Robert posted earlier about CBS’s new 2008 fall schedule. I’ll compare the Eye’s Fall 2008 schedule to its Fall 2007 schedule, and look at what worked, what didn’t work and what might happen next fall.
Unlike ABC who is introducing only 2 new shows next fall, CBS is introducing 5 new shows (and four hours of shows) (Worst Week, The Mentalist, Project Gary, Eleventh Hour, and The Ex-List). That’s pretty close to the 5 new shows (and 4.5 hours of shows) introduced in fall 2007 (The Big Bang Theory, Cane, Kid Nation, Moonlight, and Viva Laughlin)
There will be just 4 hours of unscripted programming in Fall 2008 compared to 6 hours in Fall 2007, but no more employment for striking writers, since CBS is simply replacing the 2 Crimetime Saturday hours with drama reruns. CBS won’t be introducing any new unscripted programming next fall.
CBS started last fall down about 8% vs. the previous season, but the strike hit them the hardest of the big networks, as they sunk to almost 20% behind 2006-7 at one point. The failure of their new shows was a big factor. Only one new show from their Fall 2007 lineup, The Big Bang Theory, returns for Fall 2008.
Next fall, CBS is betting more heavily on comedies, introducing 3 shows/ 2 hours (Worst Week, The Ex-List, Project Gary) likely as at attempt to grab a somewhat younger demographic. Last fall CBS introduced only one comedy.
CBS will introduce 2 new drama hours (The Mentalist, Eleventh Hour) vs. 3 new drama hours last fall. Based on past experience, yet knowing little about those shows, I’m going to guess that we’ll be seeing “Save Our Eleventh Hour“ letter writing campaigns underway next season. Here’s a quote that future fans can feel free to use “Eleventh Hour is the only show I watch on CBS, the rest of their schedule is garbage. If they drop Eleventh Hour, I’ll never watch another CBS show again.” You’ve been warned.
CBS Fall 2007 Schedule Shows vs. Fall 2008 Schedule Shows
|
2007 |
2008 |
|
| Monday | ||
| 8-8:30p | HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER | THE BIG BANG THEORY |
| 8:30-9p | THE BIG BANG THEORY | HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER |
| 9-9:30p | TWO AND A HALF MEN | TWO AND A HALF MEN |
| 9:30-10p | RULES OF ENGAGEMENT | WORST WEEK |
| 10-11p | CSI: MIAMI | CSI: MIAMI |
| Tuesday | ||
| 8-9p | NCIS | NCIS |
| 9-10p | THE UNIT | THE MENTALIST |
| 10-11p | CANE | WITHOUT A TRACE |
| Wednesday | ||
| 8-8:30p | KID NATION (8-9p) | NEW ADVENTURES OF OLD CHRISTINE |
| 8:30-9p | GARY UNMARRIED* | |
| 9-10p | CRIMINAL MINDS | CRIMINAL MINDS |
| 10-11p | CSI: NY | CSI:NY |
| Thursday | ||
| 8-9p | SURVIVOR: CHINA | SURVIVOR |
| 9-10p | CSI | CSI |
| 10-11p | WITHOUT A TRACE | ELEVENTH HOUR |
| Friday | ||
| 8-9p | GHOST WHISPERER | GHOST WHISPERER |
| 9-10p | MOONLIGHT | THE EX-LIST |
| 10-11p | NUMB3RS | NUMB3RS |
| Saturday | ||
| 8-9p | CRIMETIME SATURDAY | Drama rerun |
| 9-10p | CRIMETIME SATURDAY | Drama rerun |
| 10-11p | 48 HOURS MYSTERY | 48 HOURS MYSTERY |
| Sunday | ||
| 7-8p | 60 MINUTES | 60 MINUTES |
| 8-9p | VIVA LAUGHLIN | THE AMAZING RACE |
| 9-10p | COLD CASE | THE UNIT |
| 10-11p | SHARK | COLD CASE |
*originally titled Project Gary.
Shows in BOLD CAPS are/were new, shows in italics are unscripted, 2007 shows in strikethrough did not return.
Rules of Engagement and Harper’s Island are slated as mid-season replacements.
I didn’t think it was worthwhile to compare the announced Winter 2009 and future schedules to this years for two reasons. One, this years Winter and Spring schedules were somewhat cobbled together in response to the writers strike. Two, schedules announced so far in advance have a habit of changing.
11th hour looks to have a real good chance to be successful if its even close to decent. that timeslot is ratings gold.
the other timeslot that is ratings gold is the one after 2.5 men; worst week should pull decent numbers but cbs seems to be searching for a real hit here otherwise it would be complacent w/rules.
the Wednesday comedies will only succeed if old christine viewers migrate, which i kind of doubt. I would of liked cbs try some single camera sitcoms here, instead of playing it safe.
there is no reason to believe ex-list will pull in any better numbers than moonlight especially since it looks to tackle the same demo as moonlight.
WORK WEEK? Not a good idea for a show name. People will be calling it WORST SHOW – if it doesnt get great ratings right off the bat.
CBS chance to have the 19-49 female demographic they covet died when Moonlight was canceled..
Since Joel Silver seems to be shopping Moonlight to CWTV among others, maybe there will be another season.
cbs has lost my viewership with the cancellation of “Moonlight”. i guess HGTV will be the only chanel left to watch now
Yeah CSI isnt any fun to watch anymore b/c they got rid of the good characters and NCIS is ok. None of there new shows really apeal to me either
moonlight should not have been canceled !!!
