Today Is Moving Day!

We've moved the blogs today, as I mentioned earlier this week.

I've already posted a couple of things -- Why the Reds-Dodgers game wasn't in HDTV last night... My thoughts on the "American Idol" finale... The Channel 5 story about Jackie Broo (Ken's wife) and her battle with cancer... and Time Warner's plan to expand HDTV channels.

Later today I'll post the May sweeps news ratings on the new blog.

You can find the new blog at
http://news.cincinnati.com/tvblog

If you subscribe to this blog via a RSS reader, the new RSS feed is at

http://sitelife.cincinnati.com/ver1.0/PersonaBlog/BlogRss?plckBlogId=Blog:5c
49394b12564ab6832411d82ad3a991


I won't be posting any more comments on this blog. See ya over at the new blog. I'm outta here.

--Kiese

WGUC Makes One-Day Goal

Congratulations WGUC... You did it! Loyal listeners obviously appreciated the experimental one-way pledge drive. I just checked the WGUC website tonight and saw that the station exceeded its goal of 800 pledges in one day. The counter says 827.
Great news!

The station also beat its financial target ($85,000) by $373. At least 20% of those who made pledges were new members.

Worth doing again, right? Or maybe try a shorter-than-9-day drive on WVXU? But you've gotta admit the current 'VXU drives are much more listenable than the old Doc King drives filled with Catholic guilt trips and threats to drop popular programming.... They always reminded me of that old National Lampoon magazine cover headline: "Buy This Magazine! Or We'll Shoot This Dog!"

Cincinnati Idol Rip-Off Winners

If only the TV ratings race were this close...

Channel 12's Michelle Boutilette and Cammy Dierking squeaked – and we mean squeaked – past Channel 5's Rani Rico and Eric Green to win WKFS-FM's (KISS107.1) "Cincinnati Television Newsperson Idol Rip-off" karaoke contest by less than one percentage point.

The results:
--Ch 12's Michelle Boutilette and Cammy Dierking, "See You Again" 35.87%
--Ch 5's Randi Rico and Eric Green, "It's Raining Men" 35%
--Ch 19's Tricia Macke, Jack Atherton, Christie Dutton, Zach Wells and the Fox 19 news team, "Sweet Caroline" 29.19%

Voting closed this morning. The winners receive promotional support for their favorite charities – Susan G. Komen for the Cure and the Multiple Sclerosis Society – by KISS107.1 morning hosts Tim and George.

It was fun to see the TV personalities goofing around on the karaoke video. They're still up at
http://www.kisscincinnati.com/pages/idolripoff.html

Maybe this kind of offbeat exposure for Ch. 5's two personable meteorologists someday will translate into TV ratings. But not tomorrow. When May sweeps end tonight, Ch. 5's newscasts will be a distant third again at noon, 5, 5:30, 6 and 11... and fourth 6-7 a.m. But Ch 5's 11 p.m. news will beat "The Simpsons" again...

One Day Wednesday On WGUC-FM

If you're tired of those annoying public radio pledge drives that go one forever, today you can do something about it.

Classical WGUC-FM (90.9) is experimenting with a one-day fund-raiser today, from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. The station wants to raise $85,000 in 14 hours from about 800 people. As of 9:30 a.m., 'GUC had 249 pledges.

I listened to it this morning, and at least donor noted that he/she was giving more this time for less (interruptions). If this works, WGUC-FM will try shorter fund drives in the future, says Richard Eiswerth, GM for WGUC-FM and sister WVXU-FM.

So it's time to put up, because they've shut up. You can pledge by phone or on the web at http://www.wguc.org/

Middletown Woman on Millionaire Today

Danielle Sparks of Middletown gets her turn in the "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire" hot seat at 4:30 p.m. today on WKRC-TV (Channel 12).

Sparks, 23, the daughter of Steven and Terri Sparks of Middletown, taped the episode in New York earlier this year. The 2003 Middletown High School graduate earned a political science degree last year from Ohio State University.

