Upfronts Week is here! I’ve talked about NBC, Fox, and ABC so far. For CBS, keep reading! Stay tuned for The CW tomorrow!
As for returning shows, all I really care about on this network are Life in Pieces and Scorpion, both of which have been renewed, so all is well in the world. While I do also enjoy Criminals Minds, Mom, and The Big Bang Theory, I’d only really be sad if Mom got cancelled as that’s the only show of these three that I’m emotionally attached to and feel like the show hasn’t been on for forever. Anyway, yay for all of the renewals. No surprise here as CBS is the network that plays it safe (maybe too safe), always.
Thoughts On Cancelled Series:
Literally all of the new CBS shows of this past TV season were duds which, it’s CBS, so, not surprising. They’ve been playing it too safe and just been giving shows that should have never seen the light of day, light. I tried to find the silver lining in a few shows but no, just no. None of them worked. So, I’m glad that everything that was cancelled got cancelled and am hopeful that all of the shows that need to be cancelled (new and returning), will be cancelled at some point in the near future to create room for something better.
As for cancellations of returning shows, I am shocked that 2 Broke Girls is just now getting cancelled. I never would have expected it to last as long as it did (it found its audience but its audience wasn’t huge), so congrats to them for keeping that train running for as long as it did. It was a good show, just not great enough for me to carve time out to watch it faithfully. Anyway, this frees up Beth Behrs’s schedule, hopefully she’ll take something on Broadway where she belongs. What a talent this woman is, my goodness.
Thoughts On New Series:
As far as the dramas go…Wisdom of the Crowd sounds like the now cancelled Fox drama, APB with an even more personal and interactive touch. APB was actually good but this version of that show is on CBS, so I don’t have much hope for this because it could easily be cancelled too. Jeremy Piven does nothing for me so him as the lead doesn’t make me want to watch the show. Monica Potter is in this show though, so if anything, I’ll watch the Pilot episode just to see and support her. But longevity wise, I don’t have much faith in this show even though I’m sure it will be a solid show. Seal Team could be hit or miss but with David Boreanaz on board, it really should be a hit, and it really looks like it hit, very compelling, so, we’ll see in time if it lives up to what it’s putting out there. I think it will but then it just comes down to viewership.
S.W.A.T. sounds really boring but Shemar Moore stars in this and Shawn Ryan has his executive producer hands in this, and after watching the trailer, I can see that it’s actually the exact opposite of boring – it’s timely and thoughtful and wow, can we just take a second to acknowledge how much better all of the new CBS shows look this season? It’s like a complete 180 compared to the last handful of years of CBS upfronts, if I’m being frank. CBS has seriously leveled up. I don’t know if they got tired of their own crap or I don’t know what changed but the quality of the projects chosen this TV season is significantly stronger than past seasons combined. Well done, CBS. You’ve got a long way to go in many aspects but one look here at what you’ve done this season while staying true to your brand, it shows it CAN be done so that’s the first step in the right direction. (Now just keep on going in the right direction and soon enough your shows will be more diverse too).
Now I don’t even care what Instinct is about, it stars Alan Cumming and that’s all I need to know to tune in. The cast is great; Naveen Andrews, Khandi Alexander, etc… I’m excited. Alex Kurtzman is an executive producer on the show and I love his work so I think it’s safe to say both behind and in front of the scenes, this new series has the most promise of all of the new CBS dramas. Finally, there’s Star Trek: Discovery which will only be available through CBS All Access AKA online and through the CBS app. Based on the trailer…wow. They outdid themselves with the trailer and I am SO, SO excited for this show to finally premiere!!!
As for the comedies…I’m woefully a number of seasons behind on The Big Bang Theory but you can bet I will be watching Young Sheldon. It looks so good! And my gosh, it has so much heart, I think I’ll explode. I love it. Me, Myself, & I is exactly the kind of show that I’d watch but the only thing that has me worried is that it’s on CBS so it’s most definitely a hit or miss. I really hope this one is a hit because the premise is A+ and the cast is A+ and the trailer is A+ so this, for me, is the most compelling and promising new CBS comedy of the upcoming TV season aside from the shoe in of Young Sheldon. 9JKL sounds boring and looks boring. Been there, done that, safe, tropey sitcom. Blah. By the Book has a fun premise that can easily cross the line into being disrespectful of a person’s faith so I really hope this is a smart, thought provoking, respectfully playful show. But if the tone isn’t right, hard pass. I can laugh at my own faith but there’s a difference between laughing with and laughing at. The cast seems to be worth catching but there is no promo yet for this so only time will tell.
New series are in CAPS.
