CBS Announces Midseason Line-up Changes

CBS announced its midseason lineup on Tuesday, including debut dates for the Criminal Minds spinoff and the new comedy Mad Love plus new nights for Blue Bloods and The Defenders.

Blue Bloods, the season’s No. 2 freshman series among viewers and Friday’s top program in viewers and adults 25-54, will move to Wednesdays at 10 for four consecutive weeks beginning Jan. 19 and return to its regular Friday time period on Feb. 11.

The Defenders, currently airing Wednesdays, relocates to Fridays at 8 starting Feb. 4. Rules of Engagement will also move from Mondays to Thursdays at 8:30 beginning Feb. 24.

Here’s the full midseason lineup:

Wednesdays, beginning Jan. 19
8 p.m. Live to Dance
9 p.m. Criminal Minds
10 p.m. Blue Bloods

Fridays, beginning Feb. 4
8 p.m. The Defenders
9 p.m. CSI: NY

Fridays, beginning Feb. 11
8 p.m. The Defenders
9 p.m. CSI: NY
10 p.m. Blue Bloods

Wednesday, beginning Feb. 16
8 p.m. Survivor: Redemption Island
9 p.m. Criminal Minds
10 p.m. Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior

Monday, beginning Feb. 21
8 p.m. How I Met Your Mother
8:30 p.m. Mad Love
9 p.m. Two and A Half Men
9:30 p.m. Mike & Molly
10 p.m. Hawaii Five-0

Thursday, beginning Feb. 24
8 p.m. The Big Bang Theory
8:30 p.m. Rules of Engagement
9 p.m. CSI
10 p.m. The Mentalist

Friday, beginning April 1
8 pm. Chaos
9 p.m. CSI: NY
10 p.m. Blue Bloods

Here are descriptions of their new shows:

Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior stars Forest Whitaker, Janeane Garafolo and Kirsten Vangsness.

Mad Love stars Jason Biggs, Sarah Chalke, Tyler Labine and Judy Greer and is about four New Yorkers, two of whom are falling in love while the other two hate each other.

Chaos featuring Freddy Rodriguez, Eric Close, Tim Blake and Kurtwood Smith, is a comedic drama about a group of rogue CIA spies in the Clandestine Administration and Oversight Services.

Paula Abdul Looking for Unique' Dancers

Paula Abdul has a tip for anyone trying out for her new show: Don't bore her.

"We want people that are unique and passionate about dancing and ones that will show me something I haven't seen before," Abdul told Ryan Seacrest on his KIIS-FM radio show Monday of her new competition show on CBS, Live to Dance.

The former American Idol judge says viewers will be treated to a no-holds-barred approach to dance.

"We're looking for all forms of dance and you can be any age, any style of dance, [and] any number of people or individuals can get on stage," she says. Abdul also recommends that dancers "fuse styles together," suggesting a tap-dancer could perform with a hip-hop group in the same number.

Despite her excitement for the new project, Abdul confesses to Seacrest that she still pines for the days she worked with him and Simon Cowell on Idol, telling the radio host, "I miss you guys so much."

Live to Dance will premiere on CBS in January.

Got rhythm? The next round of auditions will be Thursday at 8:00 am (PT) at CenterStaging in Burbank, California.

CBS Extends Season for All New Fall TV Shows

If you had any doubt that CBS was enjoying a successful fall season, this next sentence should make you a believer: The Eye net has extended full-season orders to all five of its freshman series.

For the record, the winning quintet includes Hawaii Five-0, Blue Bloods, Mike & Molly, The Defenders, and $#*! My Dad Says.

Of the five, Mike & Molly and Five-0 have emerged as the net’s biggest new hits — although the latter is beginning to look vulnerable on Mondays-at-10. The older-skewing Blue Bloods is Friday’s top show (and that’s among new and returning series), while $#*! continues to retain an acceptable percentage of its Big Bang lead-in on Thursdays. Lastly, The Defenders is holding its own on Wednesdays-at-10.