If she wins the million -- or a large stash of cash -- Sparks says she will pay off her student loans, buy her mom a condo, go to graduate school and travel the world.

New Looking Coming To The Blog

Here's a head's up for you: By the end of this week, you'l notice some changes on my blog.

Soon our blogs will be hosted here at by Cincinnati.com, and not at Blogger. It's all part of a relaunch of Cincinnati.com coming soon. I hope to make some big improvements, like adding links to the networks and other sites you'll find handy.

When the switch occurs, this old blog won’t go away. You'll be directed to the new blog by a link. Eventually any bookmarks and links to this blog will take you to the new one. My new blog also will have a link back to this blog archives too.

And there will be one more change: You will have to register to post comments on the new site. It's free, but you have to register. All of this is supposed to happen by the end of the week. Stay tuned.

--Kiese

Sarah Jessica Parker: Sex and the Square Pegs

Former Cincinnati resident Sarah Jessica Parker talks about her career – and why the new "Sex and The City" movie almost wasn’t made – on "Inside the Actors Studio today (8 p.m., Bravo). It's a safe bet that host James Lipton will recap her network TV career, which started with CBS' short-lived comedy, "Square Pegs" (1982-83), which will be released on DVD Tuesday.

Parker, 43, was born in Nelsonville, Ohio, (near Athens), and lived in Cincinnati for most of her first 12 years. She attended Clifton Elementary School, and made her TV debut in a Channel 5 "Young People’s Special" production of "The Little Match Girl" in 1974, at age 9. She left Cincinnati for New York in 1977, and joined the cast of "Annie" on Broadway in 1978. (She sings her audition song for "Annie" for Lipton on the show tonight.)

She was one of the high school misfits on "Square Pegs," in a cast that included Jami Gertz ("Still Standing") and Tracy Nelson ("Father Dowling Mysteries"). Guest stars included Bill Murray, Martin Mull, the Doors drummer John Densmore, Devo, and the Waitresses (they did the theme). The 20 shows will be released on three discs.

"Sex and the City: The Movie" opens in theaters Friday, May 30.

Rollergirls Crash ESPN SportsCenter Sunday

Monday morning update: Here's the link to ESPN's "Roller Derby Revival" story which aired on "SportsCenter" last night. Enquirer reporter Lauren Bishop provided the narrative.

http://sports.espn.go.com/broadband/video/videopage?videoId=3401989


The Cincinnati Rollergirls with our own Lauren Bishop smash their way onto ESPN’s “SportsCenter” at 11 p.m. Sunday.

The “SportsCenter” story – which may air at 10:30 a.m. Sunday, and repeat overnight Sunday through Monday morning -- also includes interviews with skates in Austin, Texas, where a 2001 grassroots revival has led to more than 200 amateur women’s roller derby leagues, ESPN says.

ESPN shot part of the six-minute feature about the rebirth of all-female roller derby leagues here last month. A crew spent part of a day with Bishop, the Enquirer pop culture reporter known as “Miss Print” on the team, and taped the Rollergirls’ match against the Fort Wayne Dirty Girls at Cincinnati Gardens.

She says it was strange being interviewed, after spending her professional interviewing others. Read more about the taping here on Roller Derby Diva blog at
http://frontier.cincinnati.com/blogs/pcult/2008/05/espn-update.asp

Walnut Hills Wins ONN's Brain Game

Walnut Hills High School won the state championship last night on the Ohio News Network's "Brain Game" quiz show over Shawnee High School.

The Cincinnati team advanced to the finals because it scored the most points (455) of the 60 schools in the competition. The Walnut Hills students won $10,000 for the school.

The show was taped in Columbus on Feb. 23, the day after Walnut Hills sophomore won the $75,000 "Jeopardy!" teen tournament. Horn, 15, was an alternate for the four-person team.

Scott Grunder, Walnut Hills quiz team coach and Horn's history teacher, told me in February: "Imagine the look on the other team's faces when they see the 'Jeopardy!' girl is on the bench."