Sunday
7-8pm 60 Minutes
8-9pm WISDOM OF THE CROWD
9-10pm NCIS: Los Angeles
10-11pm Madam Secretary
Monday
8-8:30pm The Big Bang Theory
8:30-9pm YOUNG SHELDON
8:30-9pm 9JKL
9-9:30pm Kevin Can Wait (Moves to 8pm Oct. 30)
9:30-10pm ME, MYSELF & I (Moves to 9pm Oct. 30) / Superior Donuts (Starting Oct. 30)
10-11pm Scorpion
Tuesday
8-9pm NCIS
9-10pm Bull
10-11pm NCIS: New Orleans
Wednesday
8-9pm Survivor
9-10pm SEAL TEAM
10-11pm Criminal Minds
Thursday
8-11pm NFL Thursday Night Football
8-8:30pm The Big Bang Theory (Starting Nov. 2)
8:30-9pm YOUNG SHELDON (Starting Nov. 2)
9-9:30pm Mom (Starting Nov. 2)
9:30-10pm Life in Pieces (Starting Nov. 2)
10-11pm S.W.A.T. (Starting Nov. 2)
Friday
8-9pm MacGyver
9-10pm Hawaii Five-0
10-11pm Blue Bloods
Saturday
8-9pm Crimetime Saturday
9-10pm Crimetime Saturday
10-11pm 48 Hours
Midseason Drama: Instinct
Midseason Comedies: By the Book
CBS All Access: Star Trek: Discovery
NEW DRAMAS:
Stars Emmy and Golden Globe Award winner Jeremy Piven as a visionary tech innovator who creates a cutting-edge crowdsourcing app to solve his daughter’s murder, and revolutionizes crime solving in the process. Inspired by the notion that a million minds are better than one, Silicon Valley entrepreneur Jeffrey Tanner (Piven) develops “Sophe,” an online platform for publicly shared information, and recruits the original cop who searched for his daughter’s killer, Det. Tommy Cavanaugh (Richard T. Jones), to work with him. As Tanner taps into the “wisdom of the crowd,” his unexpected success fuels his determination to solve even more cases than just the one that’s personal to him. Ted Humphrey; Adam Davidson (pilot); Avi Nir, Alon Shtruzman, Peter Traugott, Rachel Kaplan (Keshet Media Group); and Dror Mishani and Shira Hadad are executive producers for CBS Television Studios in association with Universal Television. Davidson directed the pilot. Based on the Israeli format of the same name.
WISDOM OF THE CROWD stars Emmy and Golden Globe Award winner Jeremy Piven as Jeffrey Tanner, Richard T. Jones as Det. Tommy Cavanaugh, Natalia Tena as Sara Morton, Blake Lee as Josh Novak, Jake Matthews as Tariq Bakari and Monica Potter as Alex Hale.
Stars David Boreanaz in a military drama that follows the professional and personal lives of the most elite unit of Navy SEALs as they train, plan and execute the most dangerous, high stakes missions our country can ask of them. Deployed on clandestine missions worldwide at a moment’s notice, and knowing the toll it takes on them and their families, this tight-knit SEAL team displays unwavering patriotism and fearless dedication, even in the face of overwhelming odds. Ben Cavell, Ed Redlich, Chris Chulack, Sarah Timberman and Carl Beverly are executive producers for CBS Television Studios. Emmy Award winner Chulack directed the pilot.
SEAL TEAM stars David Boreanaz as Jason Hayes, Max Thieriot as Clay Spenser, Neil Brown Jr. as Ray, A.J. Buckley as Sonny, Toni Trucks as Diaz and Jessica Paré as Mandy Ellis.
Inspired by the television series and feature film, S.W.A.T. stars Shemar Moore as a locally born S.W.A.T. sergeant newly tasked to run a specialized tactical unit that is the last stop in law enforcement in Los Angeles. Torn between loyalty to the streets where he was raised and allegiance to his brothers in blue, former Marine Daniel “Hondo” Harrelson (Moore) has everything it takes to successfully bridge the divide between his two worlds and excel at leading his dedicated team of brave men and women as they risk their lives to protect the community. Aaron Thomas, Shawn Ryan, Justin Lin, Neal Moritz, Marney Hochman, Danielle Woodrow and Pavun Shetty are executive producers for Sony Pictures Television in association with CBS Television Studios. Lin directed the pilot.
S.W.A.T. stars Shemar Moore as Daniel “Hondo” Harrelson, Stephanie Sigman as Jessica Cortez, Alex Russell as Jim Street, Jay Harrington as David “Deacon” Kay, Lina Esco as Christina “Chris” Alonso, Kenny Johnson as Dominique Luca and Peter Onorati as Mumford.
INSTINCT
Stars Alan Cumming as a former CIA operative who is lured back to his old life when the NYPD needs his help to stop a serial killer. Dr. Dylan Reinhart (Cumming) is a gifted author and university professor living a quiet life teaching psychopathic behavior to packed classes of adoring students. But when top NYPD detective Lizzie Needham appeals to him to help her catch a serial murderer who is using Dylan’s first book as a tutorial, Dylan is compelled by the case, comes out of retirement and taps into his old skill set. Though Dylan and Lizzie initially clash, when it comes to catching killers, they realize they will make an ideal team if they both trust their instincts. Based on the soon to be published James Patterson book. Michael Rauch, Marc Webb, Alex Kurtzman and Heather Kadin (Secret Hideout), James Patterson, Bill Robinson, Leopoldo Gout and Alan Cumming are executive producers for CBS Television Studios. Webb directed the pilot.
