New John Wells drama 'Smith' will bow on CBS with limited commercial interruptions.
Looking to underscore its stability in a season stuffed with scheduling shuffles, CBS has decided to launch all of its scripted programming during premiere week.
Starting with its Monday comedies and wrapping with the fifth-season debut of "Without a Trace" in its new 10 p.m. Sunday slot, all of the Eye's scripted skeins are slated to bow between Sept. 18 and Sept. 24.
By contrast, the other four nets are staggering debuts between August (Fox) and November (ABC). Eye generally sticks to a premiere-week strategy, but it usually allows itself a couple of stunts -- launching a new show behind "CSI," for example.
This season, however, the only non-premiere-week bows will be of the Eye's reality shows. "Survivor: Cook Islands" will set sail Thursday, Sept. 14, while "The Amazing Race" gets a 90-minute kickoff Sept. 17.
Eye's decision to make premiere week a true premiere week fits in with CBS' overall message of stability. It's adding just four new shows this season: half-hour comedy "The Class" and dramas "Jericho," "Shark" and "Smith."
John Wells-produced "Smith" will air with limited commercial interruptions. If history is any guide, the net may bring in an advertiser to serve as sole sponsor of the premiere.
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