CBS unveils new drama, comedy for Fall

CBS has announced its lineup for 2008-09, adding a healthy dose of new series to its roster of returning shows.

Among the new contenders are two comedies, Worst Week and Project Gary, which will sit alongside Big Bang Theory, The New Adventures Of Old Christine, How I Met Your Mother and Two and A Half Men on Monday and Wednesday nights.

Eleventh Hour, a new drama about a government scientist investigating deadly threats, will get the coveted post-CSI slot. Crime procedural The Mentalist follows a former medium who uses his psychic abilities to solve crimes, while The Ex-List is a female-skewing comedy drama about a 30-something woman searching for her perfect man.

Returning series include NCIS, Criminal Minds, Without A Trace, Numb3rs, Ghost Whisperer, The Unit and Cold Case, plus the veteran reality series The Amazing Race and Survivor.

Not returning are Cane, Moonlight, Jericho, Viva Laughlin, Kid Nation, Welcome To The Captain and James Woods legal drama Shark.

As for the cancellation of fan favourite Moonlight, CBS Entertainment president Nina Tassler said that the underwhelming response to Jericho's second season had played a part in the decision. "We had a very passionate fan base, and that's a good thing," she told The Hollywood Reporter, "but we had to make some tough calls."

> Click here for a night-by-night rundown of the new CBS lineup