Upfront with CBS - 2007

CBS announced their schedule for the Fall - Winter 2007 Season. Usually CBS is a yawn but seems like they are TRYING to be a bit cool. Of course, maybe they should let their cool shows run more than 3 episodes then (Smith, Love Monkey).

More kneejerk opinions when I have more time (gawd. I actually have work to do today...) but quickly, Viva Laughlin? Yey! It totally won't work and word is it's not great (at least compared to the original British show Viva Blackpool) but I love the lead Lloyd Owen (Coupling (UK), who I saw in the stage version of Closer in London) plus Hugh Jackman produces/guest stars. Rowr.

Here's the CBS Fall Schedule:

Sundays:
8:00pm - 9:00pm Viva Laughlin (new series, musical/mystery)
9:00pm - 10:00pm Cold Case
10:00pm - 11:00pm Shark

Mondays:
8:00pm - 8:30pm How I Met Your Mother
8:30pm - 9:00pm The Big Bang Theory (new series, comedy)
9:00pm - 9:30pm Two and a Half Men
9:30pm - 10:00pm Rules of Engagement
10:00pm - 11:00pm CSI: Miami

Tuesdays:
8:00pm - 9:00pm NCIS
9:00pm - 10:00pm The Unit
10:00pm - 11:00pm Cane (new series)

Wednesdays:
8:00pm - 9:00pm Kid Nation (new reality series, think Lord of the Flies with less death (I hope))
9:00pm - 10:00pm Criminal Minds
10:00pm - 11:00pm CSI: NY

Thursdays:
8:00pm - 9:00pm Survivor
9:00pm - 10:00pm CSI
10:00pm - 11:00 pm Without a Trace

Friday:
8:00pm - 9:00pm Ghost Whisperer
9:00pm - 10:00pm Moonlight (new drama series, Vampire related)
10:00pm - 11:00pm Numbers

Saturday:
Drama repeats

Midseason: The New Adventures of Old Christine, The Amazing Race, Swingtown (new series with Coupling (UK) Jack Davenport (Pirates of the Caribbean)), Power of 10 (new series)

Shows that are cancelled: Jericho, The Class, Close to Home.

Hmm... So essentially nothing really new again this year. Last year, 4 new shows. This year, 5 new shows, and only Viva Laughlin might excite me at this point. Hmm... lame. At this point, I really only see myself watching How I Met Your Mother and Viva Laughlin and maybe returning to Without a Trace once in a while. Everything else I'm interested in is for midseason replacements.

New Series Info:

The Big Bang Theory - A comedy about two brilliant theoretical physicists who meet a woman who shows them how little they know about real life.

CAST:
· Iris Bahr as Gilda
· Jim Parsons as Sheldon
· Johnny Galecki as Leonard
· Kaley Cuoco as Penny
· Kunal Nayyar as Koothrappali
· Simon Helberg as Wolowitz

CREW INFORMATION:
· Bill Prady as CRTR/EP
· Chuck Lorre as CRTR/EP
· James Burrows as DIR (Pilot)

Sounds cute if not exactly tapeworthy. Not enough interest for any real discussion at this point.

Cane - This multi-generational, Latin family saga explores the evolution of the American Dream ... past, present and future, and the intense rivalry between two families who have built an empire in the sugar and rum industries.

CAST:
· ??? as Jack Samuels
· ??? as Lamarr Samuels
· Alona Tal as Rebecca King
· Eddie Matos as Henry Duque
· Hector Elizondo as Pancho Duque
· Jimmy Smits as Alex Vega
· Lina Esco as Katie Vega
· Michael Trevino as Jaime Vega
· Nestor Carbonell as Frank Duque
· Paola Turbay as Isabel Vega
· Polly Walker as Ellis Samuels
· Rita Moreno as Amalia Duque
· Sam Carmen as Artie Vega

CREW INFORMATION:
· Christian Duguay as DIR (Pilot)
· Cynthia Cidre as CRTR/EP
· Jimmy Iovine as EP
· Jimmy Smits as EP
· Jonathan Prince as EP
· Polly Anthony as EP

Latin Saga? Are we hearing echos of the telenovellas that Ugly Betty has ushered in? At this point, Cane sounds... zzzzzzzzzzzzz. Wha? Where am I again?

Moonlight - Drama centers on a private investigator/vampire who struggles with the repercussions of immortality, his adversaries in the vampire world and the love he feels for a mortal.

CAST:
· Alex O'Laughlin as Mick
· Amber Valletta as Corinne
· Rade Sherbedgia as Josef
· Shannon Lucio as Beth

CREW INFORMATION:
· Gerard Bocaccio as EP
· Joel Silver as EP
· Rod Holcomb as DIR (Pilot)
· Ron Koslow as CRTR/EP
· Trevor Munson as CRTR/EP

Oh! Angel is back! But wait. Where's David Boreanaz?

Power of 10 - Game show that will feature contestants as they try to guess the results of nationwide surveys with the finalist moving on to a bonus round in which their winnings multiply by 10 for each of its five questions - up to $10 million

CAST:
· Drew Carey as Host

CREW INFORMATION:
· Michael Davies as EP

Lame gameshow filler...

Swingtown - Period drama about the impact of sexual liberation in 1970s households - such as open marriages and "key parties"

CAST:
· Aaron Howles as Bruce "B.J." Miller, Jr.
· Brittany Robertson as Samantha Saxton
· Grant Show as Tom Decker
· Jack Davenport as Bruce Miller
· Josh Hopkins as Roger Thompson
· Kyle Searles as Logan Rhode
· Lana Parrilla as Trina Decker
· Miriam Shor as Jill Thompson
· Molly Parker as Gail Sexton
· Shanna Collins as Laurie Miller

CREW INFORMATION:
· Alan Poul as DIR (Pilot)
· Mike Kelley as CRTR/EP

I really like the cast, including Molly Parker (Deadwood), Miriam Shor (Hedwig and the Angry Inch), Jack Davenport (Coupling (UK)), Lana Parrilla, Josh Hopkins (Brothers & Sisters) and Grant Show (Melrose Place) so I'll check it out at least. Essentially The Ice Storm: The Series?

Viva Laughlin - Drama described as a rollicking musical about ripley holden and his family as they attempt to run a casino in Laughlin, Nevada.


CAST:
· Carter Jenkins as Jack Holden
· D.B. Woodside as Marcus Henckman
· Ellen Woglom as Cheyenne Holden
· Eric Winter as Peter Carlyle
· Hugh Jackman as Guest Star
· Lloyd Owen as Ripley Holden
· Madchen Amick as Natalie Holden
· Melanie Griffith as Bunny Baxter
· P.J. Byrne as Jonesy

CREW INFORMATION:
· Bob Lowry as CRTR/EP
· Gabriele Muccino as EP/DIR (Pilot)
· Hugh Jackman as EP
· John Palermo as EP
· Paul Telegdy as EP
· Peter Bowker as EP/CRTR (U.K. Series)

Everything about this screams it won't work yet I'm most excited about this.

Check here for the ABC Upfronts 2007
Check here for the NBC Upfronts 2007
Check here for the FOX (and The CW) Upfronts 2007