The HeldenFiles Online » CBS

Good Gnus

Rich Heldenfels — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 20:25:24 +0000

I have enjoyed the CBS campaign to remind people that their comedies will have new episodes on Monday. Not as much as I am enjoying the fact that those comedies will be back. Well, at least that "HIMYM" and "Two and a Half Men" are back. But it's still cute.

In fact, with "Dancing With the Stars" resuming Monday, as well as "The Bachelor" (which starts with some world-class bad behavior), it's feeling as if my DVRs' hibernation is about to end.

CBS Post-Strike Plans

Rich Heldenfels — Wed, 13 Feb 2008 16:09:01 +0000

Here's a nice list the network put together of its current shows and what you can look forward to:

SERIES
ANTICIPATED RETURN
EXPECTED # OF NEW EPISODES

HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER
March 17
9

THE BIG BANG THEORY
March 17
9

TWO AND A HALF MEN
March 17
9

CSI: MIAMI
March 24
8

COLD CASE
March 30
5

CRIMINAL MINDS
April 2
7

CSI: NY
April 2
7

CSI
April 3
6

WITHOUT A TRACE
April 3
6

GHOST WHISPERER
April 4
6

NUMB3RS
April 4
6

NCIS
April 8
7

MOONLIGHT
April 11
4

RULES OF ENGAGEMENT
April 14
6

SHARK
TBA
4

* THE UNIT, CANE and SHARK are on previously announced hiatus to
accommodate the mid-season launches of BIG BROTHER, JERICHO and DEXTER.

**The drama series SWINGTOWN, which hasn't been scheduled yet, will also resume production.

I would love to see the other networks follow suit with comparable lists.

"Kid Nation": Milking Controversy

Rich Heldenfels — Thu, 20 Sep 2007 14:46:02 +0000

If CBS had sent out the first episode of "Kid Nation" for review, it would have muted some of the debate about the show. Obviously, CBS did not want to mute the debate … (some spoilers after the jump)

The controversy probably increased curiosity about the show, which premiered last night. It had gotten a lot of advance noise concerning whether the children on the show had been treated properly, whether laws had been circumvented, whether manipulation was the order of the day.

I think we're all cynical enough to recognize that manipulation is part of most reality shows. The bride and I watched the premiere of "America's Next Top Model" last night, and it feels thoroughly manipulative. We still watch, of course, but at least there are no illusions.

"Kid Nation," though, felt even more exploitative because its main characters are so young and so seemingly in difficulty.

But, based on the premiere telecast, the show's makers recognize that kids have to be treated differently. In the first challenge, for example, it not only rewarded the individual teams, it included a group reward so even the last-place team could make a contribution to the group's overall success; that meant that even the last-place team was cheered on by the other kids. And the gold-star, $20,000 reward is certainly a good way to keep the contestants wanting to achieve, instead of backbiting. I even liked the way the kid who dropped out was praised as he departed.

That said, it's still a reality show. Conflict will happen, and we've seen arguments — not to mention the notorious Blue Team Chalk Raid! — with more promised in the promo for next week. And it is eerie at times to hear young people talking as if they have listened very closely to the players on "Survivor." But even as things seemed on the verge of collapse, the kids found a way to get back together. And if the first episode is indicative of what's ahead, "Kid Nation" may prove that young people are better at living together than their adult reality-TV counterparts.

I don't know if I will watch again, but I won't mind doing so. But one of the things working against my watching is CBS's manipulating not the kids, but the audience. As I said, it could have calmed the waters just by making the premiere more widely available. Instead, it took the publicity.

GLAAD Scores the Broadcast Networks

Rich Heldenfels — Mon, 06 Aug 2007 13:44:26 +0000

ABC does well, Fox not — although Fox gets a bit of praise that highlights the real meaning of diversity. More after the jump …

Here's the release from GLAAD on its new study of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender characters on network TV:

The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) today released its inaugural GLAAD Network Responsibility Index, a first-of-its-kind report that maps the quantity, quality and diversity of images of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people on network television. ABC, with shows like Brothers & Sisters and Ugly Betty, received the highest ranking of the five networks. NBC, once home to Will & Grace, ranked fourth, and FOX scored lowest.

