CBS ANNOUNCES MID-SEASON PROGRAMMING PLANS

"Flashpoint," Last Summer's Top Original Scripted Series, Returns

Friday, Jan. 9, 9:00-10:00 PM



"Harper's Island," a 13-Episode Mystery Event, Premieres Thursday, April 9,

10:00-11:00 PM and Concludes Thursday, July 2



"Game Show in My Head," a New Game Show from Ashton Kutcher,

Premieres Saturday, Jan. 3, 8:00-9:00 PM



"Survivor" Returns Thursday, Feb. 12, 8:00-9:00 PM



The 14th Edition of "The Amazing Race" Premieres Sunday, Feb. 15, 8:00-9:00 PM



CBS today announced mid-season schedule changes that include the return of the drama FLASHPOINT, the premiere of the mystery event HARPER'S ISLAND, the debut of the new game show GAME SHOW IN MY HEAD and the returns of the Network's reality hits SURVIVOR and THE AMAZING RACE.



FLASHPOINT, last summer's top original scripted series, premieres Friday, Jan. 9 (9:00-10:00 PM, ET/PT).



FLASHPOINT, starring Enrico Colantoni, Hu gh Dillon, Amy Jo Johnson, David Paetkau, Michael Cram, Sergio Di Zio, Ruth Marshall and Mark Taylor, depicts the emotional journey into the tough, risk-filled lives of a group of cops in the Strategic Response Unit (inspired by Toronto's Emergency Task Force).



FLASHPOINT is produced by Pink Sky Entertainment in association with CBS Paramount Network Television. Bill Mustos and Anne Marie La Traverse are executive producers.



HARPER'S ISLAND, a 13-episode mystery event, premieres Thursday, April 9 (10:00-11:00 PM, ET/PT) and concludes Thursday, July 2 (10:00-11:00 PM, ET/PT). HARPER'S ISLAND is about a group of family and friends who travel to a secluded island for a destination wedding. They've come to laugh... to love... and, though they don't know it... to die. As the wedding festivities begin, friendships are tested and secrets exposed as a murderer claims victims, one by one, transforming the wedding week of fun and celebration into a terrifying struggle for survival. In every episode, someone is killed and every person is a suspect, from the wedding party to the island locals. By the end of the 13 episodes, all questions will be answered, the killer will be revealed and only a few will survive.



Jon Turteltaub ("Jericho") and Jeffrey Bell ("Alias," "Angel," "The X-Files") are executive producers for CBS Paramount Network Television in association with Junction Entertainment. Karim Zreik ("Jericho"), Dan Shotz ("Jericho") and Tyler Bensinger ("Cold Case") are co-executive producers and Ari Schlossberg ("Hide and Seek") is co-executive producer and creator.



GAME SHOW IN MY HEAD, a hidden camera game show from Ashton Kutcher, premieres Saturday, Jan. 3 (8:00-9:00 PM, ET/PT). Ordinary people must perform extraordinary tasks on an unsuspecting public to win up to $50,000. Under the watchful eye of host Joe Rogan, each contestant performs five outrageous, embarrassing and hilarious tasks worth $5,000 each. In a no-holds-barred bonus round, each contestant has the chance to double their money up to $50,000.



GAME SHOW IN MY HEAD is from fox21, produced by Hat Trick Productions and Katalyst Films. Executive producers are Jimmy Mulville & Leon Wilde and Ashton Kutcher, Jason Goldberg, Karey Burke and Michael Binkow.



The 18th edition of SURVIVOR premieres Thursday, Feb. 12 (8:00-9:00 PM, ET/PT) while THE AMAZING RACE returns with its 14th edition on Sunday, Feb. 15 (8:00-9:00 PM, ET/PT).



Saturday, Effective Jan. 3

8:00-8:30 PM GAME SHOW IN MY HEAD (Premiere)

8:30-9:00 PM GAME SHOW IN MY HEAD (Premiere)

9:00-10:00 PM CRIMETIME SATURDAY

10:00-11:00 PM 48 HOURS MYSTERY



Friday, Effective Jan. 9

8:00-9:00 PM GHOST WHISPERER

9:00-10:00 PM FLASHPOINT (Premiere)

10:00-11:00 PM NUMB3RS



Thursday, Effective Feb. 12

8:00-9:00 PM SURVIVOR 18 (Premiere)

9:00-10:00 PM CSI

10:00-11:00 PM ELEVENTH HOUR



Sunday, Effective Feb. 15

7:00-8:00 PM 60 MINUTES

8:00-9:00 PM THE AMAZING RACE 14 (Premiere)

9:00-10:00 PM COLD CASE

10:00-11:00 PM THE UNIT



Thursday, Effective April 9

8:00-9:00 PM SURVIVOR

9:00-10:00 PM CSI

10:00-11:00 PM HARPER'S ISLAND (Series Debut)


http://www.cbspressexpress.com/div.php/cbs_network/release?id=20295

CBS is putting something on Saturday!! Way to be aggressive on their end. Now just move over Million Dollar Password, occasional Price is Right specials and maybe even Power of 10 eps and you would be set. They should swap TAR and the Wednesday comedies and use 48 Hours on Wed. at 8 until TAR is ready for round two while they're at it. Then they would really have an aggressive lineup. Overall though, CBS has actually positioned themselves imo to take second place for once.

