Inside Move: CBS supersizes for sweeps
Net also bringing back primetime 'Price is Right'
For May 19 -- the final Monday of the May sweeps -- the Eye has skedded a 45-minute season finale of "Everybody Loves Raymond" and a 75-minute first season-ender of "CSI: Miami." Frosh laffer "Still Standing" will take a break that week.
As for the supersizing, CBS experimented with expanded 90-minute editions of "Survivor" and "CSI" earlier this season but until now had avoided scheduling shows at times other than on the half-hour or hour mark. NBC has been very aggressive with so-called supersized segs of skeins, originally using the technique as a stunt to blunt the impact of the Eye's "Survivor."
CBS scheduling chief Kelly Kahl said the expanded episodes end up helping both shows, producers and the network.
"At the end of the day, 'Raymond' had a wedding episode with a lot to pack into a half-hour, and 'CSI' often has trouble squeezing things in," he said. At the same time, CBS doesn't mind giving two of its biggest hits added airtime during sweeps.
"It's a win-win-win situation," Kahl said.
In another sweeps move, Eye is bringing back its primetime editions of Bob Barker-hosted quizzer "The Price Is Right." Hourlong segs are skedded to run Saturday, May 3, 10 and 17 at 8 p.m.; "Touched by an Angel" ends its run April 26.