Are you moving your viewership to FOX or ABC or CW or to cable networks? CBS is acting stupid, FOX is beating their hind ends right now. FOX knows what works. CBS does not. One of the 4 networks should pick up Moonlight.
Now that Moonlight is gone as far as I am concerned CBS is gone too.
My family wont be watching cbs anymore since cancelling Moonlight. It was the families favorite show.
yes!
how i met your mother is coming back for another season!!!
thats sooo great!
All I can say is, CBS must not think much of their audience if they think anyone would be interested in The Ex-List. The whole premise of the show is stupid. I guess they will find some people with no taste to watch. Maybe they need to pay attention to what the viewers say instead listening to some bimbo with no taste. I hope The Ex-List is a total flop. I believe the CBS viewers have good taste and will boycott it. CBS believing The Ex-List will be a hit, makes me wonder who they are listening to.
rules of engagement best comedy with two and a half men
Here's a novel idea…why don't you corporate dodos stop already with all of the friggin "reality" shows and stop cancelling interesting and unique shows like Cane and Moonlight?!?!?!? Seriously, if I have to sit through another show where people have to be voted off week by week, get engaged to someone they've only known for 3 weeks, or any other of these "reality" shows, I'm (and like Jerry Maguire's "Who's Coming With Me?" speech) going to stop watching network TV all together. I have a sneaking suspicion I won't be alone either. Now….WHO'S COMING WITH ME?!?!?
Fed Up Viewer, I TOTALLY AGREE with your comment! My husband and I LOVED Cane! They have enough reality and comedy shows already. I think Cane brought something different , and something INTERESTING! I think they had a wonderful cast of actors and actresses! I am VERY UPSET to hear it won’t be returning, but The Big Bang Theory will?? COME ON! I don’t accept that no matter how you put it! I am a loyal fan of this show since day one! I was ANXIOUSLY AWAITING the return this fall! Surely they can come up with a better reason to cancel than the writer’s strike! This show was by far the best thing since Sopranos! When they were cancelled, my husband was really unhappy, but I told him about Cane and he was hooked immediately! If there is a petition out there anywhere to bring Cane back, I will gladly add my name!
I loved Cane and Moonlight, I don’t know what CBS is thinking either. I’m so sick of the reality crap that I switch as soon as I see one come on. WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU PEOPLE.
I can not believe that they took Cane off the air. We watched that show faithfully every week. They should do away with some of the dumb reality shows!!!!!
Cane and Moonlight were two of our favorite shows. Both shows were interesting and unique, and definitely worth watching. We, the viewers, are tired of CBS taking the shows that are worth watching off the air in order to replace them with something totally ridiculous, i.e. reality and comedy shows.
I am so upset..What is wrong with the networks??? They take the great shows like MOONLIGHT AND CANE and say BYEBYE and put crap on like some of these ridiculous reality shows…..I have a family member that works at a TV station and everytime I like something they take it off the air. I usually end up calling her and she said that is just the way things are…WELL I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHO THE SMUCKS ARE THAT CANCEL THESE SHOWS…I am not a violent person just a person who is very frustrated with these networks who have apparently no-clue what the public likes to watch….I would just like to ask these people When did they bump their heads????
i totally agree with the people that love Cane. One of the best shows on CBS in years!! idiot big shots on CBS HAVE NO IDEA WHAT A GOOD SHOW IF IT SLAP THEM IN THE FACE!! BRING BACK CANE!!
when something good come on it is all ways droped, everyone do not want to see comedies each time the station is turned on.Cane was a very good show ,cut off when it was geting really good.why is this, why not write in advance just to be sure if things goes wrong (strike) the show goes on?I am left with: Criminal Minds,The CSI’S, Cold Case,and Without A Trace to watch. Nent these will be gone or reruns after rerun so I am stocking up on movies and digging out the DVD player after these programs are gone there’S nothing to watch.Bring back the good stuff .
Cane has to be brought back. What an insult to a decent show which was only cancelled because of the writers strike. So what?..? NOW we lost 1/2 of a season of shows plus somehow everything that was decent seems to have been perminantly cancelled? I am really pissed! Bring it back!!! you brought JERICO back, seriously Cane was one of the best new shows on television!!!! Lame!!
I agree with the rest of you, love Moonlight and Cane, refuse to watch reality shows and dumbed down comedies. Perhaps we should contact the companies that advertised on those shows and ask them to bring them back.
CBS let go 2 of the best new shows from last season, Moonlight and Cane. BAD MOVE! CBS had the chance to tap 2 completely different and large audiences, young women and Latino’s. As far as Cane goes, entire families were watching this show transcending age groups and they gave up this demographic that wasn’t important enough for them. CBS is going to regret that. And finally Moonlight… CBS totally lost their momentum with this show. They needed to contiue to strike while the iron was hot. Now all of the Moonlight fans will watch True Blood on HBO.
So what if ratings dropped a bit? There have been many shows that took more than one season to catch on and then they became classics (such as Seinfeld). Then with the writers strike, many of the shows just didn’t have a fair chance. Shame on you CBS!
Why did CBS remove moonlighting? I think it should be brought back on. How can you leave a story hanging in the middle for the audience to figure out if Mick St john and the love of his life, the lady with the blond hair. If they ever hook up. PLEEEAAAASSSSEEEE Bring it back.
100 % agreement! Bring back Cane! We’ll gladly wait for it. Rehire the writers and actors, etc. Put some people back to work and satisfy your viewers at the same time. Jimmy Smits rocks and so does the show CANE. Come on CBS, please listen to your viewers. Give the people what they want and get your ratings at the same time!
BRING BACK CANE.