A video is posted at the ONN site, but I haven't had luck opening it.

http://www.10tv.com/live/content/onnnews/index.html

Vote For The Cincinnati TV Idol Rip-Off

Eric said it would be like this??? Meteorologists from three local TV stations – and some of their co-workers – want your vote for their video in KISS107's clever local "American Idol" contest, the "KISS107 FM's Cincinnati Television Newsperson Idol Rip-off." They karaoke is cheesy and corny, but it's fun to watch the TV folks cut loose and show some personality.

Your choices:
--Channel 5's Randi Rico and Eric Green singing The Weather Girls’ "It's Raining Men."
--Channel 12's Michelle Boutilette and Cammy (Don't Call Me Shy) Dierking singing Miley Cyrus' "See You Again."
--Channel 19's Christie Dutton, Tricia Macke, Jack Atherton, Zach Wells and more of the Fox 19 news team singing Neil Diamond's "Sweet Caroline."

Tune in the KISS107 (WFKS-FM, 107.1) Tim and George/Jeff morning show to hear the participants beg for your vote. The winner will be announced Wednesday morning, the day Fox crowns the seventh "American Idol." The team with the most online votes "will get a fund-raiser or public service campaign executed by Kiss Mornings for the charity of their choice," says the station web site. As of this morning, Channel 19 was leading with 42%, followed by Channel 5 at 39% and Channel 12 with 19%.

Channel 9 was invited to participate, but didn’t want to play along. (Why not? Somebody call the I-Team!)

Watch the videos and vote at
http://www.kisscincinnati.com/pages/idolripoff.html

Then come back here and post your critique.

What would www.votefortheworst recommend?

Two Guys With National Gigs You Don't Get Here

Chris Seelbach is getting some buzz nationally, but you wouldn't know it in Cincinnati. Same with long-time radio personality Marty "With the Party" Thompson.

Seelbach, a political consultant for various Democratic candidates, has been named the political correspondent for "The Daily Buzz," a nationally syndicated morning show. It airs on 141 stations – but not here. The northern 'burbs might be able to see it 6-9 a.m. on Dayton's WBDT-TV (Channel 26), where the show was first produced in 2002. It has since moved to Orlando, Fla.

Seelbach, 28, a vice president with the Seidewitz Group, auditioned on a live show last Friday in Orlando, while in Florida for a wedding. He's a friend of Steve Bailey, marketing vice president for the show hosted by Andrea Jackson, Mitch English, Andy Campbell and Kia Malone. He’s the liberal balance for conservative Campbell.

The Over-the-Rhine resident will report live from here by Skype video conferencing software. And lobby local stations to carry the show.

Thompson, the former program director at WUBE-FM, WGRR-FM and WLW-AM, now hosts "Classic Top 40" (mostly '70s rock) 7 p.m.-midnight on more than 100 stations. But not here.

The show is syndicated by Dallas-based TKO Radio Networks to stations in Pittsburgh, Denver, Oklahoma City, Evansville and Muncie. You can hear him Monday-Saturday nights online from http://www.wupe.com/home.php

This week he was also named vice president for programming when TKO launched 24/7 syndicated programming.

Thompson, 43, broadcasts from his home Hamilton County's Miami Township. Now he's Marty with the Party in his basement.

Only Two New Fox Shows For Fall

Only two new Fox series this fall -- one comedy and one drama -- as Fox follows the other shows in moving cautiously after the 100-day writers strike.

Fox again gets the jump on other networks by starting the season 3 weeks early, the week of August 25 with "Prison Break," "Bones" and "Are You Smarter Than A Fifth Grader?"

The new drama is "Fringe" (9 p.m. Tuesday) from J.J. Abrams ("Lost") about the FBI investigating a plane that lands in Boston with everyone dead on board. Joshua Jackson ("Dawson's Creek") stars as the son of a brilliant but institutionalized doctor (John Noble, "Lord of the Rings") who can solve the case.... in 22 episodes or more.

