CBS executives are looking to diversify their primetime line-up, and with good reason. From the three CSI franchises, to Without a Trace and Cold Case, the network has an awful lot of procedural dramas. Luckily, the execs recognize that and they've given themselves (and everyone else) an order to get creative. Already, they're working on a 1970s drama about wife swapping and the sexual revolution, a show about the women's movement, and a comedy from one of the Borat writers. The weirdest thing they have lined up is an American version of the U.K. hit, Viva Blackpool. Variety describes it as "a musical thriller featuring characters belting out top 40 songs." This fall season saw some unusual shows for CBS, including Jericho and Smith (which was already canceled). Last year's attempt to be different was Love Monkey, which was also canceled. CBS entertainment prez Nina Tassler says the hard part has been getting studios to pitch their edgier stuff to the network, which has always had a bit of a stuffy reputation.No more procedurals for CBS
CBS executives are looking to diversify their primetime line-up, and with good reason. From the three CSI franchises, to Without a Trace and Cold Case, the network has an awful lot of procedural dramas. Luckily, the execs recognize that and they've given themselves (and everyone else) an order to get creative. Already, they're working on a 1970s drama about wife swapping and the sexual revolution, a show about the women's movement, and a comedy from one of the Borat writers. The weirdest thing they have lined up is an American version of the U.K. hit, Viva Blackpool. Variety describes it as "a musical thriller featuring characters belting out top 40 songs." This fall season saw some unusual shows for CBS, including Jericho and Smith (which was already canceled). Last year's attempt to be different was Love Monkey, which was also canceled. CBS entertainment prez Nina Tassler says the hard part has been getting studios to pitch their edgier stuff to the network, which has always had a bit of a stuffy reputation.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
10-20-2006 @ 12:38PM
Jonathan said...
Riiight. Like that's gonna change anything. Americans will STILL pretty much only watch those stupid 'procedural dramas' instead of a new and fresh serial show. It's pretty obvious by the ratings and the cancelled serials that Americans don't want anything else than what they're watching right now. So come on CBS why don't you add one or two other CSI show.
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10-20-2006 @ 12:37PM
J-Spot said...
"No more procedurals... except for the 18 we already have." I would love for some more creative programming, but I'll believe it when I see it. Look at the performance of the various creative new shows this season and then look at the top 20. If anything, I expect more procedurals to be developed next season, along with more reality tripe like Dancing with the Stars.
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10-20-2006 @ 1:09PM
Oscar Dahl, BuddyTV said...
Whether this is true or not, CBS will continue to bank on their procedurals.
Shows like CSI and Cold Case get great ratings because they require no investment from the audience. The main characters on those shows aren't the stars, that week's crime is. You can miss an episode and jump right back in the following week with no repurcussions. CBS isn't going to change anything.
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10-20-2006 @ 3:08PM
Dwayne Conyers said...
There will be the comedy procedural about the nerdy bookworm who always forgets where he parked his car. Each week, he meets a HOT woman who, while helping him locate his car, leads him on a wild adventure and then, as he reaches his car, tells him... "Sorry, you're not my type."
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dwacon
http://dwacon.blogspot.com
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