CBS, as usual the last network to make its decisions known, has issued its first orders for the 2012/13 network season, picking up 2 comedies and 4 dramas.
VEGAS was the network’s highest-profile pilot, written by Nicholas Pileggi (Goodfellas) and Greg Walker. It stars Dennis Quaid, in his TV-series debut, as the real life Ralph Lamb, a cowboy who became the sheriff of Las Vegas in the 1960s. The cast also includes Michael Chiklis, Jason O’Mara and Carrie-Ann Moss, and the pilot was directed by James Mangold (Walk the Line). It’s from the network’s in-house studio.
ELEMENTARY was also much-buzzed. It’s a modern day Sherlock Holmes story written by Rob Doherty, whose only other previous show was the short-lived Headcases. Jonny Lee Miller plays Holmes, and Dr. Watson in this version is Lucy Liu, with Aidan Quinn also in the cast. Again, in-house production.
MADE IN JERSEY is a legal procedural written by Dana Calvo, who’s worked on Covert Affairs and Greek. Janet Montgomery is the working-class newcomer at a white-shoe law firm, and the strong supporting cast includes Kyle McLachlan, Donna Murphy, Pablo Schreiber and Stephanie March. It’s from Sony and CBSTV.
GOLDEN BOY is a cop show written by Nicholas Wootten, who’s been on Prison Break and Chuck. It stars Theo James as a cop who rises from the beat to commissioner, and co-stars Holt McCallany, Bonnie Somerville and Chi McBride. The studio is Warners.
PARTNERS is the latest comedy from Will & Grace‘s Max Mutchnick & David Kohan, about 2 best friends (David Krumholtz and Michael Urie) and what happens to their relationship when one of them decides to get married. The multi-camera pilot was directed, naturally, by James Burrows, and co-stars Sophia Bush and Brandon Routh. It’s also from Warners.
FRIEND ME, another multi-camera about best friends (Christopher Mintz-Plasse and Nicholas Braun) and what happens to their relationship when they move to LA. The writers are veteran Alan Kirschenbaum and Ajay Sahgal, and it’s in-house.
CBS also picked up the reality series THE JOB, which sounds like The Apprentice without Donald Trump (not a bad thing), and canceled CSI MIAMI, ROB, UNFORGETTABLE, A GIFTED MAN and NYC 22. The Rob axing is a bit surprising, since the show hadn’t been doing badly in the ratings, and buzz had been that NY, not Miami, was the more likely CSI to get whacked.
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