July 28th, 2010
CBS’ Tassler Discusses Fall Lineup, ‘Hip’ New Hawaii Five-O
Media Week/Marc Berman
Once again, CBS has the strongest fall lineup, with an abundance of hit scripted comedies and dramas and quality non-scripted hours Survivor, The Amazing Race and Undercover Boss scheduled appropriately across the week. The Eye net has, in fact, led in total viewers for seven out of the last eight seasons and there is every reason to believe its winning streak will continue.
But not every hour on the schedule looks like a winner, as the critics question the merits of the five upcoming new series—sitcoms Mike & Molly and $#*! My Dad Says; and dramas The Defenders, Blue Bloods and the revival of Hawaii Five-O.
Of the five new series, the new Hawaii Five-O generated the most number of questions, with the “darkness” and excessive violence a potential concern.
“We’ve basically deconstructed the elements of the original show, looked at the characters, retooled the franchise a little bit, and reassembled it in a great, hip, smart, fun character show,” said Nina Tassler, president, CBS Entertainment. “It’s still a small island. Everybody there knows each other—good guys, bad guys. I think those story engines are still very much a part of the series.”
