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1/18: Survivor survives
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Rodney Ho reporting from Pasadena, Calif.: CBS didn’t offer much in the way of news Thursday morning at the Television Critics Association meeting, with no new dramas set to air the rest of the season and just one comedy, “Rules of Engagement.” In fact, the network announced that “Survivor” is getting two more cycles in 2007-08 the day before.
But CBS entertainment president Nina Tassler did get to brag to TV critics this morning that CBS is currently No. 1 among 18 to 49 year olds, a situation that would have been unheard of a few years ago when CBS’s reputation was rather dowdy. Its strategy of success is more akin to the more stable “steady as we go” approach rather than a handful of buzzworthy star shows on Fox and ABC.
The difference: a handful of criminal procedural type shows (“Criminal Minds,” “Without a Trace,” “CSI,” et.al.) that repeat well but don’t get a lot of heat because they aren’t serialized like “Grey’s Anatomy” or “Heroes.”
All in all, dull is good for CBS. One plaintive reporter, trying to milk something out of the session, asked what the media could write about CBS this spring.
“I think with the changes in ‘CSI’ and what’s happening with “Jericho,’ with ‘[The Adventures of Old] Christine’ moving to 8:30 [on Mondays], with ‘Rules of Engagement,’ we’re very excited about that,” Tessler offered. “Oh, and we’re sending off ‘King of Queens’ at the end of the year. They’ll be a lot to talk about.”
Or we can get back to gabbing about “Heroes” and “Lost.”
Tessler did talk about possible shows that might land on the fall schedule such as “Swingtown,” set in 1976 and featuring three couples who, well, swing. That could be a controversial show down the road.
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