The only comedy is "Do Not Disturb" (9:30 p.m. Weds) with Jerry O'Connell ("Crossing Jordan), Niecy Nash ("Reno 911"), guest star Robert Wagner as wacky operators of "the hottest and hippest hotel" in NYC. It will air after "Til Death."

For midseason, Joss Whedon ("Buffy the Vampire Slayer") has created "Dollhouse," about people (including Eliza Dushku, "Buffy," "Tru Calling") are members of "a highly illegal and underground group who had had their personalities wiped clean to they can be imprinted with any number of new personas." It will air at 8 p.m. Mondays in January, before "24."

"The Moment of Truth," (such schlock) "Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles," "Don't Forget The Lyrics" and "Til Death" will be back. But not Kelsey Grammer's "Back to You," or "Unhitched," "K-Ville," "Nashville," "The Return of Jezebel Jones" or "Search For The Next Great Rock Band."

Here's a link to the Fox release:

http://www.foxflash.com/div.php/main/page?aID=1z2z2z246z11z8&ID=4112

Fox Plans 24 Peek In November

Good news for "24" fans who have been waiting a year for a new season. Fox will air a two-hour movie Sunday, Nov. 23, to set up the seventh season coming next January. Jack Bauer will be involved in an international crisis in South Africa while a new US president (Cherry Jones) prepares to take office.

Here's the Fox announcement on the movie and season seven:

EMMY AND GOLDEN GLOBE WINNER “24” GETS A JUMPSTART ON THE CLOCK WITH SPECIAL TWO-HOUR PREQUEL SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 23, ON FOX

"Day 7" Season Premiere Clocks-In January 2009

Fans have been waiting almost a year for the return of 24, television’s most addictive drama. On Sunday, November 23 (8:00-10:00 PM ET/PT), the wait will be over as FOX presents a special two-hour prequel event.

Shot on location in South Africa , Jack Bauer battles an international crisis, while here at home the nation prepares for a new president on inauguration day. Taking place just a few months before the new day dawns, the prequel will set the stage and raise the stakes for Season Seven.

"We're excited about the prequel because it explores Jack's complex emotional state of mind and still has all the signature excitement and suspense that fans have come to expect from 24," commented executive producer Howard Gordon. "Shooting in South Africa affirms everyone’s commitment to making this season especially memorable for our fans."

Celebrating its 150th episode this season, the series has resumed production on "Day 7" and will unfold without interruption in its regular time period Mondays (9:00-10:00 PM ET/PT) beginning in January 2009.

Set in Washington, DC, "Day 7" finds CTU dismantled and Jack Bauer on trial. Bauer's day takes an unexpected turn when former colleague TONY ALMEIDA (Carlos Bernard) returns. Meanwhile, President ALLISON TAYLOR (Cherry Jones) leads the country alongside White House Chief of Staff ETHAN KANIN (Bob Gunton) and First Gentleman HENRY TAYLOR (Colm Feore).

A national security crisis prompts an investigation by a team of FBI agents including Agent JANIS GOLD (Janeane Garofalo), Agent RENEE WALKER (Annie Wersching), Agent LARRY MOSS (Jeffrey Nordling), Agent SEAN HILLINGER (Rhys Coiro) and security specialist MICHAEL LATHAM (John Billingsley). Although CTU is no longer, CHLOE O’BRIAN (Mary Lynn Rajskub) and BILL BUCHANAN (James Morrison) are back for another momentous day of shocking events.

Another Goshen Kid On Ellen Thursday

Of all places, Ellen Degeneres has quite a nice relationship with Spaulding Elementary School in Goshen.

The fifth Spaulding student in three years appears on the "Ellen Degeneres Show" Thursday (10 a.m., Channel 9; 4 p.m., Channel 7) when Sami Stephens, 9, shows off her "sock pizza." (She sewed together two circles of mesh fabric with Velco-sealed wedged-shaped pockets so you can wash and dry socks in pairs.) Sami made the device for Spaulding's annual "Invention Convention" in February.

