CBS announces return of Scripted shows

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http://www.thefutoncritic.com/news.aspx?id=20080213cbs01

[Sylph]

CBS picks up 11 shows

Fox unveils summer scheduling plans

By MICHAEL SCHNEIDER

CBS is joining this week's mass primetime renewal frenzy, picking up 11 of its top-rated series for next season.

Meanwhile, Fox unveiled its summer scheduling plans Thursday as the networks continue to get their post-strike programming plans back on track.

At CBS, the renewals include just one freshman entry: comedy "The Big Bang Theory." "Big Bang" and fellow Monday night hit "Two and a Half Men" -- both from Chuck Lorre -- were the only laffers to score pickups Thursday.

Others renewed include dramas "Cold Case," "Criminal Minds," "CSI," "CSI: Miami," "CSI: NY," "Ghost Whisperer," "NCIS," "Numbers" and "Without a Trace."

Eye had previously picked up new seasons of reality staples "Survivor" and "The Amazing Race."

Missing from the pickup list: critical fave laffer "How I Met Your Mother." Net hasn't yet determined the long-term fates of newcomers "Moonlight," "Cane" and "Welcome to the Captain," while "The Unit," "Shark," "Jericho," "Rules of Engagement" and "The New Adventures of Old Christine" also remain on the bubble.

CBS notes that the returning shows rep 10 hours of its primetime fare -- and that eight of the shows are among the top 20 scripted skeins on TV.

The "CSI" trio comes from CBS Paramount TV and Jerry Bruckheimer; "Cold Case," from Warner Bros. TV and Bruckheimer; "Criminal Minds" and "Ghost Whisperer," both from ABC Studios and CBS Par; "Without a Trace," from Warner Bros. and CBS Par; "NCIS" and "Numbers," from CBS Par; and the comedies from Warner Bros.

Over at Fox, net will once again take advantage of the "American Idol" finale to launch the fourth season of "So You Think You Can Dance." Competish will bow Thursday, May 22, at 8 p.m. with a two-hour special, followed by another two-hour event Wednesday, May 28.

"Dance" will then settle into its regular pattern: two-hour performance shows on Wednesday and one-hour results shows on Thursdays at 9 p.m.

Net will also bow the delayed reality skein "When Women Rule the World" -- originally slated for midseason -- on Mondays starting June 2. Skein will bow with a two-hour special, then move to its normal 9 p.m. slot the next week.

For summer, Fox will also air originals of "The Moment of Truth" (which moves to Thursdays at 8 starting June 12); "Hell's Kitchen" (in its normal Tuesday 9 p.m. slot); and Saturday staples "America's Most Wanted" and "Cops."

Read the full article at:

http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117980954.html

[JackPeyton]

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