Paula Abdul Excited About New TV Talent Show

Paula Abdul is moving on from her American Idol days to a new TV talent show: Live to Dance. The 48-year-old star will be on the judging panel for the dance competition series alongside Pussycat Doll star Kimberly Wyatt and Michael Jackson’s choreographer Travis Payne. Australian presenter Andrew Gunsberg will be the host.

A statement released by CBS said: “Executive producer, lead expert and mentor Paula Abdul will be joined by host Andrew Gunsberg and fellow experts, choreographer Travis Payne and singer-and-dancer Kimberly Wyatt.

Live to Dance represents one of the most inclusive talent searches on television, searching for dancers with raw ability from any age group across the nation performing either solo or in a group.”

The show, which offers a $500,000 prize and will air in January, is based on the British series Got to Dance, which featured Kimberly as one of the judges.

Writing on her twitter page, Paula – whose involvement with the show was revealed in May - revealed she is excited about the auditions. She wrote: “Tick tock! soon it'll be time to audition for Live to Dance! Can't wait to see all you dance innovators.”

The team are auditioning dancers in New York today and Paula was so excited last night she couldn’t sleep. She tweeted: “SO excited for Live to Dance auditions tomorrow don't know if I'll sleep tonight! can't wait to see all the awesome, red-hot NY dancers! xoP”

CBS Wins First Week of New 2010-11 TV Season

Thanks to strong premieres by Hawaii Five-O and Blue Bloods and the return of Big Bang Theory, CBS won the first week of the TV season in viewers (12.5 million) and adults 18-49 (3.3 rating/10 share). CBS had 13 of the top 20 shows among viewers and adults for the week ending September 26th, more than on any other network. Hawaii Five-O (14.2 million) currently stands as the most-watched new program in viewers while $#*! My Dad Says is the No. 1 new comedy among adults 18-49 (4.0 rating). Each 18-49 ratings point represents 1.31 million viewers.

CBS won five nights of the week in viewers (Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday) and three nights among adults 18-49 – more than any other network. The network is also up 6% in viewers, 3% in adults 18-49 and 10% among adults 18-34 versus the same period last year.

ABC finished second for the week in viewers (9.58 million), followed by NBC (8.15 million) and Fox (6.52 million). NBC and ABC tied for second place among adults 18-49 (2.8/8), while Fox came in third (2.6/7). Fox won the week among adults 18-34 with a 2.6/8.

Given how DVR usage by TV watchers is at 38% right now – up from 33% from last fall – the networks expect the playback rate to have an impact on ratings beyond same-day viewing. The results won’t be available for another week, however, so stay tuned to find out just how many of you delayed viewing of, say, Lone Star or The Event.

"Big Brother 12" Premiere Up From Last Year

The 12th edition of Big Brother on Thursday posted decent gains in viewers and key demographics compared to last summer, CBS announced today.

The hour-long telecast, which won its timeslot among adults 18-34 and tied for first among adults 18-49, averaged 7.35 million viewers, up 11% versus last year. It also posted a 17% gain among adults 18-34 and was up 4% among adults 18-49.

It was Big Brother’s best premiere in viewers since the debut of BB 8 on July 5, 2007 and it’s best performance among adults 18-34 and adults 18-49 since BB 9 on Feb. 12, 2008.

Overall, CBS won Thursdays among viewers (7.58 million), and the key adult demographics.

All About the Cast of Big Brother 12

The last season of Big Brother divided the house into cliques that would make the toughest high school student cringe. After crowning a winner - Jordan Lloyd - who was one-part chest bump, three parts Jeff Schroeder and a healthy dose of “aw shucks,” this season of BB introduces “the saboteur” when it premieres July 8th on CBS.

