p.m. Tuesday. The Jerry Bruckheimer-produced "Cold Case," about a female detective (Kathryn Morris, "Minority Report" ) who investigates old crimes, will follow "60 Minutes" on Sundays. "JAG" moves to 9 p.m. Friday, where it will serve as a bridge between two new series, "Joan of Arcadia" and "The Handler." "Joan" is definitely different from most network fare. The title character (Amber Tamblyn) is the daughter of Arcadia's new police chief (Joe Mantegna, "First Monday") who keeps running into people who introduce themselves as God and give her instructions to do certain things with her life. Mary Steenburgen also stars. Joe Pantoliano ("The Sopranos") stars in "The Handler" as an L.A.-based FBI agent who trains other agents for undercover work and oversees their operations. "Hack" and "48 Hours Investigates," which aired on Fridays this season, move to Saturday. Related Stories: See the night-by-night schedule for CBS this fall, plus complete descriptions and photos. Check back for video clips. (http://tv.zap2it.com/shows/features/features.html?31575)

05-14-2003, 12:41 PM	#2
Nanny Fine Justine and Holden.. Senior Member Join Date: Jan 01, 2003 Location: Watching The Ellen Degeneres Show and luvin' it Posts: 2,852	No Big Fat Greek Life, eh? Bummer
	__________________ * How it all came down to this, only the Devil knows. Retail Rodeo is at the corner on my left. The motel is down the road to my right. I close my eyes and try to peer into the future. On my left, I saw days upon days of lipstick and ticking clocks, dirty looks and quiet whisperings. And burning secrets that just won't ever die away. And on my right, what could I picture? The blue sky, the desert earth, stretching out into the eerie infinity. A beautiful never-ending nothing. ~Justine, "The Good Girl" * Bush for President!

05-14-2003, 01:10 PM	#3
BLT Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Mar 06, 2003 Posts: 496	CBS is so predictable, every year it's five new dramas & two new comedies. Too bad they still refuse to ditch the sunday movie.
	__________________ I have nothing else to say.