CBS' new fall lineup

This just in... CBS' new fall lineup. Not many surprises. CBS dumped its Sunday night movie, the last network to do so. Also gone are "Out of Practice" (no great loss), "Courting Alex (ditto) and "Threshold." "The Amazing Race" and "Without A Trace" move to Sunday. And press reports say "King of Queens" will be back in January.
Sorry about the long blog, but here's the full announcement:

CBS ANNOUNCES 2006-2007 PRIMETIME SCHEDULE

Four New Shows Enhance Primetime Line-Up That Returns 18 Series And More Time-Winning Programs Than Any Other Network

Six Freshman Series Return From Last Year's Class,
Far More Than Any Other Network

Ray Liotta, James Woods, Virginia Madsen, Skeet Ulrich and Simon Baker
Among Stars of New CBS Shows

Creative Forces Behind New Shows Include David Crane ("Friends"),
John Wells ("ER"), Jon Turteltaub ("National Treasure")
and Brian Grazer ("The DaVinci Code")

CBS to Win the Current Season in Viewers and Adults 25-54,
Continuing Multi-Year Winning Streak

CBS announced today the addition of four new series to its 2006-2007 primetime line-up, enhancing a line-up that will return 18 shows from last year's schedule, including six from last season's freshman class. The line-up, which includes three new dramas and one new comedy, was unveiled this morning by CBS Entertainment President Nina Tassler.

The four new shows feature a roster of award-winning actors and executive producers and a unique mix of concepts and genres. The freshman series include a young and sexy ensemble comedy, THE CLASS, from "Friends" co-creator David Crane; SMITH, a high octane heist thriller from "ER's" John Wells starring Ray Liotta and Virginia Madsen; the apocalyptic drama JERICHO, from the producer of "National Treasure," Jon Turteltaub, starring Skeet Ulrich ("Scream"); and SHARK, a glossy, high-stakes courtroom drama from Brian Grazer ("The DaVinci Code," "A Beautiful Mind"), starring James Woods.

Those shows will join a line-up that features more time period winning series and more top 20 hits than any other network as well as a leadership position in nearly every program genre: CBS will return television's Number One drama, CSI: CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION; the Number One returning comedy, TWO AND A HALF MEN; the Number One and Number Two freshman dramas, THE UNIT and CRIMINAL MINDS; the Number One new comedy, THE NEW ADVENTURES OF OLD CHRISTINE; the Number One news magazine, 60 MINUTES; and the premiere reality series SURVIVOR and the three-time Emmy Award-winning THE AMAZING RACE.


In an impressive achievement, CBS is returning six of its freshman series, which strengthened four nights of the schedule, for their sophomore seasons, including HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER, CRIMINAL MINDS, GHOST WHISPERER and CLOSE TO HOME as well as THE UNIT and OLD CHRISTINE. They are part of the overall 18 series that return to the CBS primetime schedule, along with TWO AND A HALF MEN, CSI: MIAMI, NCIS, CSI: NY, SURVIVOR, CSI: CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION, NUMB3RS, THE AMAZING RACE, COLD CASE, WITHOUT A TRACE as well as 60 MINUTES, 48 HOURS: MYSTERY and CRIMETIME SATURDAY.

As a result, CBS will win the 2005-2006 season in viewers and adults 25-54, continuing its multi-year winning streak.

The new 2006-2007 schedule:

On Mondays, CBS adds one new series to its winning comedy line-up. HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER, a show that captures a young and loyal audience, moves to 8:00 PM, followed by the new ensemble comedy THE CLASS at 8:30 PM, forming a fresh, sophisticated young adult comedy block. At 9:00 PM, CBS returns television's Number One comedy TWO AND A HALF MEN, followed by the Number One new comedy THE NEW ADVENTURES OF OLD CHRISTINE at 9:30 PM. CSI: MIAMI, the night's Number One show, caps the line-up at 10:00 PM.

On Tuesdays, CBS adds an exciting new series to a night that already features a potent and growing 8:00-10:00 PM block of drama. NCIS, which continues to grow its audience, begins the night at 8:00 PM, followed by CBS's mid-season hit THE UNIT. Both shows will serve as a launching pad for the new 10:00 PM dramatic thriller SMITH, a slick, insider's take on a group of professional thieves planning their next score.

