CBS Corporation CEO Les Moonves has been bragging that CBS will be shooting the fewest pilots of any major network for next season because it has so few holes to fill in its schedule. Indeed, the Eye Network announced Wednesday that it has picked up 18 returning series for the 2012-2013 broadcast season.
The renewals include four comedies, nine dramas, three reality series and two newsmagazines. CBS noted that the returning shows encompass every night of the week and every hour, many of which are #1 in their time period and some #1 on the entire night.
The renewed comedies include the previously announced multi-year pickups of “How I Met Your Mother” and “The Big Bang Theory,” the season’s #1 comedy and the first scripted program to top “American Idol” in viewers and adults 18-49; “2 Broke Girls,” the season’s #1 new comedy in viewers and key demographics; and sophomore hit “Mike & Molly.”
Also in comedy, the announcement said CBS and Warner Bros. Television are in preliminary discussions regarding future seasons for “Two and a Half Men.”
Renewed dramas are “NCIS,” television’s #1 drama/scripted program for the third consecutive year; “NCIS: Los Angeles,” the #2 drama for the second straight year; “Hawaii Five-0,” “Criminal Minds,” “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation,” Person of Interest,” the #1 new series of the season, “The Mentalist,” “Blue Bloods” and the award-winning and critically acclaimed “The Good Wife.”
Among the Network’s returning reality series are “The Amazing Race,” “Undercover Boss” and the previously renewed “Survivor.”
Television’s top newsmagazines, “60 Minutes” and “48 Hours Mystery,” will also return in the fall.
“This large-scale renewal is testimony to the strength, stability and success of a deep and diverse roster of top-rated programming,” said Nina Tassler, President, CBS Entertainment. “It positions us for continued success next season and certainly creates an environment that will give our new shows the best possible chance to succeed.”