In a series first, thirteen house guests walk in with one determined to wreak havoc on people who are either “peers” or “pawns.” Here’s a look at six standouts (the first two are pictured above) going into the “den of Chen” for season 12:

BRENDON VILLEGAS: A high school swim coach from Riverside, California, Villegas, 30, will soon pursue a Ph.D. in biomedical physics. Though he describes himself as “very much a nerd,” he’s really a combination of brains, brawn and brown-eyed good looks. “My goal is to not intimidate the guys and to be flirty with the girls,” says Villegas, who may be up for a showmance. “The girl that is down-to-earth and sweet is going to be the biggest challenge for me.”

RACHEL REILLY: A graduate student in chemistry and VIP cocktail waitress from Las Vegas, Reilly, 26, has a secret weapon — or two. “Most people look at me and think that I’m just a hot girl with big boobs,” she says. “I can manipulate men and the bikinis that I brought are not even the size of my palm. They’re super tiny! I’m going to hustle them with my Vegas-cocktail personality.”

KATHY HILLIS: A deputy sheriff-sergeant from Texarkana, Arkansas, Hillis, 40, is the only contestant who has (legally) ordered someone to “cough and drop.” But this single mom, who has survived cancer, has a simpler motto: “Never give up, never give in and never use the word defeat,” she says. “When my grandma was terminally ill, we would watch BB together and … I promised her that I would [try out for the show] when we both got better. And though I got better, she didn’t [so] I’m going win it for Grandma!”

ENZO PALUMBO: An insurance adjuster from Bayonne, New Jersey, Palumbo, 32, is happy to wear a stereotype on his sleeve and “shore” up that Jersey “situation.” His message to fans: “When I get into that house, competition is going to be served like my mother’s baked ziti,” he says. “That is how I am going to be playing this game.”

ANNIE WHITTINGTON: A bartender from Tampa, Florida, Whittington, 27, says she may keep her bisexuality a secret. “There may be some more close-minded people in the house and I don’t want to be judged,” she says. “There are so many more facets to my character … I don’t think who I sleep with should be that important to anybody.”

MATT HOFFMAN: A Web designer from Elgin, Illinois, Hoffman, 32, is quick to list his strengths — “My tattoos, coming into BB, are my greatest asset,” he says, “along with being a genius.” — as well as a weakness. “One of my worst character traits is the fact that I can be really condescending,” he reveals. “It’s something that I’ve tried to work on but everyone aggravates me.”

And the rest of the cast…

Kristen Bitting, 24: “I am a quiet storm,” says the boutique manager from Philadelphia. I don’t think there is anyone on reality TV quite like me.”

Hayden Moss, 24: “Athletically, I’m pretty gifted, so the physical competitions are going to be in the bag,” says the college student from Tempe, Arizona. “Also, I’m smarter than I look.”

Britney Haynes, 22: “I’ll pretend to be nice and always a bit elusive,” says the hotel sales manager from Huntington, Arizona. “People want what they can’t have and I’ll give them just enough.”

Andrew Gordon, 39: “Live for today because tomorrow will be yesterday soon,” says the podiatrist from Miami Beach. “Say anything, do anything, just don’t let them know and trust no one.”

Ragan Fox, 34: “I party as hard as I work, and I grew up gay in Texas,” says the college professor from West Hollywood, California. “If you want to get crazy with me — and I opt to go crazy — then you’re in trouble.”

Monet Stunson, 24: “I come off as really sweet and innocent,” says the model from Glen Carbon, Illinois. “People won’t expect that I would lie to their face and stab them in the back to win.”

Lane Elenburg, 24: “I’m a big guy, so I know that I have to find a smart guy,” says the oil rig salesman from Decatur, Texas. “I have to find a ‘brain’ for the ‘meat head.’”

This season Big Brother will be televised on Sundays, Wednesdays and Thursday at 8:00 pm (ET). The live eviction show takes place on Thursdays. Plus, you can catch three hours of live feed every night at Showtime After Dark on SHO2.

For more on Big Brother 12, visit the CBS.com website.

Paparazzi!: Piping Hot!

