Third-place CBS on Friday announced a 1989-90 prime-time schedule that dumps "The Equalizer" and "Beauty & the Beast" and brings back series veterans Richard Chamberlain and Lindsay Wagner.
"Beauty & the Beast" will be a backup show, CBS Entertainment President Kim LeMasters said at a news conference. He said the network had ordered 12 more episodes of the critically praised fantasy drama and would return it to the schedule at a later date.CBS is leaving its successful Sunday night schedule in place, but will add new shows to each weeknight. The Tuesday movie will be eliminated.
"Paradise," a Western starring Lee Horsley that was new to the schedule last season, did make CBS' cut.
The only other freshman show renewed for a second season was "Murphy Brown," a half-hour comedy starring Candice Bergen as a network newswoman.
CBS is adding three new half-hour comedies to Monday night in an attempt to bolster the relatively successful "Murphy Brown," "Designing Women" and "Newhart." Gone are midseason replacements "Live In" and "Heartland" and the long-running "Kate & Allie," whose stars had not wanted to return for another season.
The critically praised Vietnam War drama "Tour of Duty" remained for its third season despite mediocre ratings.
Other returning series included "Murder, She Wrote," "Jake and the Fatman" and "Wiseguy" and the durable soaps "Knots Landing," "Dallas" and "Falcon Crest."
The new half-hour comedies on Monday night are: Major Dad, starring Gerald McRaney ("Simon & Simon") as a newlywed and just-retired Marine; The People Next Door, a fantasy starring Jeffrey Jones as a cartoonist whose imaginings turn real, co-starring Mary Gross as his psychologist wife; and The Famous Teddy Z, from "Frank's Place" creator Hugh Wilson, starring Jon Cryer as a hot-shot Hollywood agent.
CBS is keeping "Rescue: 911," a reality-based, midseason replacement.
Wolf stars Jack Scalia as an ex-cop who was framed and thrown off the force and is now looking to clear his name by working as an investigator. The tentatively titled The Hawaiian features Richard Chamberlain as a good-hearted doctor pitted against hospital bureaucracy.
A Peaceable Kingdom stars Wagner as a zoo administrator. Top of the Hill, with William Katt, is about an idealistic surfer elected to fill the unexpired term of his ailing congressman father. Snoops features Tim and Daphne Reid as Washington professionals - he a noted criminologist, she a protocol officer at the State Department.
Here is CBS' fall schedule, night by night:
Monday: "Major Dad," "The People Next Door," "Murphy Brown," "The Famous Teddy Z," "Designing Women," "Newhart."
Tuesday: "Rescue: 911," "Wolf," "The Hawaiian."
Wednesday: "A Peaceable Kingdom," "Jake and the Fatman," "Wiseguy."
Thursday: "48 Hours," "Top of the Hill," "Knots Landing."
Friday: "Snoops," "Dallas," "Falcon Crest."
Saturday: "Paradise," "Tour of Duty," "West 57th."
Sunday: "60 Minutes," "Murder, She Wrote," "CBS Sunday Movie."