A week ago, I picked out my choice new series premiering in the 2010-2011 season for NBC, ABC, and FOX. Now, CBS and the CW step up to the plate.

Starting with CBS, I want to point out that they have probably the most change to their schedule. Having surprisingly canceled Ghost Whisperer (which I didn’t watch, but like many, thought it was gonna be back), and also canceling everything from their failing try at a Wednesday comedy block (Gary Unmarried, …Christine, and Accidentally on Purpose), plus canceling dying Cold Case and Numb3rs, and failing new dramas Three Rivers and Miami Medical, let’s just say, they have a lot of room to fill. For starters, Monday, where is their new biggest show, Big Bang Theory? It’s moving to Thursdays making room on regular Monday comedy block for a new comedy. And CSI: Miami? It’s going to Sundays so CBS can premiere the new Hawaii Five-O, starring Alex O’Loughlin (of two previously canned CBS dramas, Moonlight and Three Rivers) and Danial Dae Kim (Lost). Hope this former CSI: Miami slot, which was solid in ratings, means Alex O’Loughlin might have a show go onto at least a FULL season (Moonlight was 16 eps, Three Rivers never even finished airing, though, FYI, CBS will burn those eps off this summer starting on June 5th.)

Next drama, is of course the spin-off to Criminal Minds, which won’t premiere until midseason, has yet to have an official title. One series, that I initially thought of not checking out, but after watching the preview trailer, I think it might be pretty good, and that is The Defenders, starring Jim Belushi and Jerry O’Connell. The Defenders will replace CSI:NY (which is moving to Fridays, see a lot of big changes) on Wednesdays at 10PM.

As for comedies, there is the much talked about Shit My Dad Says (title currently written as “$#*! My Dad Says” or “Bleep My Dad Says”), but is starring William Shatner and is based on the Twitter feed of the same name. But, this will be part of CBS’s new comedy hour on Thursdays, on 8:30pm (after Big Bang Theory), essentially moving Survivor to the 8pm hour on Wed. that CBS has been failing in (hope this means low enough ratings to say “Sayonara.”)

View more trailers/previews: CBS New Series Trailers – the futon critic } CBS 2010-2011 schedule press release – the futon ctiric

Next up, the little itty-bitty network, the CW. They’ve renewed practically all they have, including my faves, Supernatural, Smallville, and their new biggest hit, Vampire Diaries. So, they only have one itty-bitty series, and its another reboot/follow-up (just not a soapy one like 90210 and Melrose Place). No, this is Nikita, a reboot to La Femme Nikita, starring Maggie Q, Shane West, Aaron Stanford, and Melinda Clarke. The CW is putting this on after Vampire Diaries in the Thurs. 9pm slot, pushing Supernatural to Fridays after Smallville (wish they moved those 2 to Tuesday, and put the ANTM crap to Friday and LUX and OTH to Wednesday. Oh well, it’s confirmed that the 10th season of Smallville is the last, and Supernatural has to end at some point, might as well go out on a high note).

CW Schedule – the futon critic

And these last two posts consists of just the broadcast nets.

With three schedules already announced (NBC, FOX, and ABC), and two more left (CBS and CW), it’s time to look at what new series might be worth watching. Now, my way of choosing what I’ll watch varies from if there is someone I really, really like (such as Matthew Perry’s new series Mr. Sunshine), the creator of a series (like checking out anything J.J Abrams does, so that means the new NBC series, Undercovers), and/or even just the director of a pilot episode is maybe enough for me to check it out. But, there are times when the plot is enough to hold its own.

To start off, FOX is pretty light. With them having actually renewed quite a bit of their programming (including Human Target and Lie to Me, which I think was partly due to not wanting to change much of what is working for them in ratings, and, in the case of Human Target, in need of a 24 replacement (although, Human Target is gonna move to Fridays, so it could just be used as filler instead). Either way, FOX doesn’t have much in new series on the schedule, and further more, of what they have, only one midseason series that’s not even on the schedule yet is worth watching. Terra Nova is from Executive-Producer Steven Spielberg, Peter Chernin, Brannon Braga (24) and David Fury (Lost, Buffy the Vampire Slayer) and is about a family that goes back in time to prehistoric Earth. Now, this could just be an excuse for Spielberg to bring out the dinosaur toys again, but deals with Earth dying, and this team gets sent back for the sole purpose of possibly preventing humans from making the same mistake. Something tells me, with good marketing, FOX may want to consider premiering this, I don’t know, April 22, 2011? (eh, maybe just sometime in that week, since that’s a Friday).

FOX has one potential comedy from Will Arnett called Running Wilde (set to air this fall, Tuesdays at 9:30/8:30c PM). And premiering this summer, is The Good Guys (premiering Monday, set in the fall on Friday 9/8c PM), which I may catch as it stars Bradley Whitford and Colin Hanks. Everything else appear to be duds, but you can take a look at the trailers available: FOX 2010-2011 Trailers

ABC also has a weak pack, with the main highlight (in my opinion) being the wonderful Matthew Perry in his own show, Mr. Sunshine. Unfortunately, it’s midseason without a confirmed airdate.

Another possible series is No Ordinary Family, which stars Michael Chiklis (The Shield) and Julie Benz (Dexter, Buffy/Angel), where a family are involved in a plane crash and find themselves with powers. Set to air this fall on Tuesday, 8/7c PM.

View Other ABC Trailers

And then there’s NBC, where Heroes is canceled, and a new series starring Summer Glau emerges in the form of The Cape, where a man is framed for crimes he didn’t commit, fakes his death, and assumes the identity of his son’s favorite comic book hero. (Set for midseason)

The next notable series is Undercovers from J.J. Abrams (the man behind Alias, Lost, Fringe, and the 2009 Star Trek movie). The spy-drama, is about two spies that fell in love, retired, but are forced back in when another spy, and friend, goes missing. (Set to air this fall on Wed. 8/7c PM).

Next, The Event, starring Jason Ritter (Joan of Arcadia, the Class), Laura Innes (ER), Scott Patterson (Gilmore Girls, and Emmy winner Zeljko Ivanek (Damages). Looks like it could be pretty interesting, got a whole thriller conspiracy thing workin’ for it. (set for Mondays, 9/8c PM, after Chuck)

As for comedies, NBC has been hitting lows lows, and lows with their comedies lately. I’ll mention Friends with Benefits since Oscar and Emmy winner Brian Grazer is behind it (A Beautiful Mind, Arrested Development), and it stars Ryan Hansen (who played Dick Casablancas on Veronica Mars, and currently in the Starz series Party Down) and also Fran Kranz (Topher from Dollhouse). (set for midseason).

FOX’s 2010 Fall/Preliminary Winter 2011 Schedule – the futon critic
ABC’s 2010 Fall Schedule – the futon critic
NBC Fall 2010 Schedule – the futon critic

Coming soon, CBS and CW new series lineup.