After her risqué performance at the MTV Movie Awards, Christina Aguilera covers up while performing songs from her new disc, Bionic, Wednesday on CBS's The Early Show in New York.

Paula Abdul: GOT TO DANCE Judge on CBS!

Paula Abdul will be a judge on the CBS dance competition series called GOT TO DANCE, which will likely air mid-season.

According to THR, the 47-year-old will serve as the lead judge, executive producer, creative partner, mentor and coach.

The competition series, which is based off of a U.K. reality show, is billed as the first all-ages all-genres dance series “from ballroom to break dance, bhangra to ballet, and tap to tango.”

This past August, Paula announced she was leaving American Idol after eight years.

GOT TO DANCE might compete directly against Idol, the first time that Simon Cowell won’t be judge.

CBS Unveils It's 2010/2011 Fall TV Season

CBS took the wraps off a new fall prime-time schedule that will add five new series to its popular lineup, including one based on a Twitter feed and another that mines the TV archives from the 1970s.

CBS will bring aboard three new dramas for the fall, the throwback "Hawaii Five-0," a lighthearted legal drama set in Las Vegas called "The Defenders" and "Blue Bloods" starring Tom Selleck as the patriarch of a family of New York cops.

The last of the big four U.S. broadcast networks to unveil its 2010-11 schedule, CBS is set to once more wrap up the current TV season as the most-viewed network. As a result, it introduced far fewer replacement shows than either NBC or ABC.

Along with its three dramas, CBS said on Wednesday it planned two new comedies for the fall, including "Mike & Molly," a series set in Chicago about a couple who fall in love at Overeaters Anonymous.

The stability of the 2010-11 schedule underscores what has been CBS's take on programing in recent years: If it's not broke, don't fix it.

CBS has a stable of reliable hits, including the "CSI" franchise, this season's breakout series "The Good Wife" and the long-running "Survivor," which will shift to Wednesdays from Thursdays next season.

Among the seven shows CBS jettisoned from the schedule were "The New Adventures of Old Christine," starring Julia Louis-Dreyfus and "Ghost Whisperer."

"We are in a pretty good position here," CBS Chief Executive Les Moonves told a news conference. "It's about improving time periods and improving the schedule."

Along those lines, CBS will replace the "Survivor" slot on Thursday with two comedies, a clear effort to pull in younger viewers on one of the most hotly contested nights of the week.

CBS programing chief Kelly Kahl said the network "decided to take a swing" at building an hour of comedy to lead into two proven police dramas, "CSI:Crime Scene Investigation" and "The Mentalist."

The result is that CBS moved "The Big Bang Theory" -- one of the top rated comedies among young adults currently airing on Monday nights -- to the 8 p.m. time slot on Thursdays. That will be followed by the buzzed about freshman comedy "$#*! My Dad Says," starring William Shatner as an expressive father in a series based on the real life tweets of Justin Halpern.

Earlier in the week, the network secured a new two year contract for one of its most bankable stars, Charlie Sheen, after tense negotiations.

Sheen is featured in the hit show "Two and a Half Men," which will remain on Monday nights. It will be followed this fall by "Mike & Molly," from the executive behind "Two and a Half Men," and the new crime drama "Hawaii Five-O."

"I'm happy I'm not selling 'One and a Half Men' to you," said Moonves, in reference to the last-minute signing of Sheen.

Charlie Sheen Returning to Two and a Half Men

Charlie Harper is back!

After publicly considering leaving Two and a Half Men, Charlie Sheen has agreed to return to the hit sitcom for two more years.

“To put a fitting end on the two and one-half months of whirlwind speculation, I’m looking forward to returning to my CBS home on Monday nights,” Sheen says in a statement.

The actor, whose contract expired last month, recently denied reports his salary negotiations for a new contract were an 11th-hour negotiating ploy, saying he had remained firm on his terms to return since last June.

CBS is expected to officially announce Sheen and the show’s return before unveiling its fall lineup to advertisers on Wednesday.