"While we have made great strides in the ten years since Ellen DeGeneres came out on television," says GLAAD President Neil G. Giuliano, "this report shows where work still needs to be done and which networks are failing to represent millions of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender viewers. The airwaves quite literally belong to each and every one of us, and, as such, networks have an obligation to reflect the faces and stories of their viewers."

GLAAD examined all primetime programming — 4,693 hours — on the five major networks (ABC, CBS, The CW, FOX, and NBC) from June 1, 2006 – May 31, 2007. Each hour was reviewed for any on-screen major or minor LGBT representations. Based on the overall quantity, quality and diversity of these representations, a grade was assigned to each network: Excellent, Good, Fair, or Failing.

ABC received a grade of Good and led the networks with 15 percent of its primetime programming hours inclusive of LGBT representations. The CW followed with a Fair; 12 percent of its programming hours were LGBT inclusive. CBS received a Fair for its 9 percent of LGBT-inclusive programming hours. NBC was given a Fair for its 7 percent. And FOX received a Failing grade for its 6 percent of LGBT-inclusive programming hours. No network received an Excellent ranking.

"We know that seeing multi-dimensional, diverse people represented on television changes public perception," says GLAAD Entertainment Media Director Damon Romine, editor of the report. "Millions of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Americans fight every day for equality and for the right to live their lives without fear of discrimination and violence. True equality will be in our grasp when network television presents our stories in a fair, accurate and inclusive way."

Copies of the GLAAD Network Responsibility Index have been delivered to programming executives at the five networks, and GLAAD looks forward to further discussions with the networks on ways to improve their LGBT representation.

A PDF of the full report can be downloaded at GLAAD.org or by clicking here: http://www.glaad.org/2007/2007PDFS/GLAAD_NRI2007.pdf

Please Note: The 12th Annual GLAAD Where We Are On TV diversity report will be issued in early September. This analysis will examine LGBT inclusion as well as the gender and race/ethnicity of all scripted characters scheduled to appear during the upcoming season.

As for Fox's failing grade, the complete report includes this note about the network:

While FOX’s numbers were lowest, their impressions reflected a great deal of LGBT diversity. In fact, 46 of its 99 LGBT impressions included people of Middle Eastern-American descent (Kenny from The War at Home and Richard from The Winner both made several significant appearances). FOX also had 12 gay Latino impressions and one gay African American character throughout the year.

That's an important note, because it reminds people that diversity is a complicated issue — that if all your gay characters are white, then you've embraced one kind of diversity but overlooked another. As the full report notes:

LGBT impressions on NBC and ABC overwhelmingly featured white representations (80% and 83%, respectively) in their drama, comedy and unscripted areas. NBC had 12 gay Latino and eight African American impressions, while ABC featured eight Latino, 19 African American, and 10 Asian Pacific Islander (API) impressions, the highest API representation of any network.

CBS Fall Premiere Dates

Rich Heldenfels — Wed, 18 Jul 2007 17:39:35 +0000

Subject to change, of course, after the jump …

Here's the skinny on the fall stuff, excluding backup shows:

CBS today announced plans for the premieres of its new and returning series which includes the early debut of its freshman reality series KID NATION, as well as SURVIVOR: CHINA and most of its Sunday lineup during the week of Sept. 17. The Network will launch the remainder of its schedule beginning Monday, Sept. 24, the official start of the 2007-2008 season.

CBS's new reality series KID NATION premieres Wednesday, Sept. 19 (8:00-9:00 PM, ET/PT) followed the next night with the debut of SURVIVOR: CHINA, Thursday, Sept. 20 (8:00-9:00 PM, ET/PT).

Premiering on Sunday, Sept. 23 are the 40th season of 60 MINUTES, the longest running and highest rated newsmagazine (7:00-8:00 PM, ET/PT), the fifth season of COLD CASE (9:00-10:00 PM, ET/PT) and sophomore drama SHARK in its new time period (10:00-11:00 PM, ET/PT).

VIVA LAUGHLIN, the new mystery drama with music, will have a special preview on Thursday, Oct. 18 (10:00-11:00 PM, ET/PT) following CSI before moving to its regular Sunday (8:00-9:00 PM, ET/PT) time period on Oct. 21 to take advantage of a two week window in the schedule without football overruns.

