'Medium' builds a bridge for CBS
Twitter
Why is CBS excited about having NBC castoff "Medium" on its Friday-night schedule for next season? Let the network's entertainment president, Nina Tassler, explain.
"It's like a blend of two genres," Tassler says of "Medium," which will air in between "Ghost Whisperer" and "Numb3rs" on Fridays. "It's got that similar sensibility to 'Ghost Whisperer,' but it's also got a crime-solving element. If 'Ghost Whisperer' and 'Numb3rs' had an offspring, it would be 'Medium.'"
The show comes to CBS after five seasons on NBC. Despite its steady ratings (it averages about 8.3 million viewers a week), "Medium" was let go by its former network this week in what was at least partly an economic move. Earlier reports about the show's negotiations with NBC said the network wanted a shorter season of the show, while the studio -- CBS sibling CBS TV Studios -- was seeking the standard 22-episode run.
"Medium" will get a full season on CBS, Tassler says. After NBC's decision to cut the series loose, CBS didn't waste much time in picking it up. "We played it out and just made the decision when we knew we had the opportunity to do it," she says.
Kelly Kahl, CBS' head of scheduling, calls "Medium" "the perfect bridge show" between the network's other Friday dramas.
"We looked at the ratings, and 'Medium' and 'Ghost Whisperer' sit right next to each other in the rankings," Kahl says. "We also looked at crossover viewing between the two shows, and they are literally perfect companions for each other. In terms of improvement [on Fridays], it's a very solid prize for us."
"Medium" will be airing opposite another Friday newcomer, ABC's "Ugly Betty," as well as NBC's "Southland" and FOX's "Dollhouse" in the fall.
Related:
'Mentalist' moves, 'Medium' finds home on CBS
PICS: CBS' new shows for 2009-10
CBS' schedule for next season
Why ABC's 'Ugly Betty' move makes sense
All of Zap2it's upfronts coverage
Post a comment
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun |
-
8:00 8:30 9:00 9:30 10:00 10:30 
ABCDancing With the Stars performance show (Sep. 19) Castle (Sep. 19) 
CBSHow I Met Your Mother (Sep. 19) 2 Broke Girls (Sep. 19) Two and a Half Men (Sep. 19) Mike & Molly (Sep. 26) Hawaii Five-0 (Sep. 19) 
NBCThe Sing-Off (Sep. 19) The Playboy Club (Sep. 19) 
FOXTerra Nova (Sep. 26) House (Oct. 3) Local Programming 
CWGossip Girl (Sep. 26) Hart of Dixie (Sep. 26) Local Programming -
8:00 8:30 9:00 9:30 10:00 10:30
ABCLast Man Standing (Oct. 11) Man Up (Oct. 18) Dancing With the Stars results show (Sep. 20) Body of Proof (Sep. 20)
CBSNCIS (Sep. 20) NCIS: Los Angeles (Sep. 20) Unforgettable (Sep. 20)
NBCThe Biggest Loser (Sep. 20) Parenthood (Sep. 13)
FOXGlee (Sep. 20) New Girl (Sep. 20) Raising Hope (Sep. 20) Local Programming
CW90210 (Sep. 13) Ringer (Sept. 13) Local Programming -
8:00 8:30 9:00 9:30 10:00 10:30
ABCThe Middle (Sep. 21) Suburgatory (Sep. 28) Modern Family (Sep. 21) Happy Endings (Sep. 28) Revenge (Sep. 21)
CBSSurvivor: South Pacific (Sep. 14) Criminal Minds (Sep. 21) CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (Sep. 21)
NBCUp All Night (Sep. 14) Free Agents (Sep. 14) Harry's Law (Sep. 21) Law & Order: SVU (Sep. 21)
FOXThe X Factor performance show (Sep. 21) I Hate My Teenage Daughter (Nov. 23) Local Programming
CWH8R (Sep. 14) America's Next Top Model (Sep. 14) Local Programming -
8:00 8:30 9:00 9:30 10:00 10:30
ABCCharlie's Angels (Sep. 22) Grey's Anatomy (Sep. 22) Private Practice (Sep. 29)
CBSBig Bang Theory (Sep. 22) How to Be a Gentleman (Sep. 29) Person of Interest (Sep. 22) The Mentalist (Sep. 22)
NBCCommunity (Sep. 22) Parks and Recreation (Sep. 22) The Office (Sep. 22) Whitney (Sep. 22) Prime Suspect (Sep. 22)