"Desperate Housewives" Alumni Get New TV Roles

One of the most volatile TV couples is back in separate projects.

Former "Desperate Housewives" star Nicollette Sheridan is set as the lead in a CBS comedy pilot headlined by Ant Hines, a longtime collaborator of Sacha Baron Cohen.

Meanwhile, Neal McDonough, who played Sheridan's psycho husband who ultimately led to her character's demise in a freaky car accident, will star opposite Virginia Madsen on ABC's dramedy series "Scoundrels."

Hines' semi-scripted presentation, directed by Larry Charles ("Borat"), stars English actor Paul Kaye as a British lowlife moving to L.A. to reconnect with his daughter, a precocious teen superstar.

Returning to her Blighty roots, British born-and-raised Sheridan will play the girl's outrageous stage mother and the deadbeat dad's long-lost love.

Based on the New Zealand series "Outrageous Fortune," the comedic drama "Scoundrels" centers on the matriarch (Madsen) of a family of criminals who decides it's time for her brood to go straight after her scam artist/forger/petty thief husband (McDonough) is sentenced to a long prison term.

For four seasons, Sheridan played Wisteria Lane man-eater Edie, who finally found her match in Dave Williams (McDonough), her villainous third husband in Season 5.

Super Bowl Eclipses M*A*S*H Finale as Most-Watched TV Show

A long-standing television record was rewritten Sunday night, as CBS’s broadcast of Super Bowl XLIV became the most-watched TV program in history.

Nielsen says 106.5 million TV viewers watched the New Orleans Saints defeat the Indianapolis Colts, according to reports by the Associated Press. That surpasses the 105.97 million who watched the series finale of M*A*S*H on February 28, 1983, which was also aired on CBS.

The previous record viewership for a Super Bowl was set just last year, when 98.7 million people watched the Pittsburgh Steelers beat the Arizona Cardinals.

While Drew Brees and Peyton Manning certainly attracted plenty of attention on Sunday night, Hawkeye and Klinger can be comfortable knowing their mark was made in an era with fewer TV sets and a smaller population.

Grammys to Salute Michael Jackson – in 3-D

In an unprecedented move, this year's Grammys will pay homage to Michael Jackson in a tribute that will include a 3-D film clip the pop sensation made before his June 25th death and performances by Carrie Underwood, Jennifer Hudson, Usher, Celine Dion and Smokey Robinson.

Jackson will also be honored with a lifetime achievement award from the Recording Academy during the show, CBS announced.

The 3-D video clip (which will require TV viewers to wear special glasses, available at Target stores) was made by Jackson for his hit "Earth Song" and was to have been an integral part of singer's July 2009 comeback concerts in London. Grammy co-executive producer and longtime Jackson associate Ken Ehrlich said this will be the first time an awards show will feature 3-D.

Part of the clip was shown in the recent movie documentary This Is It, but Ehrlich says the Grammys will show the full piece in 3-D.

Watch the 52nd Annual Grammy Awards on January 31st at 8:00 pm (ET), live on CBS.

Antonio Sabato Jr. and Danica Patrick to Heat Up CSI: NY

Start your engines, CSI: NY fans!

In his first return to TV since failing to find love on his VH1 dating show My Antonio, Antonio Sabato Jr. has signed on as a guest star on CSI: NY alongside NASCAR driver Danica Patrick.

Sabato and Patrick will play Formula race car drivers Davi Santos and Liza Gray, who will get into an explosive car crash during an expedition race through New York City.

Their fiery episode will air February 18th on CBS.

Eric McCormack: Let Me See That Thong!

Eric McCormack, from Will & Grace, shows off his booty in a thong in this picture from Wednesday’s episode of The New Adventures of Old Christine.

The 46-year-old actor has been appearing on the show as a therapist named Max, and in the episode “A Whale of A Tale,” Christine will profess her love for him!