CBS's new season rollout begins in earnest on Monday, Sept. 24 with the third season debut of HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER (8:00-8:30 PM, ET/PT), the series premiere of the new comedy THE BIG BANG THEORY (8:30-9:00 PM, ET/PT), the fifth season premiere of television's Number One comedy TWO AND A HALF MEN (9:00-9:30 PM, ET/PT), the return of last season's Number One new comedy RULES OF ENGAGEMENT (9:30-10:00 PM, ET/PT) and the sixth season premiere of CSI: MIAMI (10:00-11:00 PM, ET/PT), the night's Number One drama.

NCIS begins its fifth season on Tuesday, Sept. 25 (8:00-9:00 PM, ET/PT), followed by the third season premiere of THE UNIT (9:00-10:00 PM, ET/PT) and the series debut of CANE (10:00-11:00 PM, ET/PT).

CBS premieres its Wednesday dramas on Sept. 26 with the third season of CRIMINAL MINDS (9:00-10:00 PM, ET/PT) and the fourth season premiere of CSI: NY (10:00-11:00 PM, ET/PT).

Television's Number One scripted program, CSI: CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION, returns for its eighth season on Thursday, Sept. 27 (9:00-10:00 PM, ET/PT), followed by the sixth season premiere of WITHOUT A TRACE (10:00-11:00 PM, ET/PT) which returns to its former time period.

The Network's top rated Friday lineup returns on Sept. 28 with the third season premiere of GHOST WHISPERER (8:00-9:00 PM, ET/PT), the debut of the new drama MOONLIGHT (9:00-10:00 PM, ET/PT), followed by the fourth season premiere of NUMB3RS (10:00-11:00 PM, ET/PT).

48 HOURS MYSTERY returns for a new season on Saturday, Sept. 29 (10:00-11:00 PM, ET/PT).

CBS's 2007-2008 Premiere Dates

Wednesday, Sept. 19
8:00-9:00 PM KID NATION (Series Premiere)

Thursday, Sept. 20
8:00-9:00 PM SURVIVOR: CHINA (15th Installment Premiere)

Sunday, Sept. 23
7:00-8:00 PM 60 MINUTES (40th Season Premiere)
9:00-10:00 PM COLD CASE (5th Season Premiere)
10:00-11:00 PM SHARK (2nd Season Premiere)

Monday, Sept. 24
8:00-8:30 PM HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER (3rd Season Premiere)
8:30-9:00 PM THE BIG BANG THEORY (Series Premiere)
9:00-9:30 PM TWO AND A HALF MEN (5th Season Premiere)
9:30-10:00 PM RULES OF ENGAGEMENT (2nd Season Premiere)
10:00-11:00 PM CSI: MIAMI (6th Season Premiere)

Tuesday, Sept. 25
8:00-9:00 PM NCIS (5th Season Premiere)
9:00-10:00 PM THE UNIT (3rd Season Premiere)
10:00-11:00 PM CANE (Series Premiere)

Wednesday, Sept. 26
9:00-10:00 PM CRIMINAL MINDS (3rd Season Premiere)
10:00-11:00 PM CSI: NY (4th Season Premiere)

Thursday, Sept. 27
9:00-10:00 PM CSI: CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION (8th Season Premiere)
10:00-11:00 PM WITHOUT A TRACE (6th Season Premiere)

Friday, Sept. 28
8:00-9:00 PM GHOST WHISPERER (3rd Season Premiere)
9:00-10:00 PM MOONLIGHT (Series Premiere)
10:00-11:00 PM NUMB3RS (4th Season Premiere)

Saturday, Sept. 29
8:00-9:00 PM CRIMETIME SATURDAY
9:00-10:00 PM CRIMETIME SATURDAY
10:00-11:00 PM 48 HOURS MYSTERY (Season Premiere)

Thursday, Oct. 18
10:00-11:00 PM VIVA LAUGHLIN (Special Preview)

Sunday, Oct. 21
8:00-9:00 PM VIVA LAUGHLIN (Time Period Premiere)