TV Upfronts: Armchair Programmer Series - CBS

Part 2 of the Armchair Programmer Series will focus on CBS. For the last couple of years, the Eye has been dominating network television in the United States, and it looks like its as strong as ever. Now it could be argued that CBS had more misses than hits this year, but they also had one of the most successful new comedies (2 Broke Girls) and one of the better performing new dramas (Person of Interest), and any of the other major nets would love to be able to say the same. I don't see CBS making too many drastic changes for the new season, and the schedule may look the same with the exception of expanding the Thursday night comedy block.

Officially Renewed CBS Shows
2 Broke Girls
48 Hours
60 Minutes
The Amazing Race
The Big Bang Theory
Blue Bloods
Criminal Minds
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
The Good Wife
Hawaii Five-0
How I Met Your Mother
The Mentalist
Mike & Molly
NCIS
NCIS: Los Angeles
Person of Interest
Survivor
Undercover Boss

Officially Canceled CBS Shows
How to be a Gentleman

Possibly Renewed CBS Shows
CSI: Miami
Rules of Engagement
Two and a Half Men

Possibly Canceled CBS Shows
CSI: NY
A Gifted Man
NYC 22
Rob
Unforgettable

Comedy Pilots
Friend Me
My Idiotic Twenties
Oh Fuck, It's You
Over and Out
Partners
Super Fun Night
Tweaked
Untitled Louis CK & Spike Feresten Project
Untitled Ben Falcone & Larry Dorff Project

Drama Pilots
Applebaum
Baby Big Shot
Elementary
Golden Boy
Trooper
Untitled Ralph Lamb Project
The Widow Detective

Like I mentioned before, it's extremely hard to predict which shows a network's going to go with, but we can look at past pick-ups and brand identity to put together some guesses. CBS owns the multi-cam sitcom and procedural dramas, so don't be shocked if those are the types of shows that are chosen. Comedy wise, I could see the following shows being picked up: Oh Fuck, It's You, Partners, Super Fun Night, Untitled CK/Feresten Project. As for dramas: Applebaum, Elementary, Golden Boy, The Widow Detective.

Possible CBS Shows for 2012-2013
2 Broke Girls
48 Hours
60 Minutes
The Amazing Race
Applebaum
The Big Bang Theory
Blue Bloods
Criminal Minds
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
CSI: Miami
Elementary
Golden Boy
The Good Wife
Hawaii Five-0
How I Met Your Mother
The Mentalist
Mike & Molly
NCIS
NCIS: Los Angeles
Oh Fuck, It's You
Partners
Person of Interest
Rules of Engagement
Super Fun Night
Survivor
Two and a Half Men
Undercover Boss
Untitled Louis CK & Spike Feresten Project
The Widow Detective

Possible CBS Schedule for 2012-2013
Sundays
8-9p: The Amazing Race
9p-10p: CSI: Miami
10-11p: The Widow Detective

I don't see CBS moving around its trademark reality series, so The Amazing Race stays put. It's common belief that one of the three CSIs will be axed, and it's highly likely that it will be NY. CSI: Miami's already on Sunday nights, and it could be argued that it's been hurt by The Good Wife, so I could see it being moved up an hour leaving the 10pm spot open for a new show like The Widow Detective.

Mondays
8-8:30p: How I Met Your Mother
8:30-9p: Oh Fuck, It's You
9-9:30p: Two and a Half Men
9:30-10p: Mike & Molly
10-11p: Hawaii Five-0

The big question when it comes to CBS is whether or not it's going to expand its comedy line-ups. If they do, we could see a slightly different Monday night. HIMYM and Two and a Half Men are synonymous with Mondays, so I see them being the foundation of the night. If any show is going to move, it's going to be 2 Broke Girls which means CBS will need a new sitcom for the 8:30 spot, and I could see Oh Fuck, It's You being the one to go with.

Tuesdays
8-9p: NCIS
9-10p: NCIS: Los Angeles
10-11p: Elementary

I don't see CBS moving its flagship drama or its spin-off, but they could be used to grow a new show. Elementary seems to be the buzziest drama pilot because of all of the controversy tied to it, but that's not going to stop CBS from spitting in BBC's face.

Wednesdays
8-9p: Survivor
9-10p: Criminal Minds
10-11p: The Mentalist

The Mentalist hasn't been the ratings star that it used to be, but it still has some pull so I don't see it being sequestered to Friday or Sunday just yet. It also doesn't really need to be on a Thursday night either, so have it replace CSI on Wednesday nights.

Thursdays
8-8:30p: The Big Bang Theory
8:30-9p: Untitled Louis CK & Spike Feresten Project
9-9:30p: 2 Broke Girls
9:30-10p: Super Fun Night
10-11p: Person of Interest

CBS has somehow become the network for muli-cam sitcoms about groups of young friends, so why not build a whole night based on the genre. It'd be easy to move The Big Bang Theory to the 9pm spot, but it's been doing fine starting off the night, so keep it where it's at. That being said, CBS' new darling, 2 Broke Girls, could anchor the night. Louis CK's stock is going up, so I could see the Eye picking up his show, and Super Fun Night could be a nice partner for 2BG. Since Person of Interest was the most successful new drama, they should give it a tryout in one of its most important time slots.

Fridays
8-9p: The Good Wife/Applebaum
9-10p: CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
10-11p: Blue Bloods

Friday nights have become the consolation prize for CBS' older viewers, and has become the night shows are sent when they're put out to pasture. The Good Wife's struggled no matter where it's been placed, so just send it to Fridays once and for all. Since CSI is on its last legs, it could also be a good Friday night show along with TGW and Blue Bloods. I do think CBS will pick up Applebaum, and it could share the 8 o'clock hour with Wife.

Mid-Season: Golden Boy, Partners, Rules of Engagement, Undercover Boss

Once again, take note that these are just predictions and shouldn't be taken as fact unless I'm right. On deck: The CW.