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The CBS Network has always been a favorite of mine because they don’t put as much emphasis on the younger demographics as the other networks. CBS also has some of the best dramas on television and I’ve always favored dramas over comedies. This season their fall lineup is heavy on drama series. This is my personal opinion and I’m sure many of my younger members wouldn’t agree with me.
Stars coming to CBS this fall season include Mark Harmon, Charlie Sheen, Randy Quaid, Joe Mantegna, Mary Steenburgen, Joe Pantoliano, Jon Cryer, Blythe Danner, Judith Light, Robert Klein, Elizabeth McGovern and Mare Winningham.
Monday nights will start out with “Yes Dear” at 7:00-7:30 p.m., CST, which is a new night and time for this series, followed by “Still Standing” also at a new night and time. Then a Viewers Voice all time favorite “Everybody Loves Raymond” at 8:00-8:30 p.m., CST and a new comedy series, “Two and a Half Men” will finish off the sitcoms for the night. “CSI: Miami” the second season hit drama will conclude the night at 9:00-10:00 p.m., CST.
Charlie Sheen (“Spin City”) and Jon Cryer (“Pretty in Pink”) star in “Two and a Half Men” a comedy about a wealthy bachelor (Sheen) whose life is turned upside down when his brother (Cryer) and young nephew move into his Malibu beach house. Blythe Danner (“Meet the Parents”) plays their socialite mother.
Tuesday is a night too dream for, three fantastic dramas. Mark Harmon, who I’m a big, big fan of, stars in “Navy CIS” (Naval Criminal Investigative Service) as Special Agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs at 7:00-8:00 p.m., CST. This action drama is inspired by the hit-series “Jag,” about a team of special agents whose mission is to investigate any crime that has a shred of evidence connected to Navy and Marine Corps personnel, regardless of rank or position. Don P. Bellisario (“JAG,” “Magnum, P.I.”) is the executive producer. I haven’t had a chance to review this show yet but it already has my approval. My only problem is I usually watch “Gilmore Girls” on The WB at this particular time, but I do have a DVD recorder and I will use it.
“The Guardian” (8:00-9:00 p.m., CST) and “Judging Amy” (9:00-10:00 p.m., CST) will finish out the rest of a great quality Tuesday night.
Wednesday night has a little bit of everything starting with “60 Minutes II” at 7:00-8:00 p.m., CST. Sandwiched in the middle are two comedies, “The King of Queens,” 8:00-8:30 p.m., CST, which is a new night and time, and “The Stones” 8:30-9:00 p.m., CST, a new series. A new drama, “The Brotherhood of Poland, N.H.” fills the 9:00-10:00 p.m., CST, timeslot.
“The Stones” is a comedy about the crazy reality of two adult children living in their childhood home with their divorcing but still friendly parents. The stars of this series are Jay Baruchel (“Undeclared”), Lindsay Sloane (“Grosse Pointe”), Robert Klein (“How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days”), and Judith Light (“Who’s the Boss”). It will be nice to see Judith Light back on TV again.
This David E. Kelly (“Picket Fences”) and Michael Pressman (“Chicago Hope”) drama that celebrates small town life, “The Brotherhood of Poland, N.H.” follows three inseparable brothers as they face challenges in their families and careers in the town of Poland, N.H. Randy Quaid (“The Last Detail”), Brian Haley (“Pearl Harbor”), and John Carroll Lynch (“The Good Girl”) star as the loving brothers. If you liked Kelly’s “Picket Fences” you are going to love this series because it’s very similar.
Thursday will stay the same with “The Survivor” kicking off at 7:00-8:00 p.m., CST, “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation,” 8:00-9:00 p.m., and finishing with “Without A Trace” 9:00-10:00 p.m., CST.
Friday looks like another good night for some quality dramas. “Joan of Arcadia” a family series with a twist airs at 7:00-8:00 p.m., CST, “Jag” following at a new night and time, 8:00-9:00 p.m., CST. Then “The Handler” a sort of “Missions Impossible” type of new drama series airs at 9:00-10:00 p.m., CST.
“Joan of Arcadia” is a family drama that follows a typical family facing atypical situations, except their teenage daughter suddenly has unexpected conversations with God. Leslie Moonves, Chief Executive Officer of CBS says this not another “Touched By An Angel” and he emphasizes that fact. “Joan of Arcadia” is from the executive producer of “Judging Amy,” Barbara Hall, so you know this could be a good one. The parents of this series are Joe Mantegna (“The Last Don”) and Mary Steenburgen (“Melvin and Howard”), with an exciting new young girl, Amber Tamblyn (“The Ring”).
“The Handler” stars Joe Pantoliano as Joe Renato, an FBI agent who trains and handles agents who go undercover to solve crimes at all levels of Los Angeles’ diverse society. If you have HBO and watch “The Sopranos” you’re going to recognize Pantoliano as Joey Pants as everyone refers to him, the fellow who got whacked in the series.
Saturday, a night supposedly nobody is home to watch TV except us old folks, will start the night out with “48 Hours Investigates” at a new day and time, 7:00-8:00 p.m., CST. “Hack” returns at a new night and time, 8:00-9:00 p.m., CST, with “The District” also at a new night and time, 9:00-10:00 p.m., CST.
“60 Minutes” returns to Sundays at 6:00-7:00 p.m., CST, with a new drama, “Cold Case” at the 7:00-8:00 p.m., CST timeslot. Finishing the new fall schedule will be the “CBS Sunday Movie” from 8:00-10:00 p.m., CST.
“Cold Case” stars Kathryn Morris (“Minority Report”) in a drama about Lilly Rush, the lone female detective in the Philadelphia homicide squad who finds her calling when she’s assigned to “cold cases,” crimes that have never been solved. Leslie Moonves is quoted as saying, “Kathryn Morris has the potential to be a big, big television star.”
Well there you have the CBS fall lineup and I personally think it is an excellent one, although they are a little heavy on crime dramas. This could put them as the number one network if most of the new shows live up to their potential. Until my next column, let your voice be heard.
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