Sounds like CBS is burying "Game Show in My Head" rather than trying to revive first-run programming on Saturdays.

CBS ordered a pilot for this show two years ago, green-lit the series just about a year ago, and filmed the episodes back in April, so the shows have been available for months. IIRC, CBS was considering a late summer/early fall run for this series.

As far as the series itself, Hollywoodjunket.com reported that the three days of tapings were marred by frequent fighting between host Joe Rogan and the production crew. The witness to the show also noted that the GSimH appears to be deeply flawed...

http://hollywoodjunket.com/blog/2008/04/30/new-game-sho...d-by-ashton-kutcher/

Maybe it's me, but I don't think this show has much of a shelf life.

I like the game show on Saturday, too. Maybe they are testing to see if anyone will watch. If they can get and audience for this one I could see them expanding to another game show or two for the night.

quote:

Originally posted by mushu_jj:
CBS is putting something on Saturday!! Way to be aggressive on their end. Now just move over Million Dollar Password, occasional Price is Right specials and maybe even Power of 10 eps and you would be set. They should swap TAR and the Wednesday comedies and use 48 Hours on Wed. at 8 until TAR is ready for round two while they're at it. Then they would really have an aggressive lineup. Overall though, CBS has actually positioned themselves imo to take second place for once.

Solid moves by CBS.

Flashpoint will be a great bridge between GW and Numbers.

HI will likely not do any worse than 11thH after CSI.

CBS also was losing ratings programming repeats on Saturday. Almost anything will be able to equal the repeat's ratings. While Game Show In My Head doesn't look particularly interesting, it could be a start to CBS programming Saturdays with two game shows/reality shows and 48 Hours.

quote:

Originally posted by WlcmLAPD:
CBS also was losing ratings programming repeats on Saturday. Almost anything will be able to equal the repeat's ratings. While Game Show In My Head doesn't look particularly interesting, it could be a start to CBS programming Saturdays with two game shows/reality shows and 48 Hours.

The demo is where the gameshow could improve things on Saturdays but a 2 hour block would really help make their case for viewers to tune in.

quote:

Originally posted by mushu_jj:

quote:

Originally posted by WlcmLAPD:
CBS also was losing ratings programming repeats on Saturday. Almost anything will be able to equal the repeat's ratings. While Game Show In My Head doesn't look particularly interesting, it could be a start to CBS programming Saturdays with two game shows/reality shows and 48 Hours.

The demo is where the gameshow could improve things on Saturdays but a 2 hour block would really help make their case for viewers to tune in.

I agree CBS is doing with total viewers, but if the gameshows can equal Cops in the demo I'd say that's a success.

quote:

Originally posted by mushu_jj:
...They should swap TAR and the Wednesday comedies and use 48 Hours on Wed. at 8 until TAR is ready for round two while they're at it. Then they would really have an aggressive lineup. Overall though, CBS has actually positioned themselves imo to take second place for once.

Please quit whipping that dead horse. CBS has shown no signs of wanting to place comedies on Sunday nights. Maybe next season, but the prospects for comedies on Sunday this season are about as likely as NBC picking up "Cavemen" and establishing a new comedy block around it.

It is interesting to note what CBS did not mention in its midseason plans: the returning comedy "Rules of Engagement".

It has been assumed that CBS only ordered three more episodes of "Worst Week" in order to make room for "Rules" in the spring (as opposed to a lack of confidence in the struggling freshman comedy). However, no mention of either comedy so far. That didn't stop CBS from identifying a replacement for "Eleventh Hour" on Thursday even though it too got a renewal short of a full season.

I would not be surprised to see "Gary Unmarried" moved to Mondays once "Week" has ended and have "Rules" air behind "Old Christine". It seems to me that CBS is really sold on "Gary" based on its (potential) full season order and its one shot exposure on Mondays earlier this season. If CBS sees possible long-running potential in "Gary" then it may want to give it the best shot at success, which could mean a move to Mondays. Such a move would give "Gary" the networks most visible comedy time slot after "Two and a Half Men" and keep it out of the line of fire from Fox's "American Idol".

The good news is: they're putting original programming on Saturday. The bad news is: Ashton Kutscher is involved.

quote:

Originally posted by mushu_jj:
CBS is putting something on Saturday!! Way to be aggressive on their end. Now just move over Million Dollar Password, occasional Price is Right specials and maybe even Power of 10 eps and you would be set. They should swap TAR and the Wednesday comedies and use 48 Hours on Wed. at 8 until TAR is ready for round two while they're at it. Then they would really have an aggressive lineup. Overall though, CBS has actually positioned themselves imo to take second place for once.

Anybody who would watch that game show really needs to get a life, and fast.

quote:

Originally posted by Twins12:
I like the game show on Saturday, too. Maybe they are testing to see if anyone will watch. If they can get and audience for this one I could see them expanding to another game show or two for the night.mselves imo to take second place for once.

Well, I think we should at least give it a chance before ripping it up. At least maybe this will lead to the better games shows like TPIR or MDP on Saturdays.

quote:

Originally posted by heighteye:
Anybody who would watch that game show really needs to get a life, and fast.

quote:

Originally posted by Twins12:
I like the game show on Saturday, too. Maybe they are testing to see if anyone will watch. If they can get and audience for this one I could see them expanding to another game show or two for the night.mselves imo to take second place for once.

Hooray for CBS for putting something original on Saturdays intentionally!