CBS's Fall 2006

Here's what CBS has done with its schedule. Of all the networks this is likely the one with the least need to be adjused short of some slight tinkering.

Cancelled: Threshold; Out of Practice; Courting Alex; CBS Sunday Movie; Love Monkey; Yes, Dear; Still Standing.

Retained: Survivor; The New Adventures of Old Christine; How I Met Your Mother; Two and a Half Men; The Amazing Race; Without A Trace; Numb3rs; Ghost Whisperer; CSI; CSI: Miami; CSI:NY; The Unit; Criminal Minds; Close to Home; 60 Minutes; 48 Hours: Mysteries; NCIS.

Moved: How I Met Your Mother; The Amazing Race; Cold Case; Without A Trace.

New: The Class; Smith; Jericho; Shark.

In addition The King of Queens will be returning for a 13 episode run at mid-season. CBS also has three new series, 3 Lbs.; Waterfront; and Rules of Engagement for mid-season.

Complete Schedule: (New shows in Capitals, except NCIS)
Monday
8:00-8:30 p.m. How I Met Your Mother (New Time)
8:30-9:00 p.m. THE CLASS
9:00-9:30 p.m. Two And A Half Men
9:30-10:00 p.m. The New Adventures Of Old Christine
10:00-11:00 p.m. CSI: Miami

Tuesday
8:00-9:00 p.m. NCIS
9:00-10:00 p.m. The Unit
10:00-11:00 p.m. SMITH

Wednesday
8:00-9:00 p.m. JERICHO
9:00-10:00 p.m. Criminal Minds
10:00-11:00 p.m. CSI: New York

Thursday
8:00-9:00 p.m. Survivor
9:00-10:00 p.m. CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
10:00-11:00 p.m. SHARK

Friday
8:00-9:00 p.m. Ghost Whisperer
9:00-10:00 p.m. Close To Home
10:00-11:00 p.m. Numb3rs

Saturday
8:00-9:00 p.m. Crimetime Saturday
9:00-10:00 p.m. Crimetime Saturday
10:00-11:00 p.m. 48 Hours: Mystery

Sunday
7:00-8:00 p.m. 60 Minutes
8:00-9:00 p.m. The Amazing Race (New Day and Time)
9:00-10:00 p.m. Cold Case (New Day and Time)
10:00-11:00 p.m. Without A Trace (New Day and Time)

The Class is a comedy about a group of 20 somethings who share one thing in common - they were all in the same third grade class. after an impromptu reunion their lives intersect as they discover that they have a lot more in common than they might have expected. Stars a group of relative unknowns most notable of which are Jason Ritter, and Andrea Anders.

Smith stars Ray Liotta as a seemingly ordinary family man who is actually an expert thief who needs two more big jobs to settle his wife (Virginia Madsen) and family into a comfortable lawful lifestyle. Also stars Jonny Lee Miller, Franky G, Simon Baker, and Amy Smart, with John Wells as executive producer.

Jericho tells the story of what happens when a town in Kansas is completely cut off from the rest of world, not knowing whether the nuclear explasion they saw on the horizon means that they are the last living Americans. Gerald McRaney, Ashley Scott, and Pamela Reed star.

In Shark James Woods plays Sebastian Stark, a ruthless and charismatic defense attorney who becomes the head of the LA District Attorney's High Profile Crimes Unit after his successful defense of a client leads to a shocking result and a personal epiphany. Jeri Ryan, Sam Page, Alexis Cruz, and Sarah Carter co-star. Dircted by Oscar nominee Spike Lee, with Oscar winner Brian Grazer, David Nevins, Ian Biederman, and Ed Redlich as executive producers.

Comments:
The biggest move on the part of CBS was the decision to ax their Sunday night movies which have been on for as long as most people can remember, and move existing series into place to go against NBC's football telecasts. Certainly it will be a better location for The Amazing Race than either the third hour of Tuesday or the first hour of Wednesday which were the time slots the show occupied for its current season. They seem quite certain that Shark is going to be able to replace the veteran Without A Trace against ER and the show certainly has an impressive pedigree. Smith also sounds interesting but one has to wonder if Liotta will have the opportunity to carry out his two capers before Law & Order: Special Victims Unit and Boston Legal bring an end to it. Jericho seems like an interesting concept in the style of Lost, but it's hard to forget what happened to the three "alien invasion" series from the 2005-06 season. Still what appears to be very weak competition so far means that it has a good chance of survival, at least until the end of the season. The only new comedy in the line-up, The Class, seems innocuous enough and has a good chance simply because it's sandwiched between two powerhouse comedies, How I Met Your Mother and Two And A Half Men.