Catch Eric’s thong-tacular performance on Wednesday at 8:00 pm (ET) on CBS. Don’t miss it!

As the World Turns to End Its 54-Year Spin

This is sad news for soap fans and especially for fans of the Luke and Noah storyline: As the World Turns has bewen canceled by CBS and will end its 54 year run in September 2010.

The show has a gay storyline featuring Luke (Van Hansis) and Noah (Jake Silbermann) which as been heating up in recent months.

“As The World Turns has been a cornerstone of our business and a tremendous asset to the company,” said Brian T. Cahill, Senior Vice President and Managing Director, TeleNext Media, Inc. “We are proactively seeking a new outlet to carry the show, and are open to exploring innovative formats and relationships that will enable the future success of As The World Turns.”

Created by Irna Phillips, As The World Turns premiered on April 2, 1956 as a 30-minute live television show, unprecedented at the time for a soap opera. The show switched to color on 1967, and expanded from a half-hour in length to one hour in 1975.

Set in the fictional Midwestern town of Oakdale, the show has launched the careers of many now-famous stars including Dana Delaney, James Earl Jones, Julianne Moore, Parker Posey, Meg Ryan, and Marisa Tomei.

CBS Explains Why They Blurred Adam Lambert’s Kiss

Adam Lambert kissed his straight keyboardist Tommy Ratliff during his sexually charged American Music Awards performance on Sunday.

On a Wednesday segment during the CBS Early Show, the kiss was blurred out before showing unedited footage of Madonna and Britney Spears making out.

A rep for CBS finally has spoken up, telling Extra: “We gave this some real thought. The Madonna image is very familiar and has appeared countless times including many times on morning television. The Adam Lambert image is a subject of great current controversy, has not been nearly as widely disseminated, and for all we know, may still lead to legal consequences.”

Is Adam Lambert a 'Role Model' or 'Nightmare'?

Adam Lambert knows that, as a performer with an over-the-top stage act, audiences are going to love him or hate him – and he's fine with either.

"I could be somebody's role model, but on the flip side I could be somebody's worst nightmare at the same time," the singer, 27, tells Popeater. "You never know how you're going to affect people, being in this position."

Right now, the "nightmare" tag seems to be predominant among many, since his overtly sexual show at the American Music Awards on Sunday infamously caused ABC to cancel Lambert's morning-show performance a couple days later.

"If you are in the public eye and you are a certain type of persona, you're putting certain ideas out there you're bound to have people look up to them," he says. "You're also bound to have people who completely reject them and hate you for it."

But despite the negative feelings some people have about him, Lambert says the positive things he can do outweigh all that.

"The role model thing is interesting, it's kind of like a catch 22," he says. "Part of me is like, 'That's flattering.' And if I'm helping people find truth in their lives or lead lives [that] are more open themselves, if they feel that they also want to be comfortable in their skin, then that's great. If I can inspire that, I'm thrilled."

CBS nabbed Lambert to sit down and perform on Wednesday's The Early Show as well as the Late Show With David Letterman. During the morning interview, he admitted the one thing he would do differently is "sing better," and that the questionable actions were not rehearsed but impromptu.

"When I got up on stage, I don't think about things like, 'this is network television, what time is it, what children were watching?' I just was in the moment," he said. "I did get carried away, but I don't see anything wrong with it."


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CBS Orders More Episodes of Jenna Elfman's "Accidentally on Purpose"

CBS picked up five more episodes of its rookie Jenna Elfman comedy "Accidentally on Purpose" on Tuesday.

The show, in which Elfman plays a film critic who gets pregnant after a one-night stand, has been a solid performer on Mondays, a night where the ratings bar is set very high.

Although "Accidentally" has been the lowest-rated performer of the lineup, it has gradually retained more viewers from its "How I Met Your Mother" lead-in.

The order brings the complement to 18, short of the 22 episodes for a full season. This is mainly due to CBS still having episodes of "Rules of Engagement" for later this season.