Network Upfronts — CBS

This week is network Upfronts — a time when the networks unveil their schedule for the fall, including what shows are returning, what new shows have been added, and where everything will run in the fall. As these presentations are made, I'll be offering my thoughts on each network's offering.

In the late 1990s, if you'd have told NBC that by 2013 they would finish fifth in sweeps — behind Univision — the network executives would have laughed you out of the building. But, after dominating for years, NBC fell, and it fell hard. So this year, that Univision thing really happened in February.

CBS has dominated in the ratings — not the 18-49 demographic, but the rest — for years. But that success hasn't allowed for much new or much creativity. Much like NBC in the late 1990s, CBS is a ratings juggernaut that's starting to show its age. "NCIS" may still be the most popular drama on TV, but it's been on for a decade. How much longer can it lead. Likewise, it's easy to look at the comedy success of "The Big Bang Theory" and "Two and a Half Men" and see a parallel to "Friends" and "Seinfeld."

Yet this past season, though CBS was No. 1, it had just one new show stick — "Elementary." It's stalwarts are getting old and expensive, and its new shows are dying on the vine. I'm not predicting an epic cratering — like what happened at NBC — but CBS needs to be proactive in crafting the next generation of shows. After all, "CSI" is enter season 14 and the two children it created — in Miami and New York — have both been euthanized. Next year will bring the end of "How I Met Your Mother," and likely serious talk about wrapping up "The Mentalist," "CSI," and "Criminal Minds." If CBS wants to stay on top, they have to think about the future.

Best Pickup: This is a hard one. There wasn't much on the bubble that really needed saving, but I'll go with "Blue Bloods" here. The show isn't flashy and isn't a ratings giant, but it's done very well anchoring Friday nights. And it's been drawing praise as some family-centered, family-friendly entertainment. That's something that's hard to find on TV.

Best Scheduling Move: For the past few years, Tuesday nights at 10 p.m. has been a death slot for CBS. "NCIS" and "NCIS: LA" have been solid in the ratings, but all the new shows launched in the slot have fallen flat. This year, CBS decided that instead of launching a new show there to die on the vine it would move an existing hit — "Person of Interest." This seems like a good move that could allow CBS to dominate the night.

Worst Scheduling Move: "Mike and Molly" might not light the world on fire, but it's a reliable performer on Monday nights. It usually does well in its timeslot, so it seems curious that CBS would shelve it until midseason. Likely the Eye wanted a good show to have on hand in case/when one of its new comedies tanks, but it seems like a gamble to jilt the show's audience.

Most Promising New Show: This is a real toss up. CBS has only five new shows bowing in the fall — four comedies and one drama. And none of them really get my toe a tapping. But I guess I'll go with "The Crazy Ones," which stars Sarah Michelle Gellar and Robin Williams, and comes from producer David E. Kelley. It sounds like the show that might be the most interesting, and it will need to be on Thursday nights at 9 p.m.

Least Interesting New Show: I will go with "We Are Men." Even the description for this show sounds bad. When CBS misses with comedy, it misses badly. I feel like this is the big miss of the fall.