Analysis: Expect CBS to Remain Number One in the Fall

CBS should continue its reign atop the broadcast networks, with five out of seven strong nights. However, its once dominant Monday line-up is all but a memory and three new series will debut as a result. In addition, How I Met Your Mother is gearing up for its final season and 2 Broke Girls is a modest hit, so the Eye network needs at least one new Monday series to spark interest among viewers. CBS has better news on Tuesday, with long running juggernaut NCIS anchoring a very popular evening that may even improve with the relocated Person of Interest.

Wednesday remains intact, with the demo friendly Survivor leading in to the older skewing Criminal Minds and CSI, so that should result in a solid night of programming. Thursday looks strong, but that will hinge on the reception of two new comedies, The Millers and The Crazy Ones (pictured above), which are sandwiched between The Big Bang Theory and Two and a Half Men. On Fridays, the trio of Undercover Boss, the relocated Hawaii Five-0 and the consistent Blue Bloods should also result in a solid showing, but I suspect Hawaii Five-0 will wrap up after next season. Moving from Monday to Friday could be considered a death sentence.

I really think CBS should have switched things up on Sunday. The stagnant, older skewing The Good Wife and The Mentalist may be drawing higher ratings than many of their counterparts, but they are both aging and costly to produce. Of course, football will dominate Sundays through the fall, so CBS and ABC will fight for the scraps that are left over. Overall, CBS will dominate, but Monday and Sunday could be problematic, while Thursday needs at least one new hit series. I will be watching The Crazy Ones, since I am a huge fan of both star Robin Williams and creator David E. Kelley.

Monday
8:00 p.m. “How I Met Your Mother”
8:30 p.m. “WE ARE MEN”
9:00 p.m. “2 Broke Girls”
9:30 p.m. “MOM”
10:00 p.m. “HOSTAGES”

Tuesday
8:00 p.m. “NCIS”
9:00 p.m. “NCIS: Los Angeles”
10:00 p.m. “Person of Interest” (new day and time)

Wednesday
8:00 p.m. “Survivor”
9:00 p.m. “Criminal Minds”
10:00 p.m. “CSI”

Thursday
8:00 p.m. “The Big Bang Theory”
8:30 p.m. “THE MILLERS”
9:00 p.m. “THE CRAZY ONES”
9:30 p.m. “Two and a Half Men” (new time)
10:00 p.m. “Elementary”

Friday
8:00 p.m. “Undercover Boss”
9:00 p.m. “Hawaii Five-O” (new day and time)
10:00 p.m. “Blue Bloods”

Saturday
8:00 p.m. Comedytime Saturday (encore programming)
9:00 p.m. Crimetime Saturday (encore programming)
10:00 p.m. “48 Hours”

Sunday
7:00 p.m. “60 Minutes”
8:00 p.m. “The Amazing Race”
9:00 p.m. “The Good Wife”
10:00 p.m. “The Mentalist”

New Program Descriptions

COMEDY

“Crazy Ones”
Robin Williams returns to the format that made him famous in this single camera workplace comedy from David E. Kelley based on the 2011 theatrical starring Cameron Diaz. Williams will play an ad executive who works alongside his daughter (Sarah Michelle Gellar).

“Friends With Better Lives” (midseason)
A group of friends in their 30s who think the other ones all have it better is the focus. One couple is married with three children, another couple is recently engaged, and a third is getting divorced. Rounding off the ensemble is one single woman who just won’t settle down. James Van Der Beek, Brooklyn Decker (“The League”) and Kevin Connolly (“Entourage") star

“The Millers”
Will Arnett stars as a recently divorced local roving news reporter looking forward to living the single life until his parents’ marital problems derail his plans. Margo Martindale and Beau Bridges co-star.

“Mom”
Chuck Lorre has his fourth sitcom on CBS in this multi-camera tale of a newly sober single (Ana Faris) mother living in Napa Valley, California. The cast includes Allison Janney, Nate Corddry and French Stewart.

“We Are Men”
Four single men living in a short-term apartment complex unexpectedly find camaraderie over their many missteps in love in this single camera half-hour. Tony Shalhoub, Chris Smith, Kal Penn and Jerry O’Connell star.

DRAMA

“Hostages”
From Jerry Bruckheimer, a premiere surgeon (Toni Collette) is thrust into a political conspiracy when her family is taken hostage by a rogue FBI agent (Dylan McDermott).

“Intelligence” (midseason)
After a high-tech intelligence operative (Josh Holloway) is enhanced with a super-computer microchip in his brain, he becomes the first human ever to be connected directly into the worldwide information grid with complete access to Internet, WiFi, telephone and satellite data.