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NEW YORK – A rival network’s castoff and the move of a top show to a competitive night highlights the fall lineup announced Wednesday by CBS, the last of the top four broadcasters to reveal its schedule to advertisers.
CBS said it was canceling “Without a Trace,” “The Unit” and “Eleventh Hour.” New series with Jenna Elfman and Julianna Margulies are moving in.
CBS, the only network with more viewers this season than last, moved quickly to grab “Medium,” starring Patricia Arquette, from NBC. Because it is made by a company owned by CBS Corp., the growing costs were more easily absorbed by CBS. Its home will be 9 p.m. Friday, between “Ghost Whisperer” and “Numb3rs.”
Simon Baker’s “The Mentalist” was broadcast TV’s only real new hit this season, and CBS decided to move it from Tuesday nights to Thursday at 10 p.m.
Thursdays are important for networks as they seek income from advertisers like film studios looking ahead to the weekend. CBS also said it sees the chance to gain a competitive edge at 10 p.m. with NBC airing Jay Leno’s new show at that hour each weeknight.
CBS tinkered with its Monday night comedy lineup. The network is moving “How I Met Your Mother” up a half-hour to 8 p.m. and shifting “Big Bang Theory” to 9:30 p.m. in the hope of nurturing it as a hit.
Elfman’s new show, “Accidentally on Purpose,” debuts at 8:30 p.m. Based on a true story, it’s about a San Francisco film critic who gets pregnant after a one-night stand with a young slacker, then decides to keep both the baby and the dad.
CBS is spinning off “NCIS”; “NCIS: Los Angeles” features Chris O’Donnell and rapper LL Cool J as a former Navy SEAL and will air after “NCIS” on Tuesday.
Margulies stars in “The Good Wife,” about a stay-at-home mom forced back to work when her politically prominent husband is sent to prison after a sex scandal. It will air Tuesdays at 10 p.m.
“Three Rivers,” to air Sundays at 9 p.m., is a drama about organ donation.
