CBS Boss Talks Killing NCIS: LA Spinoff and Survivor Family Twist

Network honcho Nina Tassler says there is "limited shelf space" for new shows

By Jenna Mullins May 15, 2013 2:40 PMTags
NCIS: LOS ANGELESCliff Lipson/CBS

Sorry, NCIS fans. Looks like you'll have to make do with only two series.

CBS released its fall schedule today, thus hitting the final nail in the coffin for much-buzzed-about pilots Beverly Hills Cop and NCIS: Red. CBS boss Nina Tassler's reasoning was straightforward: There wasn't any room!

"There's limited shelf space," she said, adding that they really wanted to focus on comedies for the network's development strategy. But Tassler revealed that pilots they passed over might get a second chance, and that the execs will have "conversations" later in the year about them.

As for the NCIS spinoff being killed, Tassler insisted that they would love to try launching it again in the near future.  But "protecting" the original NCIS' was "really important" to her first and foremost.

And if you were fretting over Mike & Molly being benched until midseason, Tassler promised that it will return with a full season of 22 episodes later on in the fall.

Finally, the CBS boss talked about a new twist coming to Survivor when it premieres in the fall. Survivor: Blood vs. Water will feature "the return of great characters and their relatives," Tassler divulged. Families and loved ones going up against in each other in the jungle? Sounds like good reality TV to us.

What do you think about Survivor's new twist? Are you happy or bummed that the new NCIS spinoff was axed?