Pasadena, Calif. – CBS will put a mushroom cloud over Denver in a drama pilot for next fall. “Jericho,” a one-hour pilot from director Jon Turtletaub, is “slightly comedic” in tone, according to CBS Entertainment chief Nina Tassler.
That and other hilarity is on display at the TV critics’ winter media tour, a biannual endurance race of producers, stars, network executives and scribes that’s all about spin.
Amid much talk about new technologies like iPod, cellphone, Xbox, video on demand and other services, executives stressed that this is a healthy time for broadcast television.
CBS boasted of its remarkable winning streak – averaging 2 million more viewers than any competitor, “the No. 1 TV network in the free world.” Tassler noted that even against the “competition-proof” sensation “American Idol” on Fox, CBS managed to draw 17.5 million viewers to “NCIS” this week. “Idol” scored 35.4 million viewers, 2 million more than a year ago.
CBS, once the stodgy old-folks’ home, is experimenting with different forms of programming, notably an English-language telenovela over 13 weeks this summer, the dramedy “Love Monkey” and an upcoming game show marathon.
Additionally, “The Courier,” a “micro-series” spread over seven nights starting Jan. 24, will look like “24.” The story line has a mysterious man racing the clock to locate his missing wife. With a minute or less within the commercial pod, the idea is to keep viewers on the couch. “Maybe they won’t use it as a bathroom break,” a CBS spokesman said.
The show is sponsored by Pontiac, so expect car chases.
On the CBS News front, Sean McManus ducked questions about Katie Couric and her possible future in the anchor chair, saying no decision has been made. A solo anchor is the way to go, McManus said. Bob
Schieffer is in place for a year or longer, and the “Evening News” shows “great signs of recovery” after the post-Dan Rather emotional bottoming-out.
Responding to Andy Rooney’s gripes on “60 Minutes,”
McManus said the mega-salary rumored for Couric would not affect the rest of CBS News. “I promised Andy it wouldn’t affect his salary either.”
Here’s hoping Showtime comes through for “Arrested Development.” While Fox programming boss Peter Liguori said it’s “highly unlikely” the series would return to his network, word is Showtime is negotiating with producer 20th Century Fox. If even half the audience followed “Arrested” to the cable network, it would be Showtime’s top-rated show. And it would put Showtime into best-comedy Emmy contention. (ABC is looking at the series too, but that deal is considered less likely.)
Dog ate her homework?
Get well soon, Paula Abdul. Not that anybody believes a sudden “eye infection” kept you from a morning news conference. Not even fellow “American Idol” judges Randy Jackson and Simon Cowell bought the excuse. What happened to her eye?
“It fell out,” Cowell offered.
Abdul hasn’t endured a news conference in the L.A. area since last summer’s outcry over her alleged intimate “fraternization” with contestant Corey Clark.
“7th Heaven” too costly
Thanks for an honest answer, WB. Executives were refreshingly candid when delivering the word that “7th Heaven” will be canceled. The series is expensive to produce and will lose $16 million for the network this year, said WB Entertainment chief David Janollari.
The WB’s most promising new show is the one-hour dramedy “Pepper Dennis,” with Rebecca Romijn (the “X-Men” movies) as a TV news anchor.
Bruce Jenner got 16 stitches over his left eye while practicing for “Skating With Celebrities,” the Fox clone of ABC’s “Dancing With the Stars.” As a 55-year-old with a bad knee, the Olympic decathlon winner said he took the reality gig as a personal challenge. “Skating is not for sissies,” he said.
The WB’s “Smallville,” reinvigorated in terms of ratings and storytelling this season, marks its 100th episode on Jan. 26. Tom Welling, who plays the young Clark Kent, told critics the episode is a dramatic turning point, complete with the death of a main character. The producers’ original promise of “no flights, no tights” presumably remains in effect.
TV critic Joanne Ostrow can be reached at 303-820-1830 or jostrow@denverpost.com.
