Coming Soon: The Midseason Shuffle

Some changes are coming to the prime time lineup over the next few months.

The first involves CBS’s hit Monday night lineup. Beginning March 1st, the freshman comedy ACCIDENTALLY ON PURPOSE, starring Jenna Elfman as a thirty-something who winds up pregnant after a one-night fling, will be taking a few weeks off. In its 8:30pm time slot, RULES OF ENGAGEMENT will make a return.

Then on Wednesday, March 31st, with GARY UNMARRIED, the Jay Mohr comedy, having completed its season order, ACCIDENTALLY ON PURPOSE will return to the schedule, taking Gary’s 8:30pm slot.

Two nights later, on Friday, April 2nd, NUMB3RS will be replaced by MIAMI MEDICAL. That’s the latest show from producer Jerry Bruckheimer, who’s the man behind the CSI empire. There’s no official, definitive word on the fate of NUMB3RS, although the show will have completed its season order by then.

If you’re a fan of NUMB3RS, the good news for now is that you still have a few months of the show left. So be sure to keep watching.

The Grammy Awards Want You Involved

Sunday’s 52nd ANNUAL GRAMMY AWARDS is trying to get the television audience involved in big ways.

It begins with a special duet designed to raise money for Haitian earthquake victims. Nine-time GRAMMY winner Mary J. Blige and world-renowned pop tenor Andrea Bocelli will join forces and perform the Simon & Garfunkel classic, “Bridge Over Troubled Water.”

That once-in-a-lifetime duet will be made available for download at iTunes following the telecast with all proceeds benefiting the Red Cross’ ongoing earthquake relief efforts in Haiti. This year marks the 40th anniversary of “Bridge Over Troubled Water” receiving GRAMMY Awards for Record of the Year, Album of the Year and Song of the Year; the song will provide a moving tribute to survivors of the tragic events in Haiti.

But that’s not where getting interactive stops!

Star Signed for HIMYM Guest Slot

Could Jennifer Lopez be the woman for Ted?

Okay, that’s probably a major stretch, but we’ve confirmed that the star will appear on an episode of HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER to air in March.

Lopez will play Anita Appleby, a no-nonsense author of self-help books that teach women how to train men into relationship machines through the power of denial. When Robin tells Anita how Barney acts toward women, she makes it her mission to “break” him.

The Big HD Question

Since we’ve launched our second channel, Live 5+, one of the biggest questions we’ve received is, “Why isn’t Live 5+ in HD?”

It’s a simple question, but the answer gets complicated.

CBS Orders More ‘Mom’

It looks like Ted will have another year to find the woman he’s meant to marry.

On the heels of posting its season high in ratings, HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER has been given the green light for a sixth season, CBS says.

Last week, the comedy was first in adults 25-54, adults 18-49 and tied for first in adults 18-34. All of these groups are considered very important to advertisers.

The series is set in present day, but told as flashbacks narrated from the future, as the Ted character, played by Josh Radnor, explains to his child (or is it children?) how he managed to meet their mom.

Jason Segal, Alyson Hannigan, Neil Patrick Harris and Cobie Smulders also star.

HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER airs Mondays at 8:00pm on LIVE 5 WCSC.

CBS Renews Two Favorite Reality Shows

CBS has ordered more editions of its Emmy-winning reality franchises for the 2010-2011 season.

First, there’s SURVIVOR, which will return with two more editions, marking the 21st and 22nd installments of broadcast television’s longest-running reality competition series.

Obama Prepares for Address, Challenges

See President Barack Obama’s State of the Union Address live from the nation’s capitol Wednesday on LIVE 5 WCSC.

Obama, now in his second year in office, will detail his plans for the next twelve months as well as update the American people on where things stand. His remarks will come just after the election of a Republican into the seat held by Democrat Ted Kennedy for nearly half a century, and thereby, a GOP hope of defeating the comprehensive health care reform plan.

Coverage begins Wednesday night at 9:00pm, and the Republican response to the president’s address will follow Obama’s speech. Katie Couric will anchor coverage, which is expected to last through 10:30pm. TWO AND A HALF MEN will follow at 10:30pm.

CBS Renews Two Freshmen Dramas

The season’s top two new series, have already received renewals. CBS’s NCIS: LOS ANGELES and THE GOOD WIFE, are officially renewed for the 2010-2011 season.

NCIS: LOS ANGELES is the number one new program of the season with an average audience of 16.8 million viewers. It airs Tuesday nights at 9:00pm on LIVE 5 WCSC.

THE GOOD WIFE regularly wins its Tuesday time period in viewers, averaging 13.7million. THE GOOD WIFE follows NCIS: LOS ANGELES, airing Tuesday nights at 10:00pm.

“Two great new series, fronted by talented stars on one big night of television,” said Nina Tassler, President, CBS Entertainment. “We’re proud of these shows and what they’ve accomplished on Tuesday night.”

More Cable Customers Getting Live 5+

Our second channel, Live 5+, will now be carried on the Home Telephone Cable system starting Tuesday, January 26th.

Customers are likely to need a cable box to get the channel, but will be able to find it on channel 116.

Live 5+ carries an array of programs, from entertainment shows like INSIDE EDITION and THE INSIDER to sitcoms like MY WIFE AND KIDS, GEORGE LOPEZ and MY NAME IS EARL, and reality shows like STORM STORIES and AMERICA’S FUNNIEST HOME VIDEOS.

The second channel debuted on January 18th. In addition to Home Telephone, it can be found on WCSC Digital 5.2, Comcast Cable Channel 212 and Knology Cable Channel 146.

Celebrities, Networks Join Forces for Haiti

Beyonce and Madonna have added their names to a star-studded roster for a global telethon to help earthquake victims in Haiti.

HELP FOR HAITI NOW airs tonight across the four major networks, and several cable nets. More than a hundred stars from film, television and music are taking part in the biggest relief effort since the devastating quake hit last week.

Joining hosts George Clooney, Wyclef Jean and Anderson Cooper will be performers Bruce Springsteen, Justin Timberlake, Taylor Swift, Coldplay and Stevie Wonder. Former President Bill Clinton will also appear, with Brad Pitt, Denzel Washington, Julia Roberts, Meryl Streep, Tom Hanks, Leonardo DiCaprio and Will Smith with Muhammad Ali.

LIVE 5 WCSC will air the benefit tonight at 8:00pm, followed by MEDIUM at 10:00pm.