TVSquad

Today's news that CBS ordered five more episodes of Eleventh Hour is not a big surprise. A big surprise would have been if the network didn't give the freshman drama a re-order. The Jerry Bruckheimer production has been in the most-favored nation position at CBS -- meaning whatever Jerry wants, he usually gets.

The network enjoys a very fruitful/profitable relationship with the TV/filmmaker. Together, CBS and Jerry share Cold Case, CSI, CSI: Miami, CSI: NY, Without A Trace and The Amazing Race. They're thinking of changing the initials CBS to Columbia Bruckheimer System. (Kidding!)

In fact, Eleventh Hour has earned the re-order, garnering approximately 12 million viewers per episode, which is very good. However, because it has the juggernaut CSI lead-in (19 million, give or take a half-million), the expectations are high for any show in that 10 o'clock slot. Eleventh Hour has fared well against NBC's ER -- which is ending its run this season -- and ABC's Life on Mars, which was just moved to Wednesday nights. So, Eleventh Hour conceivably has a good chance to solidify that spot given some more time.

Here's my unsolicited advice for anyone at CBS with an itchy finger and thoughts of moving Eleventh Hour to another spot either in hopes of boosting Eleventh's numbers, or building a bigger blockbuster Thursday night for the network: leave the line up alone for the rest of Eleventh Hour's run.

A lot of people pick up on new series weeks after the premieres and November sweeps period. Right now, I bet there are a lot of viewers -- like me, I admit -- who have been torn between Life on Mars and Eleventh Hour, or still loyal to ER in the final season (especially when they pull ratings stunts like Anthony Edwards' return).

Eleventh Hour is a solid, compelling drama that I think is getting stronger with each episode. I like Rufus Sewell and will definitely keep watching -- and hoping -- for more than just these five additional episodes.