CBS Bets On Laughs with their 2013 Fall Schedule

Apparently CBS is ready to make Thursday night “Must See TV” again as they attempt to conquer the night NBC owned with hit comedies for decades with their first two-hour comedy block this fall. Joining hits The Big Bang Theory and Two and a Half Men on the night will be the new Robin Williams/Sarah Michelle Gellar comedy The Crazy Ones and the Wil Arnett-starrer The Millers. Those comedies will lead into Elementary for a fun night of TV. It’s the biggest move for the network which is pretty darn stable throughout the rest of its schedule… However, they will have their first split season serialized dramas on Monday nights with Hostages and Intelligence sharing the 10pm slot and displacing Hawaii Five-O to Fridays…. Other news was the cancellation of long-running utility player Rules of Engagement and holding Mike & Molly for midseason…. For more on the new CBS schedule head here or to Deadline.com and check out the new schedule below.

CBS 2013 Fall Schedule~

MONDAY
8-8:30 PM – How I Met Your Mother
8:30-9 PM – WE ARE MEN (new buddy comedy about divorced guys with Jerry O’Connell, Kal Penn and Tony Shaloub)
9-9:30 PM – 2 Broke Girls
9:30-10 PM – MOM (new comedy with Anna Farris as a recovering addict working in Napa Valley co-starring Allison Janney)
10-11 PM – HOSTAGES (a new thriller about a family taken hostage starring Toni Collette and Dylan McDermott) / INTELLIGENCE (Midseason~ A new drama thriller with Josh Holloway and Marg Helgenberger)

TUESDAY
8-9 PM – NCIS
9-10 PM – NCIS: Los Angeles
10-11 PM – Person Of Interest (NT)

WEDNESDAY
8-9 PM – Survivor
9-10 PM – Criminal Minds
10-11 – CSI: Crime Scene Investigation

THURSDAY
8-8:30 PM – The Big Bang Theory
8:30-9 PM – THE MILLERS (new family comedy with Wil Arnett, Margo Martindale and Beau Bridges)
9-9:30 PM – THE CRAZY ONES (new single camera workplace comedy with Robin Williams and Sarah Michelle Gellar as high-powered Ad Exec Partners who are also father and daughter)
9:30-10 PM – Two And A Half Men (NT)
10-11 PM – Elementary

FRIDAY
8-9 PM – Undercover Boss
9-10 PM – Hawaii Five-0 (NT)
10-11 PM – Blue Bloods

SATURDAY
8-8:30 PM – COMEDYTIME SATURDAY
8:30-9 PM – COMEDYTIME SATURDAY
9-10 PM – Crimetime Saturday
10-11 PM – 48 Hours

SUNDAY
7-8 PM – 60 Minutes
8-9 PM – The Amazing Race
9-10 PM – The Good Wife
10-11 PM – The Mentalist

Returning midseason: Mike & Molly, Reckless (a new legal drama), and Friends with Better Lives (a new ensemble comedy with James Van Der Beek and Brooklyn Decker).

Cancelled: Rules of Engagement, Partners, The Golden Boy, Vegas, CSI: NY

Melissa McCarthy~ Movie Star!

Three time Emmy nominee and a one time winner for Mike & Molly, Melissa McCarthy is comedy gold. She’s not only a tv veteran and a beloved character actor, but she’s an Oscar nominee for her side-splitting turn in last year’s Bridesmaids. Now, it looks like she is going to become a bona fide movie star with two high-profile and hysterical new movies. Melissa first hits the screens on February 8th in Identity Thief playing a con artist who steals Jason Bateman‘s identity. Then on April 5th, she teams up with Oscar winner Sandra Bullock for a female buddy cop comedy called The Heat. Both look like a riot and should cement McCarthy’s status as the funniest actress working in film today. Take a look at both trailers below and while you wait for the films to hit in 2013, catch McCarthy Monday nights on Mike & Molly on CBS.

Identity Thief

The Heat

My TV Grades for the New Shows so far this Season

Well, one thing can be said for this fall’s crop of new shows~ they’re at least a tiny bit better than last fall’s… In fact, only Raising Hope (which I love) , Hawaii 5-0 (which is pretty to look at but rather pedestrian) and Mike & Molly (which is ok and is greatly benefitting by the amazing Emmy winner Melissa McCarthy) made it to season two from that crop. So far, it looks like several shows could make it at least that and that’s a good thing. Leading the way are the comedies New Girl and 2 Broke Girls and the juicy soap Revenge. However, there is a lot of crap out there too (and after second viewing, pretty much all of the grades remain unchanged). So, check out the grades for the new shows I’ve seen this season…

New Fall TV Show Grades:

