In a season marked by viewer declines at almost all of the major networks, CBS stands out as the one exception, actually having grown veteran series like NCIS and introduced the season’s only hit in The Mentalist.
At CBS’s portion of TCA today, entertainment president Nina Tassler told reporters that the criticism often lodged at the network’s heavy reliance on crime dramas was disproved this season because of their continued success.
Tassler also mentioned that the network is developing a variety show with singer John Mayer, and that it also may produce one extra episode of The Mentalist for this season.
In an on-camera interview with Mediaweek correspondent Alan Frutkin, Tassler spoke of the continued strength of crime shows on the network, the return of Fox’s American Idol, and NBC’s decision to replace its 10 p.m. dramas with a Jay Leno-hosted talk show.