Likewise, on Wednesday, CBS adds a new series, JERICHO, to a line-up that already boasts a dynamic block of dramas -- the rookie sensation CRIMINAL MINDS at 9:00 PM and the time-period winning CSI: NY at 10:00 PM. JERICHO, an explosive new drama that follows the aftermath of a nuclear explosion, will kick off the night at 8:00 PM.

On Thursday, CBS returns its powerful 8:00-10:00 PM programming duo of SURVIVOR and CSI: CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION. The network will use CSI, television's Number One drama, as a launching pad for its new James Woods legal thriller SHARK, at 10:00 PM.

And CBS will keep its winning Friday night intact, programming the two freshman successes GHOST WHISPERER at 8:00 PM and CLOSE TO HOME at 9:00 PM, followed by the unsung hit NUMB3RS at 10:00 PM. CBS wins every half hour of this night in viewers, adults 25-54 and adults 18-49.

Saturdays will feature CBS's popular CRIMETIME programming from 8:00-10:00 PM, followed by 48 HOURS: MYSTERY.

And on Sundays, CBS is making key scheduling moves designed to capitalize on the changing competitive landscape of the night. The Number One and most-honored news magazine 60 MINUTES starts the night at 7:00 PM, followed by the Emmy Award-winning reality series THE AMAZING RACE, which moves to 8:00 PM. And from 9:00-11:00 PM, CBS is using two of its most successful and compelling crime series, COLD CASE and WITHOUT A TRACE, to build a seamless block of drama. COLD CASE will air at 9:00 PM, followed at 10:00 PM by WITHOUT A TRACE, one of television's highest-rated series.

Additionally, the network announced the pick-up of four shows for mid-season, including the Monday night stalwart THE KING OF QUEENS as well as two new dramas and one new comedy. They include 3 LBS, starring Stanley Tucci in a medical drama about New York neurosurgeons; WATERFRONT, a drama about a colorful mayor in Providence, R.I. starring Joe Pantoliano; and RULES OF ENGAGEMENT, a comedy starring Patrick Warburton ("Seinfeld") from Adam Sandler's production company that follows two couples and a single guy as they navigate the jungles of dating, engagement and marriage.

The new comedy is:

THE CLASS (Monday, 8:30-9:00 PM, ET/PT), from Emmy Award winner David Crane ("Friends") and Emmy Award nominee Jeffrey Klarik ("Mad About You"), is a comedy about the lives of a group of 20-somethings who are inextricably bound together having shared the same third grade class. Now face to face at an impromptu reunion to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the day they met, they wonder if they'll have anything in common besides vague memories of playground kisses and underwear sightings on the monkey bars. Turns out they do. After two decades apart for most of them, some are eager to show off, some want to rekindle old crushes and others just want to satisfy their curiosity. Whatever the case, their lives will intersect from this point forward, sharing childhood memories and dealing with adult issues -- career, relationships and the general direction or misdirection life will take them. Jason Ritter ("Joan of Arcadia"), Heather Goldenhersh ("The Merchant of Venice"), Lizzy Caplan ("Related"), Jon Bernthal ("Revenge of the Middle-Aged Woman"), Sean Maguire ("Eve"), Jesse Tyler Ferguson ("Putnam County Spelling Bee"), Lucy Punch ("Ella Enchanted") and Andrea Anders ("Joey") also star. Multiple Emmy Award winner James Burrows directs. Crane, Klarik and Burrows are executive producers for Warner Bros. Television.

The new dramas are:

SMITH (Tuesday, 10:00-11:00 PM, ET/PT) stars Emmy Award winner Ray Liotta ("ER," "Goodfellas,") as a criminal mastermind in a drama about a close-knit crew of career criminals who plot and execute intricate and ingenious high-stakes heists across the country. Though Bobby Stevens (Liotta) appears to be a regular family man with a nine-to-five job, he's actually an expert thief who is seeking just two or three more big jobs so he can finally leave the business for a comfortable, lawful lifestyle with his wife, Hope (Academy Award nominee Virginia Madsen, "Sideways"). Bobby's second family, his core band of partners, each bring their own areas of expertise to pulling off the biggest and most sophisticated rmed robberies. The FBI is determined to catch the team but is most interested in capturing "Smith," the crew's mysterious leader and the brains behind the entire operation. It remains to be seen whether Bobby will be able to extricate himself in time from the scores that give him such a rush, or if his retirement will be a forced one -- behind bars. Jonny Lee Miller ("Trainspotting"), Franky G ("Saw II"), Simon Baker ("The Guardian") and Amy Smart ("Felicity") also star. Emmy Award winner John Wells ("ER," "The West Wing") is the executive producer for Warner Bros. Television.