New Girl: A- (good comedy with a great lead in Zooey Deschanel)
2 Broke Girls: A-  (Kat Dennings is undeniable in this fun comedy)
Revenge: A- (great soap with a hot cast and scene stealer Madeline Stowe as an ice queen in the Hamptons is delicious)
Up All Night: B (serviceable comedy with the appealing Christina Applegate and Will Arnett, but the standout is the hysterical Maya Rudolph whose crazy talk show host character deserves her own show)
Person of Interest: B (decent procedural that fits perfectly with CBS’s brand and features Jim Cavezial and an impeccable Michael Emerson)
Ringer: B- (it’s a fun mystery thriller soap and it’s great to see Sarah Michelle Gellar back but why am I not thrilled to keep watching?)
The X Factor: B- (it’s an overproduced hot mess and the talent is less than inspiring. But I’m willing to keep watching as it moves past the bad audiitioners and gets to the good stuff. Plus I do love Simon and Paula)
Pan Am: C+ (it’s stylish and could improve, but so far it’s forgettable)
The Secret Circle: C+ (it’s perfect for the supernatural CW, but I don’t need to keep watching these pretty teen witches)
Terra Nova: C+ (the dinosaurs are great, the humans~ not so much)
Charlie’s Angels: C (wow, I wanted to like this. Unfortunately, it’s just average storytelling and execution despite the gorgeous cast)
A Gifted Man: C (Yes, Patrick Wilson is gifted and gorgeous but the show is boring)
Prime Suspect: C- (Maria Bello is good enough, but the show feels dated and worse, it’s annoying despite being decently shot, performed and edited)
Free Agents: D+ (what a waste of Kathryn Hahn and Hank Azaria. I love them but this one’s a stinker. I do hope it improves)
Whitney: D+ (it’s pretty painful)

Up next, I’m planning on watching Homeland this weekend on Showtime. Stay tuned…. Which shows do you like so far?

My Big Bold 2011 Emmy Nomination Predictions are Here!

It’s almost Emmy time people. The summer tv season is in full swing and the big shows are about to return from their breaks. That also means its time for this years Emmy nominations which will be announced Thursday morning by Melissa McCarthy (Bridesmaids, Mike & Molly) who could wind up a nominee and Fringe star Joshua Jackson. Check back here on Thursday for all the contenders that are likely to be led by The Good Wife, Mad Men, Dexter, Modern Family, 30 Rock and Glee. But this year a big number of new shows should also make a showing, most notably Boardwalk Empire. And will we see some amazing genre shows like Fringe, True Blood and newbies Game of Thrones and The Killing get some love? And what about the domination of Betty White? Will she land nods for her show (Hot in Cleveland), her TV movie (The Lost Valentine) and her guest appearance (Community)? She could indeed. So, just what do I think will get nominated? Take a look below at my new batch of big bold Emmy Award Nomination predictions.

My 2011 Big Bold Emmy Award Nomination Predictions~

Best Drama Series:
Boardwalk Empire, Dexter, Friday Night Lights, The Good Wife, Mad Men, The Killing
~spoilers: Game of Thrones, True Blood

Lead Actor Drama Series:
Steve Buscemi (Boardwalk Empire), Kyle Chandler (Friday Night Lights), Michael C. Hall (Dexter), Jon Hamm (Mad Men), Hugh Laurie (House), Timothy Olyphant (Justified)
~spoilers: Gabriel Byrne (In Treatment), William H. Macy (Shameless), Jeremy Irons (The Borgias)

Lead Actress Drama Series:
Kathy Bates (Harry’s Law), Mirielle Enos (The Killing), Juliana Marguiles (The Good Wife), Elizabeth Moss (Mad Men), Katey Sagal (Sons of Anarchy), Kyra Sedgewick (The Closer)
~spoilers: Connie Britton (Friday Night Lights), Mariska Hargitay (Law & Order: SVU)

Supporting Actor Drama Series:
Josh Charles (The Good Wife), Alan Cumming (The Good Wife), Peter Dinklage (Game of Thrones), John Noble (Fringe), Michael Shannon (Boardwalk Empire), John Slattery (Mad Men)
~spoilers: Michael Pitt (Boardwalk Empire), Andre Braugher (Men of a Certain Age), Walter Goggins (Justified), Denis O’Hare (True Blood)

Supporting Actress Drama Series:
Christine Baranski (The Good Wife), Michelle Forbes (The Killing), Christina Hendricks (Mad Men), Kelly MacDonald (Boardwalk Empire), Margo Martindale (Justified), Archie Penjabi (The Good Wife)
~spoilers: Sara Ramirez (Greys Anatomy), Jennifer Carpenter (Dexter), Sandra Oh (Greys Anatomy), KaDee Strickland (Private Practice)

Guest Actor Drama Series:
Michael J. Fox (The Good Wife), Hal Holbrook (Sons of Anarchy), Jeremy Irons (Law & Order: SVU), Robert Morse (Mad Men), Bob Newhart (NCIS), Peter Weller (Dexter)
~spoilers: Johnny Lee Miller (Dexter), Bruce Dern (Big Love), James Frain (True Blood)

Guest Actress Drama Series:
Candace Bergen (House),Marcia Gay Harden (Law & Order: SVU), Debra Messing (Law & Order: SVU), Elizabeth Mitchell (Law & Order: SVU), Julia Stiles (Dexter), Alfre Woodard (True Blood)
~spoilers: Shoreh Agdashloo (House), Christine Lahti(Law & Order: SVU), Anika Noni Rose (The Good Wife), Martha Plimpton (The Good Wife)

