CBS is in an enviable position in that it has too many hit shows and not enough room for new shows. It’s an
embarrassment of riches, and a very good problem to have.
CBS’ schedule is incredibly stable; save for some minor tweaks that I believe
only strengthens their schedule.
Monday:
8 pm: How I Met Your Mother/ Partners
9 pm: 2 Broke Girls/ Mike & Molly
10 pm: Hawaii Five-O
CBS struck gold with 2 Broke
Girls, easily the highest rated freshmen comedy (or any new show for that
matter) on TV. Not only that, HIMYM also saw new life, with it’s ratings
improving from last year. Because of the success of 2BG, it will be moving to the 9pm anchor spot to replace the aging
veteran 2 And A Half Men.
The network will air a new comedy out of HIMYM, which is very smart
since they had a lot of success with 2BG
in this slot. Mike & Molly stays
in the 9:30 slot. Overall this looks like a strong night, and CBS hopes that 2BG can be the solid anchor Men was.
Tuesday:
8 pm: NCIS
9 pm: NCIS: LA
10 pm: Vegas
For a show entering its 10th season this fall, NCIS shows no signs of aging.
Incredibly, the show grew its viewership the past couple of years, unheard of
for a show this old. Spinoff NCIS:LA
has been successful airing at 9pm, so there was no need to change what was
working.
What was not working, however, was the 10 pm slot. Unforgettable squandered much of its lead-in, to the point where
all 3 networks were competitive on the night, on a night that CBS should win.
So airing a new show here, Vegas, which
according to critics is a CSI-type show before all the tech, is a smart thing
to do.
Wednesday
8 pm: Survivor
9 pm: Criminal Minds
10 pm: CSI
Probably one of the most underrated moves of last year was moving the
then-struggling CSI to the Wednesday
10pm slot, where the show got a new
breadth of fresh air in the ratings. Even though this slot had less
competition, the show did not lose viewers and easily won the time slot.
The rest of the night is populated by seasoned vets Survivor and Criminal Minds, both shows still doing very well in the ratings.
Thursday:
8 pm: Big Bang Theory/ Two And A Half Men
9 pm: Person of Interest
10 pm: Elementary
CBS successfully staked its claim as king of comedy on this night, at
least at 8 pm. CBS hasn’t had too much success airing a compatible comedy out
of BBT, so CBS has decided to shore
up 8:30 with the veteran 2 And A Half
Men. Whether CBS is trying to save this show from declining ratings or
putting it here to die, no matter the reason the comedy block will be stronger
in the ratings.
Person of Interest slowly
grew into a nice hit for the network, growing its ratings throughout the fall,
but seeing declines in the spring (as did all other shows). So CBS keeping the
show here in this slot rather moving it is a smart move, with the network
giving it another chance to grow.
CBS felt that this slot was the best suited for a new drama, shipping The Mentalist off to Sundays. Taking
its place is the new modern-day Sherlock Holmes drama Elementary. The show has been getting some buzz mainly from the
BBC, who is airing their own Sherlock Holmes series, with the British net threatening
to sue CBS. So far, those threats have been hot air, but things can change
quickly.
Friday:
8 pm: CSI: NY
9 pm: Made In Jersey
10 pm: Blue Bloods
The network is sticking to its guns and airing all scripted dramas once
again, at least in the fall. CBS failed in launching a new drama at 8 pm last
year, so they’re trying a different strategy, slotting the veteran CSI:NY at the 8pm slot leading into a
new series Made In Jersey. It’s
always hard to predict how a new show will do, and on a Friday it’s hard to
predict what constitutes success. Blue
Bloods will stay on at 10 pm, where it’s been capitalizing on older
viewers.
Sunday:
8 pm: The Amazing Race
9 pm: The Good Wife
10 pm: The Mentalist
I’m a little bit surprised that CBS opted to keep The Good Wife here when it struggled in the ratings last year. Many
thought that the show would be shipped to Fridays, but CBS still believes in
the show, giving it probably one last chance for it to succeed.
The Mentalist moves to its
new home on Sundays 10pm. CBS has moved this show every year since it debuted,
and surprisingly the show has kept a loyal fan base. This will shore up the 10
pm slot and should give CBS a win here.
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