CBS hopes to get back in the race with seven new shows

NEW YORK - CBS will bring back "City of Angels" this fall and introduce seven new series. The network is keeping its successful Sunday and Tuesday lineups intact and will replace only one comedy on Mondays. But the rest of the schedule was completely realigned, a move CBS president Leslie Moonves concedes was an attempt to steer as clear as possible of ABC's "Millionaire" steamroller. "We hope they'll put enough (nights of 'Millionaire') on that they'll blow themselves out," Moonves said at a press conference Wednesday in New York, where he unveiled the network's 2000-01 lineup. "We're praying for that to happen sooner rather than later." Among the new series are a sitcom starring Bette Midler as an entertainer who bears a strong resemblance to Bette Midler and a remake of "The Fugitive" from the producers of the hit "Fugitive" movie. "City of Angels," a medical drama with a mostly African-American cast, had been the subject of an intense campaign among black viewers wanting to save the show. It got a reprieve, though it will be moved to Thursday nights opposite "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire." It replaces another doctor show, the now canceled "Chicago Hope." CBS research found that "City of Angels," this season's No. 2 program among African-Americans, "was the only show" available that could effectively counter "Millionaire," Moonves said. Rather than put "48 Hours" up against ABC's retooled "Prime Time" newsmagazine, however, CBS moved it to 7 p.m. Thursdays, swapping places with the seemingly indestructible "Diagnosis Murder." Fridays and Saturdays each will add two new one-hour dramas. Gone from these nights are "Kids Say the Darndest Things" (which will return as a series of occasional specials) and "Now & Again," "Early Edition" and "Martial Law," which have all been canceled. CBS also moved "Walker, Texas Ranger" back an hour. Other new CBS comedies include "Yes, Dear," which is about parenting, and "Welcome to New York," from David Letterman's production company, starring Jim Gaffigan as an Indiana weatherman who comes to New York (much as Letterman did 20 years ago). The other new dramas are "C.S.I.," an update of "Quincy, M.E." that focuses on crime-scene investigators in Las Vegas; "That's Life," a drama about a young woman who returns to college in her 30s despite the doubts of family and friends; and "The District" with Craig T. Nelson as a reform police commissioner who comes to Washington, D.C., and shakes things up. Of the six new series CBS announced a year ago, only two, "Judging Amy" and "Family Law," return. The comedy "Ladies' Man" may return at midseason, and the mob drama "Falcone" will be relaunched this summer. To reach Aaron Barnhart, phone (816) 234-4790 or visit the TV Barn Web site at www.tvbarn.com @ART CAPTION:CBS' Fall 2000-01 Prime-time schedule @ART:Graphic @ART CAPTION:Bette Midler gets a sitcom this fall on CBS. @ART:Photo >>>