Drama-wise, Cane stars Jimmy Smits (woo-hoo) in a story about a large Cuban-American family running a rum and sugar business in South Florida (and George Lopez thought that Cavemen getting on the air would mean that all the Latino-based shows would disappear). When the family patriarch, played by Hector Elizondo, is offered an opportunity to get out of the sugar part of the business, his vocal family voice their opinions.
Moonlight is a private investigator tale… with a twist. Mick St. John, PI, just happens to also be a vampire. Sadly for him, he doesn't get along with other vamps and spends a lot of his time protecting mere mortals from his undead brethren. Though he has resisted romance ever since he was bitten, nigh on 60 years ago, there's this new girl in town and Mick is considering his options.
Lastly, there's Viva Laughlin, based on the British show Viva Blackpool. Executive produced by Wolverine himself, this “mystery drama with music” focuses on Ripley Holden who wants to run a casino in Laughlin. Ripley has some financing problems and is forced to go to another casino owner (played in a recurring guest star role by Hugh Jackman) to help. Things continue to slide as Ripley's ex-business partner is found dead. But, on the upside he's married to Mädchen Amick and there's music.
Also picked up by CBS as a mid-season replacement is Swingtown, a show based in 1970s suburbia with couples examining the institutions of marriage and gender roles. It stars Jack Davenport and open marriages.
So, the subject matter may not always be conservative, but the schedule is. It should also be noted that Without a Trace is moving back to its original Thursday nights at 10 time slot, flip-flopping with Shark. Does this fall under the theory that if he doesn't keep swimming (around the schedule) he'll die?
Article comments
1 - Phillip Winn
So long as they keep How I Met Your Mother on the air, I'm happy. Season two just ended with "It's going to be Legen -- wait for it"
I'm waiting for the opening of season three, so Barney can say "-- dary!"
Some of the new shows sound interesting, so they won't last. The Big Bang Theory sounds dreadful, so it might.
2 - Hi there
YOU DIDN'T MENTION HOW JERICHO GOT CANNED!!!!
CBS allowed Jericho to end with a cliffhanger finale, but now has been cannned! This is ridiculous!
3 - Hi there
I like Shark at 10pm on Sunday. This is the old Practice timeslot and is good for 100% legal/courtroom dramas.
4 - TV and Film Guy
Jericho's numbers are way, way down from it's fall numbers, there really was no surprise in its permanent disappearance.
5 - TV and Film Guy
But, yes, it got canned.
6 - Tyler
"Completely gone is the relatively successful Close to Home"
...and JERICHO, sorry you are so ignorant to miss this cancellation too.
7 - TV and Film Guy
Tyler,
You are right that I didn't mention that Jericho, beloved by its few fans, got cancelled. Close to Home garnered far better numbers than Jericho, and unlike the latter, Close to Home's numbers didn't suffer a slide for the entire second half of the season.
Personally, I never thought Jericho was a good show, so I can't say that I'm distressed by its trip to oblivion.
8 - Tyler
You should be upset that networks allow shows like Jericho to end their season with a cliffhanger season finale only to, a week later, turn it into a series finale.
Out of principal, you should be outraged when a show has a cliffhanger finale and is not allowed to resolve the cliffhanger.
9 - Tyler
There is a good argument that CBS screwed over Jericho by introducing a hiatus.
The ratings were good until Jericho went "on leave" and came back against American Idol.
You can't blame Jericho's producers there, but rather CBS.
They should have just aired all Jericho eps continuously without a hiatus.
Then I suspect we would be seeing a renewal for season 2.
10 - TV and Film Guy
Why should I be outraged at cliffhanger endings? The world is not wrapped up neatly in a bow for one and all, why should TV be different?
11 - Tyler
Cliffhanger endings for shows returning is one thing, but cliffhanger ending that will never be resolved? Come on now.
And what say you about how CBS killed Jericho with it's stupid hiatus?????
12 - TV and Film Guy
I don't know that Jericho would have survived better against Idol had it not gone away for a few months. It's possible it wouldn't have lost as big a percentage of viewers, but I don't know that.
And, life is full of cliffhangers where you never see the ending. Why not have that for a TV show too.
13 - J.J. Hunsecker
Tyler, many people missed the show, so you can't blame TVFG for missing the cancellation. After all, many TV viewers won't miss it.
You should also blame the people that gave up on the show. If the audience hadn't left, the show would be returning.
You also appear ignorant of how TV works. The producers on broadcast television make the shows months in advance before they know if they are going to be picked up. Blame the writers and producers for creating a cliffhanger on a show that lost its audience not the executives.