FOXThe X Factor results show (Sep. 22) Bones (Nov. 3) Local Programming
CWThe Vampire Diaries (Sep. 15) The Secret Circle (Sep. 15) Local Programming -
8:00 8:30 9:00 9:30 10:00 10:30
ABCExtreme Makeover: Home Edition (Sep. 25/Oct. 21) Shark Tank 20/20 (Sep. 16)
CBSA Gifted Man (Sep. 23) CSI: NY (Sep. 23) Blue Bloods (Sep. 23)
NBCChuck (Oct. 21) Grimm (Oct. 21) Dateline (Sep. 23)
FOXKitchen Nightmares (Sep. 23) Fringe (Sep. 23) Local Programming
CWNikita (Sep. 23) Supernatural (Sep. 23) Local Programming -
8:00 8:30 9:00 9:30 10:00 10:30
ABCSaturday Night College Football
CBSRules of Engagement (Sep. 24) Comedytime Saturday Crimetime Saturday 48 Hours: Mystery (Sep. 24)
NBCEncore Programming
FOXCops (Sep. 10) Cops (Sep. 10) Encores / America's Most Wanted (Oct. 29) Local Programming
CWLocal Programming -
7:00 7:30 8:00 8:30 9:00 9:30 10:00 10:30
ABCAmerica's Funniest Home Videos (Oct. 2) Once Upon a Time (Oct. 23) Desperate Housewives (Sep. 25) Pan Am (Sep. 25)
CBS60 Minutes (Sep. 25) The Amazing Race (Sep. 25) The Good Wife (Sep. 25) CSI: Miami (Sep. 25)
NBCFootball Night in America (Sep. 11) Sunday Night Football (Sep. 8 / Sep. 11)
FOXThe OT (NFL post-game) The Cleveland Show (Sep. 25) The Simpsons (Sep. 25) Allen Gregory (Oct. 30) Family Guy (Sep. 25) American Dad (Sep. 25) Local Programming
CWLocal Programming
| Legend: | New Show | New Time | Returning |
|---|
CBS knows what they are doing. I am not only happy to have my show back, but even more happy to get the show back to 22 episodes a season! Yay, next season is gonna be way better than this one was!
Smart move CBS! Since we already watch Medium, Ghost Whisperer and Numb3ers, you've captured us for the entire Friday night line-up.
Medium is one of the smartest dramas on tv with the absolutely BEST dynamic between the characters. The home-life situation is so realistic that i often smile when I watch the interplay between mother, father and kids. VERY real; VERY believable.
Kudos CBS...now I know why you're my favorite network...and I fall within the advertiser-desired demographic...GASP!
lol
"Medium" more or less describes my feelings towards this show. If it was called "Extra ****y" I'd probably be more interested in watching it. 8-)
Nina T***ler is a big liar. If they didn't have a profitable deal from lifetime for the show, they wouldn't even care about the show and most certainly would not have renewed it.
I am beyond thrilled with CBS! Thank you, thank you, thank you CBS for having the forethought to pick up one of the BEST shows on TV - Medium! You won't find a better cast, either! Hooray for CBS! The ONLY reason I will watch NBC is for Chuck - NBC has nothing else I'm interested in - Hey CBS, any chance you will pick up CHUCK, too? Ha! Then I'd NEVER watch NBC again!
Absolutely excellent decision by CBS, the show will do splendidly after Ghost Whisperer, it couldn't be a better double punch on Fridays, for CBS!
Good move by CBS... My only problem is that I like Southland and Dollhouse - I hate when the shows I like are all stacked against one another!
Wow, Friday nights at 9 PM have become the World Biggest Pillow Fight with low-rated shows and castoffs taking on one another. Just one more reason to go out on Friday nights.
It's great. I would have missed Medium as it is one of the only shows I watch. I am not much of a TV addict. I love Lost and Medium among a couple of other shows. One was Prison Break which is now off so, that leaves my favorites a little light. I have never really watched Ghost Whisperer but, I hear it's good as well. There's nothing on Friday nights anyway and YAY, it's going to be a full season!!!!!