Best Comedy Series:
30 Rock, Glee, Hot in Cleveland, Modern Family, Parks and Recreation, The Office
~spoilers: The Big Bang Theory, Nurse Jackie

Lead Actor Comedy Series:
Alec Baldwin (30 Rock), Steve Carrell (The Office), Joel McHale (Community), Rob Lowe (Parks and Recreation), Matthew Morrison (Glee), Jim Parsons (The Big Bang Theory)
~spoilers: Louis C.K. (Louie), Matt LeBlanc (Episodes)

Lead Actress Comedy Series:
Toni Collette (United States of Tara), Courteney Cox (Cougar Town), Edie Falco (Nurse Jackie), Tina Fey (30 Rock), Laura Linney (The Big C), Amy Poehler (Parks and Recreation)
~spoilers: Lea Michelle (Glee), Melissa McCarthy (Mike & Molly), Martha Plimpton (Raising Hope)

Supporting Actor Comedy Series:
Ty Burrell (Modern Family), Chris Colfer (Glee), Jesse Tyler Ferguson (Modern Family), Neil Patrick Harris (How I Met Your Mother), Ed O’Neil (Modern Family), Eric Stonestreet (Modern Family)
~spoilers: Nick Offerman (Parks and Recreation), Rainn Wilson (The Office), Oliver Platt (The Big C)

Supporting Actress Comedy Series:
Julie Bowen (Modern Family),Jane Lynch (Glee), Wendie Malick (Hot in Cleveland), Sofia Vergara (Modern Family), Betty White (Hot in Cleveland), Kristen Wiig (Saturday Night Live)
~spoilers: Jane Krakowski (30 Rock), Merrit Weaver (Nurse Jackie), Vanessa Williams (Desperate Housewives),

Guest Actor Comedy Series:
Jim Carrey (Saturday Night Live), Matt Damon (30 Rock), John Lithgow (How I Met Your Mother), Carl Reiner (Hot in Cleveland), John Slattery (30 Rock), Justin Timberlake (Saturday Night Live)
~spoilers: Darren Criss (Glee), Nathan Lane (Modern Family)

Guest Actress Comedy Series:
Elizabeth Banks (30 Rock), Kristen Chenowith (Glee), Tina Fey (Saturday Night Live), Cloris Leachman (Raising Hope), Gwyneth Paltrow (Glee), Elaine Stritch (30 Rock)
~spoilers: Kathy Bates (The Office), Carol Burnett (Glee), Cynthia Nixon (The Big C)

Reality Competition Show:
The Amazing Race, American Idol, Dancing With the Stars, Project Runway, Survivor, Top Chef
~spoiler: So You Think You Can Dance

Reality Host:
Tom Bergeron (Dancing With the Stars), Cat Deeley (So You Think You Can Dance), Heidi Klum (Project Runway), Padma Laksmi & Tom Colicchio (Top Chef), Jeff Probst (Survivor), Ryan Seacrest (American Idol)
~spoilers: Phil Koeghan (The Amazing Race), RuPaul (RuPaul’s Drag Race)

TV Movie/Miniseries:
Carlos, Cinema Verite, Downtown Abbey, Mildred Pierce, Too Big Too Fail
~spoilers: The Kennedys, The Pillars of the Earth, Ths Sunset Limited

Lead Actor TV Movie/Miniseries:
Hugh Bonneville (Downtown Abbey), Laurence Fishburne (Thurgood), William Hurt (Too Big Too Fail), Barry Pepper (The Kennedys), Patrick Stewart (MacBeth), Edgar Ramirez (Carlos)
~spoilers: Idris Elba (Luther), Samuel L. Jackson (The Sunset Limited), Tommy Lee Jones (The Sunset Limited),

Lead Actress TV Movie/Miniseries:
Haley Atwell (The Pilars of the Earth), Taraji P. Henson (Taken From Me: the Tiffany Rubin Story), Diane Lane (Cinema Verite), Elizabeth McGovern (Downtown Abbey), Kate Winslet (Mildred Pierce)
~spoilers: Katie Holmes (The Kennedys)

Supporting Actor TV Movie/Miniseries:
Bryan O’Byrne (Mildred Pierce), Guy Pearce (Mildred Pierce), Tim Robbins (Cinema Verite), Tom Wilkinson (The Kennedys), James Woods (Too Big Too Fail)
~spoilers: James Gandolfini (Cinema Verite), Thomas Dekker (Cinema Verite), Paul Giamatti (Too Big Too Fail),

Supporting Actress TV Movie/Miniseries:
Diane Hardcastle (The Kennedys), Melissa Leo (Mildred Pierce), Maggie Smith (Downtown Abbey), Evan Rachel Wood (Mildred Pierce), Betty White (The Lost Valentine)
~spoilers: Cynthia Nixon (Too Big Too Fail), Eileen Atkins (Upstairs Downstairs), Ruth Wilson (Luther)