Third grade teacher Beth Powell says "Ellen" producers have been so impressed with the creative kids at Spaulding that they've asked her to instruct parents of her best young inventors to send videos of their kids inventions every year to the show office in Burbank, Calif.

"They told us that any child we choose, we could have them send a tape to the show. So we send a letter to parents with the instructions on how to send in a video. It's really something," says Powell, a teacher for 11 years.

Diane Stephens says they made a video, mailed it in March and then forgot about it – until the "Ellen" show called in late April. Two weeks later, on May 6, she was in Burbank with her daughter.

Now Stephens wants to take the relationship one step further. Stephens gave producers a letter for Degeneres (she didn't meet the comedian) inviting her to the Invention Convention next Feb. 25, 2009. "She keeps using Goshen children, so she needs to come to the Goshen school," she says.

Whether she comes or not, it's still a cool thing for Spaulding school and Goshen. There must be much bigger schools in bigger towns that would love the national TV attention.

KISS 107 Signs Jordan

Jordan, the afternoon guy on KISS 107, will be around for a couple more years. He has been promoted to assistant program director at WKFS-FM (107.1) in a new two-year deal announced today.

Jordan joined KISS 107 in March 2004 as music director and night DJ, after gigs in WEZB-FM New Orleans and WWHT-FM in Syracuse. Jordan, 3-7 p.m. DJ since September, remains KISS 107 music director, says Mark Anderson, program director.

"I couldn't be happier to be in place for another few years here at KISS 107. I fell in love with Cincinnati as I drove through the 'cut in the hill,' and can't see myself anywhere else but here," he said in a statement.

Jordan also can be heard on "a number of" Clear Channel stations, including KXXM-FM in an Antonio and WNOK-FM in Columbia, S.C.

To learn more about him, check out his vlog – his video blog – at
http://www.kisscincinnati.com/pages/onair_jordan.html

Five New CBS Shows For Fall

CBS will add three dramas -- only one of them a crime-solving show! -- and two new comedies in the fall.

Again CBS will try to establish a 8-9 p.m. Wednesday block, where so many shows have failed ("Yes Dear," "Still Standing," "Cosby" ""The Nanny," even "Murphy Brown" and "Dave's World"). This time you'll see "The New Adventures of Old Christine" and a new Jay Mohr-Paula Marshall sitcom called "Project Gary." The 8-9 p.m. hour has been a revolving door the past year, with "Jericho," "Kid Nation," "Big Brother" and "The Price Is Right."

Most of the crime dramas are back, with "Without A Trace" moving to 10 p.m. Tuesday (for a new Bruckheimer show at 10 p.m. Thursday) and "The Unit" moving to 10 p.m. Sunday. CBS also has ordered two new runs of "The Amazing Race," which returns to 8 p.m. Sunday.

Canceled are James Woods' "Shark," Jimmy Smits' "Cane," "Moonlight," "Viva Laughlin" and the midseason comedy "Welcome to the Captain." And no more "Kid Nation." Of all of these, I thought "Shark" might hang on for another year, but to be honest, I'd lost track of it being on and off the CBS schedule.

"Rules of Engagement," the best role for Patrick Warburton since Puddy, will return at midseason. (Yeah!) There had been some speculation that CBS would pick up "Back To You," the Kelsey Grammer-Patricia Heaton newsroom comedy (apparently canceled by Fox late Friday), but it's not in the announcement below.

Any suprises here for you?

CBS ANNOUNCES NEW 2008-2009 PRIMETIME SCHEDULE

Five New Series Added: Two Comedies and Three Dramas
CBS Expands Comedy Lineup, Adding New Block on Wednesday 8:00-9:00 PM
Two New Dramatic Series to Launch Backed by "NCIS" and "CSI" Lead-Ins
New Series That Blends Comedy, Drama and Romance Joins Fridays Top-Rated Lineup

Eighteen Current Series Return to the Schedule
New Murder Mystery "Harper's Island" Ordered for Mid-Season

CBS announced today its 2008-2009 Fall Primetime Lineup, featuring five new series — two comedies and three dramas — and the launch of a new comedy block on Wednesdays.

