• by Wayne Friedman , August 3, 2006

CBS will take the conventional route when promoting its new season. The net has decided to jam together the debuts of 20 to 22 prime-time series during the week of September 18, believing that viewers respond best to a premiere week.

In recent years, broadcast networks gave new fall shows their own marketing and breathing room to avoid the competitive crush of rival program starts. Some networks would slowly roll out premieres that could stretch until late October. (Or, if you were a Fox show, wait until November, after the baseball playoffs.)

Now, CBS wants its two regularly scheduled reality shows to get a jump on the season, airing them the week before its scripted fare. "Survivor: Cook Islands," will debut Thursday, Sept. 14, 8 p.m. EST, and "The Amazing Race 10" will have a special 90-minute debut on Sunday, Sept. 17, at 8:30 p.m.

The next day, Sept. 18, is the first official Nielsen Media Research day of the new season. That's when CBS scripted shows start in earnest. Its new comedy, "The Class," kicks off at 8 p.m., followed by returning shows "How I Met Your Mother," "Two and a Half Men," "The New Adventures Of Old Christine," and "CSI: Miami."

Tuesday has "NCIS" and "The Unit." Then a new drama, "Smith"--which will be presented with limited commercial interruption--starts at 10 p.m. Wednesday introduces new series "Jericho" at 8 p.m., then returning shows, "Criminal Minds" and "CSI: NY."

After "Survivor" and "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" on Thursday, CBS debuts "Shark"--another new drama starring James Woods--at 10 p.m. CBS sticks with its all-drama lineup--"Ghost Whisperer," "Close To Home," and "Numb3rs"--on Fridays.

Saturday has "48 Hours Mystery." CBS' revamped Sunday brings "60 Minutes," "The Amazing Race 10," "Cold Case," and "Without a Trace," which shifts from its Thursday night period.