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Home , Ashton Kutcher, Jon Cryer, Two and a Half Men

Similarly, CBS scheduling boss Kelly Kahl admits that it may be a risk to The Kahl hails , starring plug Person of Interest into CBS’ marquee Hornsby (It’s Always Sunny in Philadel- and CSI’s long-held time slot, but the phia) and Dillon (Entourage), as a perfect show’s —about a billionaire (Lost’s ASHTON lead-out to , seeing as Michael Emerson) who bankrolls the “both shows feature somewhat nerdy guys.” crime-stopping capers of a presumed-dead Nerdy?! Somewhere, Johnny Drama is CIA spook (Caviezel)—was the network’s E ect taking umbrage, yo. highest-testing drama in 15 years. “It has huge, broad appeal,” Tassler explains. BREAKING THE SATURDAY RULES In another surprising move, CBS will serve up fresh, scripted programming on Saturday nights for the fi rst time in nearly 10 years, by unspooling Rules of Engagement’s sixth sea- son at 8 p.m. Kahl attributes this experiment to the “problem” of having too many great series to air in the available weekday slots, but also suspects that comedy originals could have the last laugh against paltry competi- The new drama Person tion. Adds CBS ad sales chief Jo Ann Ross, of Interest—starring “Advertisers love , and [this change After eight years of onscreen Jim Caviezel, left, and on Saturday] gives them an opportunity for Michael Emerson— another night with us.” laughs, tested highly with found itself one man short audiences. GIFTED MAN LANDS HOT FRIDAY DATE this spring. But the ’s rom Kat Dennings’ sexy sarcasm and Kevin Dillon’s “Johnny Drama” A Gifted Man will air at 8 p.m. Fridays, a producers announced in charm to J.J. Abrams’ labyrinthine mind, there really is something for AN UNFORGETTABLE CHANGE night that has played host to the similarly May that they’d found the everyone this fall on CBS. Two new comedies play on the odd-couple As Adweek media critic Marc Berman puts it, paranormal-tinged Ghost Whisperer and right actor to play opposite theme, with pitting an uptown socialite (Beth Behrs) CBS “has a luxury other networks don’t—to Medium. Berman, for one, is willing to give in his Emmy- against Dennings’ downtown smarts and How to Be a Gentleman introduce new shows … in ‘protected’ time the benefi t of the doubt on a new drama with winning role of Alan Harper. fintroducing an uptight writer (David Hornsby) to Dillon’s unrefi ned raunchi- periods.” Unforgettable, for example, scored a a daring premise. Continuing a tradition of When the series returns in plum perch on Tuesdays at 10 p.m., following “setting up the schedule with good comedy, ness. On the drama side, Abrams fans will not be disappointed with Person of September, the similarly procedural one-two punch of good drama and quality reality shows, CBS’ Interest, a crime drama about an ex-special forces agent (Jim Caviezel) with a will step into a new charac- NCIS and NCIS: . schedule holds up,” Berman notes. “The way mysterious twist. For those who prefer their drama with a dollop of the ter on Men. undead, there’s A Gifted Man, about a surgeon (Patrick Wilson) who Vacating that choice real estate is The Good it’s balanced, there’s something for everyone CBS Entertainment gets self-help tips from his deceased ex-wife (Jennifer Ehle). And we Wife, which has found a just-as-cushy new on every night of the week.” — Jim Colucci President Nina Tassler broke can’t forget Unforgettable, featuring Poppy Montgomery (Without home on Sundays at 9 p.m. “We’ll now have the good news offi cially as a Trace) as a cop with the rare ability to recall every moment of her our highest-prestige show on our highest- life except its most important event—the murder of her sister. In prestige night,” notes Kahl, citing Sunday’s the network announced its all, fi ve new star-studded shows from award-winning production GIRLS NITKE/CBS; : BARBARA UNFORGETTABLE robust viewership. With the acclaimed drama 2011–12 series sched- teams join a network already knee-deep in hits, some of which leading out of 60 Minutes and seven-time Jennifer ule. “We are so excited to Ehle, left, will entertain viewers on new nights and times this fall. Here’s Emmy winner The Amazing Race, “we’ve got have Ashton,” Tassler told and Patrick our lineup of award-winning shows, back-to- a closer look at CBS’ vision for the new season: Wilson star in reporters. “All of the details back-to-back,” says Tassler. A Gifted Man. about the master plan for his 2 GIRLS AND A GENTLEMAN character are going to be CBS Entertainment president Nina Tassler says the decision A TIME SLOT OF INTEREST revealed at a later date. But to pick up 2 Broke Girls, which stars big-screen funnygirl Akin to Survivor’s successful migration to I can say that [Men execu- Dennings (Thor, Nick and Norah’s Infi nite Playlist) and Wednesdays last year, this fall the long- newcomer Behrs, was a no-brainer—especially since test running CSI is on the move—to Wednesdays tive producer] : MONTY BRINTON/CBS : MONTY audiences gave record-high marks. Girls will call at 10 p.m., where it will follow Criminal has cooked up something Mondays at 8:30 p.m. home, bridging the gap between the Minds. That affords CBS the opportunity to fabulous.” — Jim Colucci

similarly youthful/metropolitan How I Met Your Mother and : JEFFREY MAN : HEATHER R. STAAB/CBS; WINES/CBS make its gutsiest call, slotting Abrams’ Person the revamped Two and a Half Men, which now stars Ashton of Interest in what Berman calls “TV’s most

Kutcher opposite Jon Cryer. (See sidebar.) INTEREST pivotal hour,” Thursdays at 9 p.m.

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