Networks Shake, Roll Over And Stay This Fall

Following the old adage "if it ain't broke, don't fix it," CBS announced this week it plans to make few chances for its fall primetime schedule. Other networks decided to go for a complete overhaul.

When it came to ordering new shows, CBS threw the book at medical dramas in favor of lawyer shows. "Family Law," starring Kathleen Quinlan as a lawyer who starts a new practice after her husband leaves her, will air Mondays. The new drama "Judging Amy" is set for Tuesdays. According to Reuters, "Amy" stars "NYPD Blue" alum Amy Brenneman as a single mother who moves from New York to govern a courtroom in Hartford, Conn. Tyne Daly plays her mother.

Kevin Pollack and Nancy Travis head a half-hour comedy about husband-and-wife lawyers who work together. "Work With Me" will air Wednesdays following "Cosby."

Other new shows on CBS include the comedy "Ladies Man," "Love or Money," and "Now And Again," about a middle-aged man who is brought back to life by the government as a young, buff spy.

The new Mafia crime drama "Falcone" was pulled from CBS' lineup because it was deemed too violent by the network following the recent school shootings, said The Associated Press.

"L.A. Doctors" was cut from the schedule after one season, and family drama "Promised Land" was also canceled. "Candid Camera" will not return in the fall, but new episodes might turn up as a mid-season replacement.

Perhaps the network with the biggest schedule changes this fall is The WB, which is adding another night of programming.

"The Steve Harvey Show" will head the network's new Friday night lineup, followed by "For Your Love," the new animated comedy "Downtowners" and "The Jamie Foxx Show."

Reuters reports Freshman hit "Felicity" is moving to Sunday nights, followed by the new hour-long romantic comedy "Jack & Jill," about the love lives of six twenty-somethings.

Other new shows include teen dramady "Popular," "Safe Harbor," the sci-fi drama "Rosewell," and the "Buffy" spin-off "Angel."

In one fell swoop unemployment at the Mowry house shot up with the cancellation on both "Sister, Sister" and "Smart Guy." Twins Tia and Tamera Mowry headed "Sister, Sister," and younger brother Tahj was the "Smart Guy." Also presumably looking for work are the casts of "Unhappily Ever After" and "The Wayans Bros."

Fox raised eyebrows when it announced the addition of a half-hour version of "Ally McBeal" to its fall schedule and changes to two-thirds of its lineup.

Variety reports economic concerns lead Fox to cancel the successful reality shows "World's Wildest Police Chases," "Guinness Primetime" and Fox News' "Fox Files" and pad the schedule with the "Ally" redux and encores of "Cops."

NBC's new shows include the one-hour high school comedy "Freaks and Geeks," the emergency rescue drama "Third Watch," spin-off "Law & Order Special Victims Unit" and sitcoms "The Mike O'Malley Show" and "Cold Feet." Film veterans Martin Sheen and Rob Lowe head the political comedy "The West Wing," and "Doogie Howser" himself, Neil Patrick Harris, stars in the sitcom "Stark Raving Mad."

ABC is hoping to give NBC's Must See TV Thursdays a run for its money with its new lineup.

Variety reports Drew Carey's improv show "Whose Line Is It Anyway" will likely lead the night, followed by new comedy "Then Came You" and the drama "Wasteland" from "Dawson's Creek" creator Kevin Williamson.

Meanwhile, UPN is going after the boys next fall with "WWF Smackdown" on Thursdays. The network is also increasing its urban comedies with "Mo'Nique" and "The Grown Ups," "Shasta McNasty," and the spy dramedy "Secret Agent Man," reports Variety. The network hopes to entice the underserved male 18-34 demographic.

Movers And Shake-Ups

• One day after she and guest Tom Selleck got into a heated debate over gun control, Rosie O'Donnell opened her popular talk show Thursday by apologizing to Selleck for any embarrassment the incident might have caused, but not for the statements she made about the NRA. Selleck recently joined the gun lobbying group and appears in print ads promoting the organization. O'Donnell said Selleck knew the two were going to discuss gun control issues when he appeared on the show Wednesday to promote his new movie "The Love Letter," but by all accounts the discussion became much more heated than anyone had anticipated. Meanwhile, shock jock Howard Stern jumped into the ring this week when he blasted O'Donnell as a hypocrite for her stance on tighter gun control regulation. O'Donnell is a spokesperson for K-Mart, which sells guns in many of its stores. According to Mr. Showbiz, O'Donnell reportedly wrote a letter to the retailer after the Colorado school shooting asking them to stop selling firearms. It's not know if she will continue to appear in commercials for the retail chain.

• En Vogue plans to release two albums this year. The R&B trio's new studio album is set to hit stores this fall, reports MTV. Meanwhile, a greatest hits compellation will come out June 1. "Best of En Vogue" will include hits "My Lovin' (You're Never Gonna Get It)," "Whatta Man," and "Free Your Mind."

• "Saturday Night Live's" Chris Kattan will reportedly star in the New Line movie "Billith." Billed as Tootsie goes to Lilith Fair, The Hollywood Reporter says the story is about a struggling musician who joins the all-woman musical festival in drag.

• MTV is venturing from music television to music Web sites. Execs say the new Internet project will include several Web sites featuring full streaming audio from various radio stations, Web-casting, CD sales, and music news and information. Reuters reports further details of the project will be released in June.

• Comedian John Henson is leaving "Talk Soup," E! Entertainment Television's daily show featuring the low-lights of talk TV. Henson started hosting the show four years ago after Greg Kinnear left to pursue an acting career. The Associated Press reports Henson plans to join ABC but details of his new ventures were not released.

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