JERICHO (Wednesday, 8:00-9:00 PM, ET/PT) is a drama about what happens when a nuclear mushroom cloud suddenly appears on the horizon, plunging the residents of a small, peaceful Kansas town into chaos, leaving them completely isolated and wondering if they're the only Americans left alive. Fear of the unknown propels Jericho into social, psychological and physical mayhem when all communication and power is shut down. The town starts to come apart at the seams as terror, anger and confusion bring out the very worst in some residents. But in this time of crisis, as sensible people become paranoid, personal agendas take over and well-kept secrets threaten to be revealed, some people will find an inner strength they never knew they had and the most unlikely heroes will emerge. Skeet Ulrich ("Scream"), Gerald McRaney ("Ike: Countdown to D-Day"), Ashley Scott ("Dark Angel"), Pamela Reed ("Proof of Life"), Kenneth Mitchell ("The Recruit"), Lennie James ("Sahara"), Sprague Grayden ("Six Feet Under"), Michael Gaston ("Prison Break") and Erik Knudsen ("Saw II") star. Jon Turteltaub ("National Treasure"), Stephen Chbosky ("Rent") and Carol Barbee ("Judging Amy") are executive producers for CBS Paramount Network Television, in association with Junction Entertainment.

SHARK (Thursday, 10:00-11:00 PM, ET/PT) stars multiple Academy Award nominee and Emmy Award winner James Woods ("Ghosts of Mississippi," "ER") as Sebastian Stark, a charismatic, supremely self-confident defense attorney who, after a shocking outcome in one of his cases and a personal epiphany, brings his cutthroat tactics to the prosecutor's office. As the head of the Los Angeles District Attorney's High Profile Crime Unit, Stark works for Jessica Devlin, (Jeri Ryan, "The O.C."), the ambitious and accomplished D.A. who despises his ruthless strategies. Devlin teams him with a group of young prosecutors who are about to have the learning experience of a lifetime because, though Stark is seeking to redeem himself, he has no intention of cooling his underhanded approach to cases just because he's now working for the "good guys." Sam Page ("American Dreams"), Alexis Cruz ("American Family"), Sarah Carter ("Numb3rs"), Danielle Panabaker ("Mom at Sixteen"), Romy Rosemont ("CSI: Crime Scene Investigation") and Sophina Brown ("Without a Trace") also star. Academy Award nominee Spike Lee directs. Academy Award winner Brian Grazer ("A Beautiful Mind," "24"), (David Nevins ("Arrested Development"), Ian Biederman ("Crossing Jordan") and Ed Redlich ("Without A Trace") are executive producers for Imagine Entertainment, in association with Twentieth Century Fox Television.

The following is the 2006-2007 CBS Television Network primetime schedule:

CBS TELEVISION NETWORK
2006-2007 PRIMETIME SCHEDULE
(N=New, NT=New Time, all times ET/PT)

MONDAY
8:00-8:30 PM HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER (NT)
8:30-9:00 PM THE CLASS (N)
9:00-9:30 PM TWO AND A HALF MEN
9:30-10:00 PM THE NEW ADVENTURES OF OLD CHRISTINE
10:00-11:00 PM CSI: MIAMI

TUESDAY
8:00-9:00 PM NCIS
9:00-10:00 PM THE UNIT
10:00-11:00 PM SMITH (N)

WEDNESDAY
8:00-9:00 PM JERICHO (N)
9:00-10:00 PM CRIMINAL MINDS
10:00-11:00 PM CSI: NY

THURSDAY
8:00-9:00 PM SURVIVOR
9:00-10:00 PM CSI: CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION
10:00-11:00 PM SHARK (N)

FRIDAY
8:00-9:00 PM GHOST WHISPERER
9:00-10:00 PM CLOSE TO HOME
10:00-11:00 PM NUMB3RS

SATURDAY
8:00-9:00 PM CRIMETIME SATURDAY
9:00-10:00 PM CRIMETIME SATURDAY
10:00-11:00 PM 48 HOURS: MYSTERY

SUNDAY
7:00-8:00 PM 60 MINUTES
8:00-9:00 PM THE AMAZING RACE (NT)
9:00-10:00 PM COLD CASE (NT)
10:00-11:00 PM WITHOUT A TRACE (NT)