CBS has pulled the plug on Waterfront which was originally slated for midseason. With few holes to fill on its schedule, CBS executives decided to pull the plug on the drama from Warner Brothers TV. Jack Orman created the show, which starred Joe Pantoliano as the mayor of Providence, R.I. William Baldwin, Mary Stuart Masterson and Larenz Tate also starred. Four episodes, plus the pilot, of Waterfront had already been shot. Insiders said net execs weren’t completely pleased with the show’s direction; without a pressing need to schedule it, the net decided to pass.
CBS has given a put pilot commitment to a U.S. version of hit BBC mystery-musical miniseries Viva Blackpool, reports Variety. Hugh Jackman is set to appear as a guest in the pilot and is expected to executive produce the project along with partner John Palermo and their Seed Productions. BBC and Sony Pictures TV will produce the U.S. version, along with CBS Paramount Network TV. Bob Lowry (Huff) is writing and executive producing. Peter Bowker, who created the U.K. original, is also set as an executive producer. Viva Blackpool revolves around sleazy small-time casino owner Ripley Holden, who attempts to open a big-time resort in Las Vegas. The show uses song hits of the past and present to tell the story - which includes murder and mayhem, love and infidelity.
CBS has given Jericho, its freshman hit drama about the aftermath of a nuclear explosion on a small, peaceful Kansas town, a full season order. Jericho, averaging 11.3 million viewers, 3.4/10 in adults 18-49 and 4.6/12 in adults 25-54, has boosted CBS’s performance in the Wednesday, 8:00-9:00 PM time period by +48% in viewers, +36% in adults 18-49 and +48% in adults 25-54 compared to last year. As part of a three-hour drama block that includes Criminal Minds and CSI: NY, CBS has seen its Wednesday ratings increase year-to-year by +34% in viewers, +22% in adults 18-49 and +30% in adults 25-54, the Network’s biggest night of ratings growth. CBS is first on Wednesday in viewers and adults 25-54 and a close second in adults 18-49.
Jericho stars Skeet Ulrich, Gerald McRaney, Ashley Scott, Pamela Reed, Kenneth Mitchell, Lennie James, Sprague Gradon, Michael Gaston, Erik Knudsen, Brad Beyer and Shoshannah Stern. Jon Turtletaub, Stephen Chbosky and Carol Barbee are executive producers for CBS Paramount Network Television.
His voice opens every episode of the “CSI” franchise. Now the Who lead singer Roger Daltrey will appear on the mothership series, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation. Daltrey is set to guest star on an upcoming episode of the hit CBS show. Producers are keeping details about his character under wraps, calling it “a surprise role that will keep viewers guessing.” The song “Who Are You” by the Who has served as the theme for “CSI” since the show’s launch in 2000. Two other Who songs, “Won’t Get Fooled Again” and “Baba O’Riley,” are the themes for spinoffs “CSI: Miami” and “CSI: NY,” respectively.
Kathy Najimy has joined the cast of CBS’ crime drama Numbers, which just began its third season. In a recurring role, she will play the division chair of the physics, math and astronomy departments at the university where Charlie Eppes (David Krumholtz) works. She begins filming next week. For Najimy, this marks the first major onscreen series gig since her co-starring role on Veronica’s Closet. She is also a member of the voice cast of Fox’s King of the Hill.
CBS is looking to unveil its midseason medical drama 3 Lbs. earlier than expected, sources said. The network has ordered four additional scripts of the Stanley Tucci vehicle and is considering launching the series next month. The move comes amid a soft start for CBS’ freshman series, especially the crime drama Smith, which was pulled off the schedule Friday after three airings.
3 Lbs. centers on the relationship between a rising-star brain surgeon (Mark Feuerstein) and the brilliant but unpredictable surgeon (Tucci) he works under. The show already is in production on its midseason order. CBS is said to be very pleased with the episodes produced so far but is waiting to see more cuts before making a final decision about a November launch.
Smith, the Tuesday night CBS drama with Ray Liotta leading a band of high-stakes thieves, is off the schedule, the network said Friday. It will be replaced temporarily by reruns of CSI: Crime Scene Investigation and Criminal Minds. Its last episode had only 8.4 million viewers on Tuesday, according to Nielsen Media Research. It faced tough competition in the time slot from NBC’s Law & Order: SVU and ABC’s Boston Legal.
