CBS is glitzy - yet safe

NEW YORK - ABC may have the game show with the big price tag, but it was CBS that was looking like a million bucks Wednesday afternoon. The No. 2 network presented its 2000-01 fall schedule to advertisers at Carnegie Hall, a lavish spectacle that featured a live musical number by Faith Hill, comedy by Ray Romano, magic by David Copperfield and an appearance by Bette Midler, all of whom have shows or specials on CBS next season. But the biggest cheer of the day was reserved for David Letterman. He strode onstage unannounced, interrupting CBS president Leslie Moonves in mid-sentence, with his take on recent well-publicized salary wars. "Bad news - Jesus wants a million bucks an episode," said Dave, who got an extra laugh by howling idiotically at his own joke. Letterman was strangely keyed up. It was like he had been stealing sips of caffeinated coffee against his doctor's orders. Moonves said afterward, "I think maybe Dave now has too much energy." Well, maybe Dave would like to share some of his excess with the CBS comedy development team. Judging from the short previews shown Wednesday, all three of the network's new sitcoms (with the possible exception of Midler's) looked safe and ordinary, like nearly all the comedies that have appeared on CBS in recent years. You could sense the crowd's energy dissipating, too, as Moonves slowly worked his way through the new fall schedule. Much of it seemed a lot like the old schedule. But then, as the presentation dragged into its third hour, Moonves unexpectedly revealed his boldest strokes. Not only is CBS bringing back the medical drama "City of Angels" on Thursdays, it has scheduled a terrific-looking remake of "The Fugitive" on Fridays and a very promising drama about a big-city police commissioner, "The Precinct," on Saturdays. Moreover, in each of these dramas, African-Americans play leading and not just supporting roles. (In "The Fugitive," Lt. Gerard will be played by Mykel T. Williamson) Now these were shows to get excited about. Unfortunately, by the time they were introduced, the mood inside Carnegie had shifted. It seemed as though many in the nearly all-white and conspicuously male crowd were ready to head over to Tavern on the Green and the big CBS after-party where they stood to catch a glimpse of Bette Midler. Aaron Barnhart's expanded coverage of the 2000-01 season announcements is online at the TV Barn Web site (www.tvbarn.com) >>>