INSTINCT stars Alan Cumming as Dr. Dylan Reinhart, Bojana Novakovic as Lizzie Needham, Daniel Ings as Andy, Naveen Andrews as Julian Cousins and Khandi Alexander as Lt. Monica Ford.
NEW COMEDIES:
For 9-year-old Sheldon Cooper (Iain Armitage), it isn’t easy growing up in East Texas. Being a once-in-a-generation mind capable of advanced mathematics and science isn’t always helpful in a land where church and football are king. And while the vulnerable, gifted and somewhat naïve Sheldon deals with the world, his very normal family must find a way to deal with him. THE BIG BANG THEORY’s multiple Emmy Award winner Jim Parsons narrates as Adult Sheldon. This single-camera, half-hour comedy gives us the chance to meet Sheldon in childhood, as he embarks on his innocent, awkward and hopeful journey toward the man he will become. Chuck Lorre and Steve Molaro created the series and executive produce along with Jim Parsons and Todd Spiewak for Warner Bros. Television. Jon Favreau directed the pilot.
YOUNG SHELDON stars Iain Armitage as Sheldon, Zoe Perry as Mary, Lance Barber as George Sr., Raegan Revord as Missy and Montana Jordan as Georgie Jr. THE BIG BANG THEORY’s multiple Emmy Award winner Jim Parsons narrates the comedy as Adult Sheldon.
Stars Mark Feuerstein in a family comedy inspired by his real life. Josh Roberts (Feuerstein) is a new divorcé and actor between projects who moves home to New York to regroup, living in an apartment sandwiched between his doting, meddlesome parents on one side and his competitive brother, sister-in-law and their new baby on the other. As Josh’s family literally comes at him from both sides, he realizes he desperately needs to establish some personal boundaries, because his loving family is always going to be right there for him. Always. Dana Klein, Mark Feuerstein, Aaron Kaplan, Wendi Trilling, Dana Honor and Pam Fryman are executive producers for Kapital Entertainment in association with CBS Television Studios. Fryman directed the pilot.
9JKL stars Mark Feuerstein as Josh Roberts, Linda Lavin as Judy, Elliott Gould as Harry, David Walton as Andrew, Liza Lapira as Eve and Matt Murray as Nick.
Stars Bobby Moynihan in a comedy about the defining moments in one man’s life over three distinct periods – as a 14-year-old in 1991, at age 40 in present day and at age 65 in 2042. During these pivotal periods of yesterday, today and tomorrow, Alex always finds a way to move forward with determination and humor, knowing his life story isn’t defined by the bad things that happen to him, but instead by how he chooses to deal with them. Dan Kopelman, Aaron Kaplan, Dana Honor and Randall Einhorn (pilot only) are executive producers for Kapital Entertainment in association with Warner Bros. Television and CBS Television Studios. Einhorn directed the pilot.
ME, MYSELF & I stars Bobby Moynihan (Alex, present day), Jack Dylan Grazer (Alex, 1991), Brian Unger (Ron, 1991, present day), Jaleel White (Darryl, present day), Kelen Coleman (Abby, 2042), Skylar Gray (Abby, present day), Christopher Paul Richards (Justin, 1991), Mandell Maughan (Maggie, 1991), Reylynn Caster (Nori, 1991), with Sharon Lawrence (Eleanor, 2042) and John Larroquette (Alex, 2042).
BY THE BOOK
BY THE BOOK is a comedy about a modern day man at a crossroads in his life who decides to live strictly in accordance with the Bible. Chip Curry (Jay R. Ferguson) is the film critic for a New York newspaper and a soon-to-be father who wants to be a better man following the loss of his best friend. As he begins his sincere spiritual journey toward a more moral life with the help of his wife and friends, he wonders if he’ll be able to take a page – or every page – out of the Good Book, and if the effect will be of Biblical proportions. Based on The New York Times bestselling book The Year of Living Biblically by A.J. Jacobs. Patrick Walsh, Johnny Galecki, Andrew Haas, Spencer Medof and multiple Emmy Award winner Andy Ackerman (pilot) are executive producers for Alcide Bava Productions in association with Warner Bros. Television and CBS Television Studios. Ackerman directed the pilot.
BY THE BOOK stars Jay R. Ferguson as Chip, Lindsey Kraft as Leslie, Ian Gomez as Father Gene, David Krumholtz as Rabbi Ableman, Tony Rock as Vince and Camryn Manheim as Ms. Meadows.