The new series include ELEVENTH HOUR, a dramatic thriller from producer Jerry Bruckheimer about a special advisor to the government who investigates scientific crises and oddities; THE MENTALIST, starring Simon Baker as a former celebrity psychic-turned- detective who uses his gifted skills of observation and expertise at "reading" people to solve crimes; THE EX LIST, a sexy comedic drama about a 30-something woman who searches her past relationships to find her future husband; and the comedies PROJECT GARY, starring Jay Mohr and Paula Marshall as dueling ex-spouses and parents trying to move forward with new relationships; and WORST WEEK about a good guy who is always trying to do the right thing, yet something always goes wrong — especially when he's around his girlfriend's parents.

"We've been looking to expand our comedy lineup, and we now have the depth and development to make the move," said Nina Tassler, President, CBS Entertainment. "Monday is already television's signature night for comedy and we think we can make the case that CBS is the signature network for comedy overall."

Added Tassler, "Our new dramas put a character twist on the highly successful procedural form with two exciting new leads in Simon Baker and Rufus Sewell. And, rounding out the new slate is a very unique series with a dynamic young actress (Elizabeth Reaser, "Grey's Anatomy") that blends comedy, drama and romance in a concept that will have everybody thinking about their personal 'ex list.' "

The freshman series will join 18 returning programs on the current CBS lineup.

CBS will return network television's Number One drama franchise — CSI: CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION; CSI: MIAMI, CSI: NY — the Number One comedy, TWO AND A HALF MEN; the Number One news magazine, 60 MINUTES; and two franchise reality series —SURVIVOR and the five-time Emmy Award-winning THE AMAZING RACE.

Also returning are: THE BIG BANG THEORY, HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER, NCIS, WITHOUT A TRACE, THE NEW ADVENTURES OF OLD CHRISTINE, CRIMINAL MINDS, GHOST WHISPERER, NUMB3RS, COLD CASE, THE UNIT, 48 HOURS MYSTERY and CRIMETIME SATURDAY.

The new 2008-2009 schedule is:

On Monday, CBS adds a new comedy to television's top-rated comedy lineup. From 8:00-9:00 PM, the popular young adult comedy block of THE BIG BANG THEORY and HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER returns. Television's top comedy TWO AND A HALF MEN remains at 9:00 PM and serves as a lead-in for the new comedy WORST WEEK at 9:30 PM. CSI: MIAMI, the night's top scripted series, returns for its seventh season at 10:00 PM.

On Tuesday, NCIS opens the night at 8:00 PM and the hit drama WITHOUT A TRACE moves to 10:00 PM, creating a hammock position for the new drama THE MENTALIST at 9:00 PM.

On Wednesday, CBS opens a new night of comedy. The critically acclaimed THE NEW ADVENTURES OF OLD CHRISTINE, starring Emmy Award winner Julia Louis-Dreyfus, starts the night at 8:00 PM, leading into the new comedy PROJECT GARY. The successful tandem of CRIMINAL MINDS and CSI: NY return from 9:00-11:00 PM.

On Thursday, CBS adds a new drama to television's most-watched night. SURVIVOR returns at 8:00 PM, where it continues to dominate its time period, followed by the night's highest-rated show, CSI: CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION, which provides a strong lead-in for the new suspenseful thriller ELEVENTH HOUR at 10:00 PM.

CBS adds a unique new series to its top-rated Friday. GHOST WHISPERER, starring Jennifer Love Hewitt, returns at 8:00 PM leading into another female-lead show, THE EX LIST, at 9:00 PM, capped by the night's highest rated scripted series NUMB3RS at 10:00 PM.

Saturdays will feature CBS's CRIMETIME programming from 8:00-10:00 PM, followed by 48 HOURS MYSTERY, the night's top-rated program.

