CBS has announced a fall schedule it calls "young, bold (and) broad-reaching."
The network might also have said "desperate."CBS fell from first to third place in the ratings this past season and actually fell into fourth place behind - horrors! - Fox in the all-important 18-49 demographic. As a result, the network has done some massive overhauling of its scheduling, making changes on every night of the week and adding 11 new shows to 12 returning series.
And a quick look at the shows confirms that CBS, long the last bastion of shows that appeal to older viewers, is going after the younger folks.
The biggest surprise among returning shows is that after 11 years on Sunday nights, "Murder, She Wrote" moves to Thursdays in the fall. But Jessica Fletcher is the only survivor of a house-cleaning that removed every other show of similar appeal - "Diagnosis Murder," "Burke's Law" and "The Wright Verdicts."
As expected, CBS also gave Connie Chung the second heave-ho in five days. After dropping her as co-anchor of "The CBS Evening News," the network axed her low- rated news magazine "Eye to Eye" from the prime-time schedule.
However, Dan Rather's news magazine, "48 Hours," survived.
Four other shows also return on new nights or times.
The second biggest surprise on CBS's fall schedule was a show that didn't get canceled - the made-in-Utah "Touched by an Angel." Although the network had given the show little support (it hasn't even been seen since January) and a variety of bad time slots, "Angel" returns to the regular schedule in the fall in a time slot that makes sense - Saturdays after "Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman."
The new series include six sitcoms and five dramas. The half-hour comedies are:
Almost Perfect (Sunday, 7:30 p.m.): Two successful overachievers try to find time for romance. From the producers of "Cheers."
Bless This House (Wednesday, 7 p.m.): Cathy Moriarty and Andrew (no longer Dice) Clay star as a married couple with kids "who have perfected the art of the fight."
Bonnie (Friday, 7:30 p.m.): Bonnie Hunt stars as a Chicago TV reporter in a half hour that "combines scripted and improvisational comedy." From David Letterman's Worldwide Pants Inc., the executive producers are Hunt and for "Late Night" and "Late Show" head writer Rob Burnett.
Can't Hurry Love (Monday, 7:30 p.m.): Nancy McKeon ("Facts of Life"), Mariska Hargitay and Lous Mandylor in a "humorous look at friendship, love and dating in the '90s." (Sounds like "Friends," doesn't it?) From the producers of "Dave's World."
Dweebs (Friday, 7 p.m.): Farrah Forke, Peter Scolari, Adam Biesk, Corey Feldman, David Kaufman and Stephen Tobolowsky star as "computer dweebs more comfortable in cyberspace than with real life."
If Not for You (Monday, 8:30 p.m.): Elizabeth McGovern and Hank Azaria star in this romantic comedy.
And the new hourlong dramas are:
American Gothic (Friday, 9 p.m.): Follows events in a seemingly idyllic town that is "twisted out of shape by a demonic force that rages within Sheriff Lucas Buck (Gary Cole), who rules without law or conscience." Created and written by Shaun Cassidy.
Central Park West (Wednesday, 8 p.m.): Think "Melrose Place East" - this is an ensemble soap from the creator/producer of "Melrose."
John Grisham's The Client (Thursday, 8 p.m.): JoBeth Williams assumes the lawyer role played by Susan Sarandon in the movie.
Courthouse (Wednesday, 9 p.m.): Legal drama starring Patricia Wettig ("thirtysomething"), Robin Givens and Brad Johnson.
Matt Waters (Tuesday, 7 p.m.): Talk-show host Montel Williams stars as a teacher in this "hard-hitting dramatic tour of duty through the physical and emotional battlefields of contemporary suburban high school."
The list of shows CBS canceled is long, including "The Boys are Back," "Christy," "Double Rush," "Due South," "The Five Mrs. Buchanans," "The George Wendt Show," "Hearts Afire," "Love & War," "The Office," "Rescue 911," "Under One Roof," "Under Suspicion" and "Women of the House."
*****
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
CBS's fall schedule
SUNDAY
60 Minutes 6 p.m.
Cybill* 7 p.m.
Almost Perfect 7:30 p.m.
CBS Sunday Movie 8 p.m.
MONDAY
The Nanny 7 p.m.
Can't Hurry Love 7:30 p.m.
Murphy Brown 8 p.m.
If Not for You 8:30 p.m.
Chicago Hope 9 p.m.
TUESDAY
Matt Waters 7 p.m.
CBS Tuesday Movie 8 p.m.
WEDNESDAY
Bless This House 7 p.m.
Dave's World* 7:30 p.m.
Central Park West 8 p.m.
Courthouse 9 p.m.
THURSDAY
Murder, She Wrote* 7 p.m.
The Client 8 p.m.
48 Hours 9 p.m.
FRIDAY
Dweebs 7 p.m.
Bonnie 7:30 p.m.
Picket Fences* 8 p.m.
American Gothic 9 p.m.
SATURDAY
Dr. Quinn 7 p.m.
Touched/Angel* 8 p.m.
Walker, Tex. Ranger 9 p.m.