Unlike ABC and NBC who are both rolling out rather large offerings for the 2012-2013 season, CBS seems to be going with less is more. After all, they have several shows that are working for them already on their roster. It seems like an “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” sentiment, and well, that kind of makes sense. Even though in our mind there’s no reason for Two and a Half Dong and Potty Jokes to really continue, but no one asked us. Let’s take a look at the few things CBS is rolling out.
Elementary
CBS’s Logline: In a modern-day take on Sherlock Holmes, the iconic detective is taking on New York. Just out of rehab, he’s been assigned to live with his worst nightmare-sober coach, Dr. Joan Watson.
The Good and the Bad: Hey, there’s Johnny Lee Miller! Remember he was once married to leg-bombing Angelina Jolie who he shared screen time with in the so wonderful computerzz movie Hackers? And from there we have no idea what he went on to do. Perhaps Shakespeare in an Arby’s? Anyway, he’s Sherlock Holmes in modern day, yet wearing a jaunty ascot inexplicably! Ascots in a typically ascot-less world. Times are a changin. Lucy Liu plays “Joan Watson” a sober counselor or something like that. So! Lady Watson. Turning that thing completely upside down. Take that Jude Law! This was probably dreamt up to ramp up the conflict between Holmes and Watson. Huge potential for kiss, smooch, flirt, flirt, banter-y banter. Well, that’s awesome. Strip all that away, and you’ve got another “dynamic person who can solve crimes” show because he has an oddball quirk.
Made in Jersey
CBS’s Logline:You can take the girl out of Jersey, but you can’t take Jersey out of the girl. When a brassy street-wise lawyer joins a posh Manhattan law firm, she lowers expectations at first sight. But, despite her white-collar colleagues’ skepticism and her Italian family’s well-meaning but constant intrusions, she rises to the challenge.
The Good and the Bad: Newcomer Janet Montgomery (A Brit playing a Jersey Girl!) plays a character who we haven’t seen in more than a decade probably since Jami Gertz or Geena Davis did it in a movie. Remember when there were a whole slew of theatrical type things about women from Jersey with big hair and bigger mouths? Shake that bouffant just a bit and Demi Moore will fall out. We’re sensing a little bit of USA Network with this one, since they’ve already launched a new fish-out-of-water lawyer show and one about a sexy, raven-haired mediator. Can this work on CBS? Possibly. CBS is certainly trying to skew a bit younger than normal, capture the millennials! Well, even though they’re mostly out of work, but there’s no way CBS is remotely ready to explore anything Girls-esque.
Vegas
CBS’s Logline: Dennis Quaid and Michael Chiklis star in this character-driven 1960’s period piece inspired by the true story of Ralph Lamb, a cowboy turned sheriff of Las Vegas, and Johnny Savino, a Chicago mob fixer.
The Good and the Bad: Oh, geez. It’s a period show about the 1960’s, the mob, and Vegas. This immediately seems like the Playboy Club meets Justified, “Where’s mah tobacky?!” Dennis Quaid and Michael Chiklis star as sheriff and gangster respectively. We’re not sure what to say. It looks like it’ll probably try too hard to be several things at once. And we’re a little sad to see Dennis Quaid taking a chance on this. Yes, we know, he lost the Harrison Ford races long ago, but it still seems like a waste to have him playing a cowboy on a show with this much flash and pomp. He rides a horse down the middle of the Vegas strip. A horse. Yeah.
Partners
CBS’s Logline: From multiple Emmy® winners David Kohan and Max Mutchnick (Will & Grace) comes this personal story of Joe and Louis, lifelong friends and business partners whose bond has lasted longer than any of their romantic relationships.
The Good and the Bad: We’ll go on record and say that this has promise. We’ve always had a bit of a soft spot for both Michael Urie (Ugly Betty) and David Krumholtz (Serenity). We don’t want to say, “Whelp, it can’t be any worse than 2 Broke Girls“, because that seems like it would be selling it short. The main characters seem to have a winning chemistry. The only fly in the proverbial ointment is Brandon Routh (Superman Returns) good gracious, aside from having a rock jaw, he’s a wooden plank. Luckily the main focus is the relationship at the center, and not too much about the ensemble as a whole. Let’s keep Brandon Routh and Sophia Bush as supporting characters, shall we? They are no Sean Hayes and Megan Mullally.
Here’s the full schedule:
MONDAY
8:00-8:30 PM HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER
8:30-9:00 PM PARTNERS (New)
9:00-9:30 PM 2 BROKE GIRLS (New Time)
9:30-10:00 PM MIKE & MOLLY
10:00-11:00 PM HAWAII FIVE-0
TUESDAY
8:00-9:00 PM NCIS
9:00-10:00 PM NCIS: LOS ANGELES
10:00-11:00 PM VEGAS (N)
WEDNESDAY
8:00-9:00 PM SURVIVOR
9:00-10:00 PM CRIMINAL MINDS
10:00-11:00 PM CSI: CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION
THURSDAY
8:00-8:30 PM THE BIG BANG THEORY
8:30-9:00 PM TWO AND A HALF MEN (NT)
9:00-10:00 PM PERSON OF INTEREST
10:00-11:00 PM ELEMENTARY (N)
FRIDAY
8:00-9:00 PM CSI: NY (NT)
9:00-10:00 PM MADE IN JERSEY (N)
10:00-11:00 PM BLUE BLOODS
SATURDAY
8:00-9:00 PM CRIMETIME SATURDAY
9:00-10:00 PM CRIMETIME SATURDAY
10:00-11:00 PM 48 HOURS MYSTERY
SUNDAY
7:00-8:00 PM 60 MINUTES
8:00-9:00 PM THE AMAZING RACE
9:00-10:00 PM THE GOOD WIFE
10:00-11:00 PM THE MENTALIST (NT)