On Sunday, the perennial Number One news magazine, 60 MINUTES, kicks off its 41st season at 7:00 PM, followed by the return of the five-time Emmy Award-winning reality series THE AMAZING RACE at 8:00 PM. The successful crime drama COLD CASE remains at 9:00 PM and the action drama THE UNIT joins the night at 10:00 PM.

In addition to the new series for fall, the network announced the pick up of two programs for midseason. The new drama, HARPER'S ISLAND, is a murder mystery that unfolds as friends and family attend week-long festivities at a destination wedding on a secluded and picturesque island off the coast of Seattle, infamous for a homicidal maniac's rampage seven years ago. Also picked up for midseason is the comedy RULES OF ENGAGEMENT.

The new comedies are:

WORST WEEK is a comedy about Sam Briggs, an entertainment magazine editor who will do anything to please his girlfriend's parents … but instead becomes a one-man wrecking crew whenever he's around them. Sam (Kyle Bornheimer, "Jericho") and his girlfriend, Melanie Clayton (Erinn Hayes, "Kitchen Confidential"), have only one hurdle left to clear as they start their life together: breaking the news to Mel's conservative parents that they have a wedding in the works and a baby on the way. Dick (Kurtwood Smith, "That '70s Show"), a stern Judge, and his wife Angela (Nancy Lenehan, "My Name is Earl"), are protective of their daughter, and are really trying to let go of the anger they feel toward Sam … after all, disaster follows whenever he visits their house. But despite his best efforts, every time Sam takes one positive step forward in winning over his future in-laws, he inevitably takes two crushing steps back. But with support and love from Melanie who stands up for him despite his knack for making himself look bad, Sam will hopefully charm his way into her family. Emmy Award winner Adam Bernstein ("30 Rock") directed the pilot. Matt Tarses ("Scrubs") and Jimmy Mulville ("Whose Line Is It Anyway?") are the executive producers for Universal Media Studios and CBS Paramount Network Television.

PROJECT GARY stars Jay Mohr ("Ghost Whisperer") and Paula Marshall ("Nip/Tuck") in a comedy about Gary Barnes, a recently single painting contractor, and his controlling ex-wife, Allison, who face post-divorce mayhem after 15 years of marriage as they each embark on new relationships. He's the fun parent and she's the strict one. Together, they share custody of their two children — Louise (Laura Marano, "Without a Trace"), a politically correct and environmentally conscious 11-year-old, and Tom (Ryan Malgarini, "How to Eat Fried Worms"), their socially awkward 14-year-old son who is nervous around girls. Charming and acerbic, Gary hasn't dated since the split, but finally connects with Vanessa (Jaime King, "The Class"), a single mother whose condo he was hired to paint. He dreads telling Allison about Vanessa because it doesn't adhere to her belief in their marriage counselor's book, "Rules for the Perfect Divorce." However, when Allison tells him that she's engaged to their shrink, all bets are off and Gary decides it's time to move forward. Now, in pursuit of post-marriage happiness, Gary must juggle his eclectic world of an ex-wife, their two kids, their shrink and his gorgeous new girlfriend. Ed Yeager ("Still Standing") and Ric Swartzlander ("8 Simple Rules") are the executive producers for ABC Studios and CBS Paramount Network Television.

The new dramas are:

THE MENTALIST stars Golden Globe Award nominee Simon Baker ("The Devil Wears Prada") as Patrick Jane, a detective and independent consultant with the California Bureau of Investigation (CBI), who has a remarkable track record for solving serious crimes by using his razor sharp skills of observation. Within the Bureau, Jane is notorious for his blatant lack of protocol and his semi-celebrity past as a psychic medium, whose paranormal abilities he now admits he feigned. Jane's role in cracking a series of tough high-profile cases is greatly valued by his fellow agents. However, no-nonsense Senior Agent Teresa Lisbon (Robin Tunney, "Prison Break") openly resists having Jane in her unit and alternates between reluctantly acknowledging Jane's usefulness and blasting him for his theatrics, narcissism and dangerous lack of boundaries. Lisbon's team includes agents Kimball Cho (Tim Kang, "Rambo"), Wayne Rigsby (Owain Yeoman, "The Nine"), and rookie member Grace Van Pelt (Amanda Righetti, "The O.C."), who all think Jane's a loose cannon but admire his charm and knack for clearing cases. Bruno Heller (creator of "Rome") is creator/executive producer, and Emmy Award winner David Nutter ("Band of Brothers") is the executive producer for Warner Bros. Television.

