CBS 2007-2008 fall line-up…

Updated on May 16, 2007 By Ken Begg 9 Comments

CBS remains the most stable of the broadcast networks, and will be adding but five new shows for the 2007-2008 fall line-up.  Even so, they must be looking forward to the day when their largely veteran, crime-show dependent skein starts to falter.  The fact that NBC has dumped one Law & Order show (Criminal Intent, which will continue as a new show on the USA cable network), and nearly cancelled the original L&O, emphasizes the mortality of CBS’ CSI shows, not to mention Cold Case, Without a Trace, etc.

So while they are in one way the most conservative network this year, staying mostly with what they already have, their new shows are a weird bunch.  I can’t imagine many if any of these will work, but who knows?

The one comedy being added is The Big Bang Theory, which naturally about genius nerds who don’t “fully understand that scientific principles don’t always apply in matters of the heart – until they meet their sexy new neighbor Penny (Kaley Cuoco, “8 Simple Rules…”), a friendly screenwriter/waitress from the midwest who also happens to be newly single.”  You know, nerds already know that scientific principles don’t “always” (read, nearly ever) apply in matters of the heart…they just don’t know what does.

The most mundane of the three new dramatic shows is the Hispanic-themed Cane, starring Jimmy Smits “in an epic drama about the external rivalries and internal power struggles of a large Cuban-American family running an immensely successful rum and sugar business in South Florida” You can’t knock the cast, which aside from Smits stars Hector Elizondo and Rita Moreno.

Going the fantasy route is Moonlight, a genre bender about a vampire private detective.  This is in no way like Forever Knight, by the way, because that was about a vampire cop.  The irony is that if this show continues, somehow, after a few years the lead actor will start showing his age, sort of messing around with the “forever youthful” part of things.  Hard to imagine this hanging around very long.

Weirder yet by far is Viva Laughlin, a mystery drama set in a casino that occasionally has the characters break out into song, ala the infamous Cop Rock.  Good luck with that.  This is CBS’ “adapted from a British show”, since I think the law requires at least one of these on each network.  By the way, the show is produced by Hugh Jackman, a complete bastard who among his various talents is a classically trained singer.  He will occasionally appear on the show to help boost rating, although not by much, probably.  This is one of those shot in a thousand deals.  It’s so far off the mark of everything else out there that if it somehow hits, everybody associated with it will be hailed as a genius.

CBS’ new reality show will be Kid Nation:  “a reality-based series in which 40 kids will have 40 days to build a new world – in a ghost town that died in the 19th Century. These kids, ages 8-15, will spend more than a month without their parents or modern comforts in Bonanza City, N.M., attempting to do what their forefathers could not – build a town that works. They will cook their own meals, clean their own outhouses, haul their own water and even run their own businesses – including the old town saloon (root beer only). They’ll also create a real government – four kid leaders who will guide the group through their adventure, pass laws and set bedtimes.”  PBS has a lot of shows like this, actually, but that should make the execution of this particular series a tad easier.  I have to say, of the sorry lot listed above, this seems the most likely to be in any way successful.  Nobody gets ejected, by the way.  You only leave if you get homesick and elect to.

Also mentioned are some prospective replacement shows, and again, it looks like they’ll need them.

Power of Ten is another game show, hosted by Drew Carey.  It sounds sort of like 1 vs. 100 merged with The Family Feud, in that contestants must match the answers of a large survey pool.

Swingtown, meanwhile, is a drama series about Chicago area spouse-swappers back in the ’70s.  It was a tumultuous time, you know.

Thankfully, we’ll get at least one more round of The Amazing Race in the midseason, too.

CBS TELEVISION NETWORK 2007-2008 PRIMETIME SCHEDULE

MONDAY

8:00-8:30 PM HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER
8:30-9:00 PM THE BIG BANG THEORY (N)
9:00-9:30 PM TWO AND A HALF MEN
9:30-10:00 PM RULES OF ENGAGEMENT
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 CANE (N)

WEDNESDAY

8:00-9:00 PM KID NATION (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 WITHOUT A TRACE (NT)

FRIDAY

8:00-9:00 PM GHOST WHISPERER
9:00-10:00 PM MOONLIGHT (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 VIVA LAUGHLIN (N)
9:00-10:00 PM COLD CASE
10:00-11:00 PM SHARK (NT)

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  • The Rev. D.D.

    I’m already looking forward to the next Amazing Race. I need something to wash out the taste of last season’s finale. Nothing like watching a show for a whole season, only to have a team you despise win the damn thing and make it all seem like a waste of viewing time.

  • Ken HPoJ

    Never discount youthful energy and fitness (and that Type ‘A’ personality). Other than making baldfaced mistakes, cleverness doesn’t really come into play in the same way that it does in, say, Survivor. That’s why I thought it was hilarious when the other teams would decide to ‘team up’ against, say, the Blondes. In AR, that sort of thing really doesn’t have much effect.

    Also, for further contestants: Using tools of the race does not constitue ‘cheating’ or ‘playing dirty.’ You mooks.

  • El Santo

    I have to admit, I’ll probably tune in to watch Kid Nation. It sounds interesting. I doubt it will be true to life, though. For example: is the food provided? Or do they have to grow their own food? Or if they import their food, what kind of income do 8-15 year olds in a self-sustaining city do to generate income to pay for the food. I have to wonder what the CBS guys will keep it from devolving to Lord of the Flies.

    Still, I have a warm, fuzzy feeling it would be aunique experience for everyone involved, much like a sort of extended classroom United Nations.

  • sardu

    Hmmmmmm… Kid Nation: maybe. OTOH, Lord Of The Flies: The Series: I’m so there.

  • Eirik

    I’m not sure I can forgive them for canceling Jericho after ending with a rather significant cliffhanger. I hope they decide to re-try it as a mid season replacement when all these other shows tank.

  • “Kid Nation” freaks me the heck out. I mean, what if the kids do too good of a job and we have a “Children of the Corn” thing going on in New Mexico?

  • Ken HPoJ

    Actually, the western town the Kid Nation contestants will be recreating is Deadwood, so…

  • The Rev. D.D.

    I’m not saying I was surprised they won, I just reeeeally didn’t want them to. They rubbed me the wrong way big time. I think they reminded me of a team a few years ago…don’t remember the names, but they were stuck-up and vain, and they made really rude comments about indigenous peoples throughout the race. When they ended up winning, it pissed me off big time.
    I was not a fan of the blondes, but I’d have rather seen them win it.
    I didn’t think they’d pull it off, but if Mirna and Charla had won I’d have been tickled. Mirna is a pushy bitch, but Charla kicks ass. And if Mirna could’ve won a race with someone whose leg length was a major liability, I wouldn’t have begrudged her.

    I guess I’m glad I didn’t catch Jericho now, since it’s cancelled. I had planned on renting the season, but maybe I shouldn’t now…I hate good shows being cut down before they can come to a resolution.

  • Songino

    ““Kid Nation” freaks me the heck out. I mean, what if the kids do too good of a job and we have a “Children of the Corn” thing going on in New Mexico?”

    Have you ever been to New Mexico? This would be an improvement.