CBS Pickups Three Pilots (Updated: Four)

With so many posts about the other big networks, one may wonder where the heck is CBS in all of this. Well, today Variety reported the eye network picked up three new dramas for next season, "Three Rivers", "The Good Wife" and an NCIS spin-off starring LL Cool J and Chris O'Donnell.

"The Good Wife" stars Juliana Margulies as a lawyer (and I'm assuming, mother) who has to go back to the office when her husband, a politician, goes to jail. I've been a fan of Juliana Margulies since her short stint as a nutso mistress on The Sopranos, so I'm glad to see her returning to weekly TV. The Scott Brothers, Tony and Ridley, are producing, so here's hoping. Come to think of it, The Scott Bros tend to like non-traditional families in their series, so perhaps she's not a mom? (On a side note, anyone catch the season finale of "Numb3rs" on Friday - great episode. I'd like to pat the Scott Bros on the back for that one.)

The show also stars Matt Czuchry as a Harvard graduate junior associate at Margulies' law firm named Cary. I know many will be elated to find the young heart throb back on TV. While his unfortunately short stint as religion-boy and crush object for Lila on "Friday Night Lights" was memorable, especially for the scenes starring both he and Tim Riggins with poor little Lila stuck in between, his three season run as Rory Gilmore's well-to-do but not such a big jerk as she originally thought boyfriend Logan Huntzberger on "The Gilmore Girls" really cemented him as not only a heart throb, but a pretty decent actor, too.

"Three Rivers" is about organ donors, according to Variety. With only that bit of info I'm reminded of TNT's failed Treat Williams starred organ donor drama "Heartland" due to the related premise and the folksy, midwest-y name.

The NCIS spin-off...well, I couldn't really care less about that. LL Cool J has decided to walk in Ice T's path and maybe it'll work out just as well for him. I do remember snickering upon first hearing of T's casting on "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" but I whole heartedly take that back now as he's a good addition to the show. As for Chris O'Donnell, I've never really been a fan of his, though I have nothing against him. The last part I can even recall him in is Robin from one of the Batman movies. Besides not being a fan of his, I don't particularly care for NCIS, either.

As I said in an earlier post, I think the show is popular for three reasons: It's timeslot, the fact that it's so...unspecial, non-stylized, etc. and that it's on CBS, meaning the network's older skewing audience likes early time slots and unspecial programming.

Still no word on "The Unit", "Cold Case" or "Without A Trace". I'm guessing "Cold Case" in, "Without A Trace" out and no idea on where "The Unit" lies...I'm hoping they keep it with a better timeslot.

As for CBS sister network, The CW, they have picked up "Vampire Diaries" and the Melrose Place spin-off.

According to Futoncritic, Vampire Diaries is "drama about a tragic young heroine who is the object of passion for two vampire brothers - one good, one evil - who are at war for her soul and for the souls of her friends and family."

Updated 5/17/09 8:38pm
CBS also picked up another comedy. "Accidentally On Purpose" stars Jenna Elfman, the description says "comedy about a san francisco movie critic who finds herself accidentally pregnant after a fling with a much younger man, and the unconventional family that ultimately results".