TCA Winter Press Tour: CBS, Showtime, The CW, NBC

Hello Folks!

As you know, the TCA Winter Press Tour is currently being held, and this is the smaller of the two press tours. (The summer one is a much bigger event.)

Here's what went down at the CBS portion, aside from the bigger news already posted in seperate threads:

- 18 episodes of "Flashpoint" are in the can, and will make it to the air at some point, CBS Entertainment president Nina Tassler confirmed. (A few of them already aired on Canada's CTV).

- CBS is still fond of Laurence Fishburne as the new lead on "CSI". "I think they're doing much better in finding Fishburne's character," Tassler said. "You can't deny Fishburne is a powerful actor and a force to be reckoned with."
CBS would welcome William Petersen back "with open arms" but there are no plans to have him appear on the show during the current season.

- The legal trouble Charlie Sheen is currently in shouldn't affect "Two And A Half Men". At least not for now…

- About the decision to air reality format "Undercover Boss" after the SuperBowl: ""We've seen five or six episodes; there is a tone to the show (that) we felt was a great fit," Tassler said. "We think we're going to launch another big branded reality show."

- "Moonlight" fans might want to suck this one up: Nina Tassler acknowledged that she was talking with producer Joel Silver recently. And a few cast members have been approached by Warner Bros. TV about maybe coming back together for a do-over.

But if anything like this should happen, it would probably not do so before 2011, since CBS is currently in the process of picking up the pilots for the 2010-2011 season.

But Tassler sure wants to keep lead Alex O'Loughlin around: “We love [Alex] and want him to stay around for a long time." Remember, this from the woman who brought back "Jericho". I wouldn't rule out anything at the moment.


From Showtime's panel:

- Showtime has picked up "The Big C" to series, starring Laura Linney, to air over the summer. The story about a suburban wife who shakes up her life after being diagnosed with cancer, has been picked up for 13 episodes.

- Also picked up is "The Borgias", a period drama starring Jeremy Irons, which is considered a follow-up to "The Tudors".

- The second season of "The United States Of Tara" promises to be a little more raunchy.

- Haaz Sleiman has left "Nurse Jackie" because his character Mo-Mo wasn't needed as a best friend for Jackie anymore, apparently. exec producer Linda Wallem said: "O'Hara took over the best friend role."


The CW:

- While it isn't a done deal, it looks like "Supernatural" might get a sixth season, and "Smallville" is looking good for season 10.


NBC:

- It's no surprise, but now it's official: "The Jay Leno Show" will exit NBC's primetime hour of 10 PM as of February 12. The announcement was made by NBC Chairman Jeff Gaspin. He said that while NBC was accepting Leno's ratings, the mounting presssure of the network's affiliate stations forced the headquarters to react in the end.
The network however is looking to keep Jay Leno, Conan O'Brien and Jimmy Fallon on the air. Gaspin proposed to the parties involved that Leno moves to 11:35 PM for a half-hour format, with Conan's "Tonight Show" launching at 12:05 AM, followed by "Late Night With Jimmy Fallon" at 1:05 AM. However, no deals have been struck at this point. As for Carson Daly, NBC wants to keep him around, but it looks like "Last Call" is a goner.

- The above means that NBC is now looking to ramp up the scripted development to re-fill the 10 PM hour in the next season. After February 12, the slot might be filled by stuff like the fourth season of "Friday Night Lights" (currently airing on DirecTV), or the new season of "Law & Order: Criminal Intent". "Friday Night Lights" can start airing on NBC as early as March, according to contracts.

- NBC will go back to the traditional upfront format, and announcing its fall schedule in May like all the other networks.

- Howie Mandel is set to replace David Hasselhoff on "America's Got Talent".

- The future of "Heroes" is not set in stone yet. Entertainment president Angela Bromstad said that she's pleased with the ratings, and that creator Tim Kring is currently working on a pitch of an additional season.

- NBC is looking for a "Law & Order" set in Los Angeles. The original "L&O" is expected back in the fall.

Sources: EW, The Hollwood Reporter, Fancast