Mike & Molly

CHICAGO – America’s #1 TV network showed a sign of their force today by renewing EIGHTEEN programs from their reliable hits to shows that many considered to be on the bubble. The renewals include four comedies, nine dramas, three reality series, and two newsmagazines and include programs that currently air on every night of the week. CBS really is in charge.

CHICAGO – The new FOX prehistoric series “Terra Nova” was a bit of a disappointment in its premiere episode Monday night, posting a 3.1 rating in the highly coveted 18-49 age group. The show premiered for two hours from 7-9 p.m. CST.

CHICAGO – AMC’s “Mad Men” and “Modern Family” were the big winners for the 63rd Annual Emmy Awards and “Game of Thrones,” “Justified,” “The Big Bang Theory,” “Mildred Pierce,” and “Mike & Molly” also won acting awards.

CHICAGO – We will know the full schedule tomorrow but CBS has been revealing it by bits and pieces all week, canceling “Mad Love” & “The Defenders,” renewing “Blue Bloods” & “Hawaii Five-0,” and giving us one of each today, canceling “Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior” and giving “CSI: NY” another year.

CHICAGO – The New York Times is reporting (but nowhere else yet so we’ll call it a “rumor”) that CBS will announce that three programs from the 2010-11 season will get a shot at breaking the sophomore slump — “Blue Bloods,” “Hawaii Five-0,” and “Mike & Molly”.

CHICAGO – The sitcom format that began with and was perfected by “I Love Lucy” (with its set-up/joke/laugh rhythm) remains unchanged since “Babaloo” was a catchphrase.

CHICAGO – CBS announced their Fall 2010 premiere dates for their new and returning series this week and most of their programming will launch during the same premiere week, which kicks off on Monday, September 20th, 2010.