Upfronts Week — CBS


This is Upfronts week, the week when all the major networks unveil their fall schedules. Each day during the week I'll be taking a look at each network's new fall offerings and giving some cursory thoughts. Of course, we'll have months to parse the new an returning shows, and the lineup choices, once the fall season begins in September.

Network: CBS

Most Interesting Scheduling Decision: The most interesting thing CBS did this fall is agree to a deal with the NFL to host eight Thursday Night Football games. The NFL is the biggest ratings maker, and biggest money maker, in the fall, so it makes sense that networks would want that on the air. The network that needed it least was CBS, so naturally they went out and got it. That should be good for a solid win for Thursday nights through October, and also for a demographic win. As a result, Thursday anchor "The Big Bang Theory," CBS' highest performing comedy and one of the highest rated shows on TV, will start the season on Monday nights. There CBS is also breaking up its long-standing two-hour comedy block. So without Thursdays, and with just two sitcoms on Mondays at the start of the new season, CBS will offer only one hour of comedies on its schedule. That makes a big departure from last year's expansion to two hour blocks on Mondays and Thursdays. Even when the NFL moves off the schedule after October 30, CBS will have one fewer hour, and two fewer comedies, on the air than it did in the 2013-2014 season. As a result, only two new comedies were ordered, only one is airing in the fall, and veteran "Mike and Molly" also gets a mid-season berth. It's the most interesting schedule shake up for a network that prides itself on consistency and stability.

Most Promising New Show: I'm going with "Madam Secretary" here. The concept — following the Secretary of State played by Tea Leoni — seems the most interesting. It has a good cast and pedigree, and might actually pair nicely with "The Good Wife" on Sunday nights. That could also be a rough time slot, as it will go against cable series and the NFL in the fall, but it still seems like the most interesting concept for a new show. And CBS is lean on new shows, with just four new dramas (one an "NCIS" spinoff) and one comedy debuting in the fall.

Least Promising New Show: I'm going with "The McCarthy's" here. It's CBS' only new sitcom, and based on the description I don't get it. It's about a loud, sports-loving Boston clan, and the son that doesn't totally fit in. My guess is CBS is trying to show its diversity and cultural sensitivity (said son is gay and recruited to coach basketball with his father), but I am not sold on the concept or the description. This feels like the kind of broad concept comedies CBS has tried — and seen fail — the past few years. Maybe it will surprise me, but I'm not holding my breath. Since CBS hasn't released trailers for its new shows, we have to go by description and gut feeling alone.

Lineup:
Monday Nights:
8 p.m. — The Big Bang Theory (2 Broke Girls Oct. 30)
8:30 p.m. — Mom
9 p.m. — Scorpion
10 p.m. — NCIS: Los Angeles

Tuesday Nights:
8 p.m. — NCIS
9 p.m. — NCIS: New Orleans
10 p.m. — Person of Interest

Wednesday Nights:
8 p.m. — Survivor
9 p.m. — Criminal Minds
10 p.m. — Stalker

Thursday Nights: (After October 30)
8 p.m. — Big Bang Theory
8:30 p.m. — The Millers
9 p.m. — Two and a Half Men
9:30 p.m. — The McCarthy's
10 p.m. — Elementary

Friday Nights:
8 p.m. — The Amazing Race
9 p.m. — Hawaii 5-0
10 p.m. — Blue Bloods

Sunday Nights:
7 p.m. — 60 Minutes
8 p.m. — Madam Secretary
9 p.m. — The Good Wife
10 p.m. — CSI (CSI: Cyber in Spring)

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