Cbs Plans Newhart, Caruso Series
Comedy veteran Bob Newhart and former “NYPD Blue” heartthrob David Caruso star in two of the seven new programs that CBS said Thursday will join its television schedule in the fall.
Newhart and Judd Hirsch star as a pair of mismatched in-laws on “George and Leo,” which will be added to CBS’ schedule on Monday nights. It’s a role CBS Entertainment President Leslie Moonves said he “begged” Newhart to take.
Caruso, who left “NYPD Blue” to pursue movie stardom and failed, returns in “Michael Hayes,” a drama about an ex-cop turned federal prosecutor. It will be on Tuesday nights at 9 p.m., just before “NYPD Blue” on ABC.
It was a bad day for former “Cheers” stars. CBS said “Ink,” the comedy starring Ted Danson, and “Pearl,” starring Rhea Pearlman, both won’t be back for their sophomore seasons. Other shows canceled by CBS are Larry Hagman’s “Orleans,” “Dave’s World” and “Moloney.”
CBS made a comeback this year by again appealing to its traditional older audience. Moonves said he wanted to get a younger, more urban audience next year while not alienating that older core.
Bryant Gumbel’s newsmagazine, which still has no title or format, has been scheduled for Wednesday nights at 9 p.m.
Some returning series have been shifted.
“Murphy Brown” and “Chicago Hope” will both move from Monday to Wednesday nights. “JAG” shifts from Friday to Tuesday, and “Promised Land” from Tuesday to Thursday.
Some returning series will also get new looks.
Comedian Bill Cosby will be joined in the second year of his sitcom by a new character, a 5-yearold boy, while “Murphy Brown” is considering a story line in which the star deals with breast cancer.
CBS is also trying to emulate ABC’s strategy of appealing to young viewers on Friday nights, in part by acquiring two comedies that formerly were on ABC. “Family Matters” and “Step by Step” have both been added to the schedule.
Here are CBS’s other new programs:
“Brooklyn South,” from “NYPD Blue” producer Steven Bochco, turns its attention to law enforcement in another New York City borough. It’s an ensemble drama about street cops.
“Dellaventura” stars Danny Aiello, fresh off his role as a Mafia kingpin on the CBS miniseries, “The Last Don.” He’ll portray a private investigator in this drama.
“Meego,” a comedy, stars Branson Pinchot as an alien adopted by an earthbound family after his spaceship crashes.
“The Gregory Hines Show” is a comedy where the actor stars as a widower getting back into the dating world just as his 12-year-old son’s social life becomes more active.
xxxx CBS’ FALL SCHEDULE Associated Press Here is the fall television schedule announced by CBS:
Monday 8-8:30 p.m. “Cosby” 8:30-9 p.m. “Everybody Loves Raymond” 9-9:30 p.m. “Cybill” 9:30-10 p.m. “George and Leo” 10-11 p.m. “Brooklyn South”
Tuesday 8-9 p.m. “JAG” 9-10 p.m. “Michael Hayes” 10-11 p.m. “Dellaventura”
Wednesday 8-8:30 p.m. “The Nanny” 8:30-9 p.m. “Murphy Brown” 9-10 p.m. Bryant Gumbel newsmagazine (title to be announced) 10-11 p.m. “Chicago Hope”
Thursday 8-9 p.m. “Promised Land” 9-10 p.m. “Diagnosis Murder” 10-11 p.m. “48 Hours”
Friday 8-8:30 p.m. “Family Matters” 8:30-9 p.m. “Meego” 9-9:30 p.m. “The Gregory Hines Show” 9:30-10 p.m. “Step by Step” 10-11 p.m. “Nash Bridges”
Saturday 8-9 p.m. “Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman” 9-10 p.m. “Early Edition” 10-11 p.m. “Walker, Texas Ranger”
Sunday 7-8 p.m. “60 Minutes” 8-9 p.m. “Touched By an Angel” 9-11 p.m. “CBS Sunday Movie”