• by Wayne Friedman , July 21, 2008

Beverly Hills, Calif. -- Despite the disruption of last year's writers' strike, and a possible actors' strike to come, CBS wants to make the fall season familiar to viewers. "Audiences are like Pavlov's dog," Nina Tassler, president of CBS Entertainment, told the Television Critics Association meeting here. "It's important to have a smart, strong tradition. There is anticipation of a fall season."

CBS wanted to do the same with TV critics, providing them with DVD screeners of five pilots in June. All this stands in contrast to other networks, which have been a bit behind in delivering screening pilots. "We were working tirelessly during the strike," she said. So forward-thinking was the network, she added, that "we even did a teaser [promo] for [new show] "Harper's Island." Like other networks, Tassler is a supporter of ongoing program development: "We continue to shoot pilots year-round."

Questions from critics surrounded CBS' somewhat aging shows, as well as a major change with William Petersen's character leaving the network's big show "Crime Scene Investigation."

To boost CSI's viewership this year, Tassler says the show's producers have "event-tized the entire year." Petersen, who is a producer on the show, will leave after the 10th episode. Tassler says a new character will be added and announced soon.

CBS is also not giving up on its comedy efforts, especially for its Monday night block.

After the strike, CBS' comedies were one of the few areas to immediately see an increase in viewers. The network is adding "Worst Week" to the schedule, which will run at 9:30 p.m. The show is about an entertainment magazine editor who will do anything to please his girlfriend's parents, but instead becomes a one-man wrecking crew whenever he's around them.

Britney Spears' successful guest turn on the network's comedy "How I Met Your Mother" last year prompted questions about Spears getting her own show. Tassler would only say: "Maybe."

Tassler noted this summer's original programming efforts "Flashpoint" and "Swingtown" have had different results. In reference to "Swingtown," she said: "I'm disappointed in the ratings." With "Flashpoint," however, she said: "We have been pleased."

Another panel focused on CBS News and some of the drama surrounding low viewership for "The CBS Evening News"--now hovering around 5 million viewers a night--and lead anchor Katie Couric.

In response to reports that Couric could be leaving in a couple of months, Sean McManus, president of CBS News and CBS Sports, said flatly: "It's not true." For her part, Couric added: "I can echo that. Some speculative pieces got spun out of control. I'm very committed to the people here, and the product."

While the low ratings of the show are a concern, McManus said: "If you look at the commitment we made, I think we have done a darn good job. We are not as focused on the numbers as much as the media is."

In the age of 24-hour news, CBS has looked to deepen selective areas, such as its series on governmental waste and suicides among soldiers who have had tours in Iraq. Says Couric: "In this competitive atmosphere, it's important to find distinctive products or franchises."