CBS Dares to Be Different

TCA PRESS TOUR NOTES:

The home of the procedurals (“CSI”s of all flavors, “Cold Case,” “Criminal Minds” etc.) wants to be “daring” and “different” this year according to entertainment prez Nina Tassler (a BU alum). Hoping to zap its geriatric image the network is unveiling “Cane” a Latino family drama that has shades of “The Sopranos,” “The Godfather” and Shakespeare that is headed by Jimmy Smits; a controversial reality show that puts kids in charge of a town called “Kid Nation”; a family drama/crime show/musical hybrid called “Viva Laughlin”; a vampire private eye show that is not at all like “Angel” - except that it’s kind of like “Angel”- called “Moonlight”; a geek sitcom that differentiates itself from all other geek shows this year by having physicists for its geeks called “The Big Bang Theory”; and in mid-season a show about 70’s swingers called “Swingtown.” Take that “60 Minutes” fans.

In other CBS news, although the producers of “Cane” claimed to be more than willing to let Nestor Carbonell appear as ageless “Other” Richard on “Lost,” reports say Tassler isn’t so sure about letting the former “Tick” and “Suddenly Susan” star book a return ticket to the South Pacific.

“Cold Case” continues its musical gets this season by having a show set in the grunge era scored by Nirvana.

“CSI” and “Without a Trace” will have its first crossover with Gil Grissom (William Petersen) teaming up with Jack Malone (Anthony La Paglia).

Mandy Patinkin will return to shoot an episode that wraps up his “Criminal Minds” character Jason Gideon. In one of the tour’s bigger laughs, when Tassler was asked why she cited “personal issues” in Patinkin’s decision to quit the hit show when he called it “creative differences” in a statement she said, “I think creative differences is a euphemism for personal issues.”

And proving that “Jericho” fans are everywhere Tassler reported that her local camera store clerk and her new doctor both confronted her about the beloved post-apocalyptic drama, which was cancelled and brought back thanks to its nutty viewership.

Here’s a look at the CBS premiere dates with new shows in bold:

Wednesday, Sept. 19
8:00-9:00 PM KID NATION

Thursday, Sept. 20
8:00-9:00 PM SURVIVOR: CHINA

Sunday, Sept. 23
7:00-8:00 PM 60 MINUTES
9:00-10:00 PM COLD CASE
10:00-11:00 PM SHARK

Monday, Sept. 24
8:00-8:30 PM HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER
8:30-9:00 PM THE BIG BANG THEORY
9:00-9:30 PM TWO AND A HALF MEN
9:30-10:00 PM RULES OF ENGAGEMENT
10:00-11:00 PM CSI: MIAMI

Tuesday, Sept. 25
8:00-9:00 PM NCIS
9:00-10:00 PM THE UNIT
10:00-11:00 PM CANE
Wednesday, Sept. 26
9:00-10:00 PM CRIMINAL MINDS
10:00-11:00 PM CSI: NY

Thursday, Sept. 27
9:00-10:00 PM CSI: CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION
10:00-11:00 PM WITHOUT A TRACE

Friday, Sept. 28
8:00-9:00 PM GHOST WHISPERER
9:00-10:00 PM MOONLIGHT
10:00-11:00 PM NUMB3RS

Thursday, Oct. 18
10:00-11:00 PM VIVA LAUGHLIN

SARAH RODMAN