ELEVENTH HOUR from acclaimed producer Jerry Bruckheimer follows Dr. Jacob Hood (Rufus Sewell, "The Illusionist"), a brilliant biophysicist and special science advisor to the government, as he investigates scientific crises and oddities. His jurisdiction is absolute and Hood is dogged in his pursuit of those who would abuse and misuse scientific discoveries and breakthroughs for their own gain. His passion and crusade is to protect the substance of science from those with nefarious motives. He is called in at the eleventh hour and he represents the last line of defense. Based on the British miniseries by acclaimed science-fiction writer Stephen Gallagher, the series is executive produced by Bruckheimer ("CSI: Crime Scene Investigation," "Pirates of the Caribbean"), Jonathan Littman ("CSI: Crime Scene Investigation," "Cold Case"), Danny Cannon ("CSI: Crime Scene Investigation," "CSI: Miami"), Cyrus Voris ("Bulletproof Monk"), Ethan Reiff ("Sleeper Cell"), Mick Davis ("Wake of Death"), and Paul Buccieri ("Fashion House") for Jerry Bruckheimer Television in association with Warner Bros. Television.

THE EX LIST is a comedic drama about Bella Bloom (Elizabeth Reaser, "Grey's Anatomy") – a single, 30-something, successful business owner who is surprised to learn from a psychic that she's already dated her future husband AND there's a catch: if she doesn't find him in the next year, she'll remain alone forever. During a bachelorette party for her sister, Daphne (Rachel Boston, "American Dreams"), Bella learns from the psychic she must revisit her past relationships and sort through the mistakes to find her soul mate. Skeptical, Bella begins to analyze every past liaison and failed romance with her close circle of friends, Augie (Adam Rothenberg, "Mad Money"), an endearing guy who has listened to Bella's love woes since college, Vivian (Alex Breckenridge, "Dirt"), Augie's long-term girlfriend, and Cyrus (Amir Talai, "Campus Ladies"), who's chronically unemployed and full of wry observations. Once Bella witnesses proof of the psychic's other predictions, her cynicism disappears and she begins her search. Along her trip down break-up lane, Bella is determined to remain optimistic and receptive, believing that when destiny reopens doors to the past, every relationship can matter in the future. Diane Ruggiero ("Veronica Mars") and Jonathan Levin ("Charmed") are executive producers for Twentieth Century Fox Television.

Following is the 2008-2009 CBS Television Network primetime schedule:
(N=New, NT=New Time, all times ET/PT)

MONDAY
8:00-8:30 PM THE BIG BANG THEORY
8:30-9:00 PM HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER
9:00-9:30 PM TWO AND A HALF MEN
9:30-10:00 PM WORST WEEK (N)
10:00-11:00 PM CSI: MIAMI

TUESDAY
8:00-9:00 PM NCIS
9:00-10:00 PM THE MENTALIST (N)
10:00-11:00 PM WITHOUT A TRACE (NT)

WEDNESDAY
8:00-8:30 PM THE NEW ADVENTURES OF OLD CHRISTINE (NT)
8:30-9:00 PM PROJECT GARY (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 ELEVENTH HOUR (N)

FRIDAY
8:00-9:00 PM GHOST WHISPERER
9:00-10:00 PM THE EX LIST (N)
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
9:00-10:00 PM COLD CASE
10:00-11:00 PM THE UNIT (NT)