Fall 2011 TV Preview: CBS Premiere Schedule and Trailers

Ah, CBS. Despite the changing landscape of television, the network stays rooted in the traditions of old school TV: its sitcoms are multi-camera, its dramas are almost all crime procedurals, and even its reality shows are competition-style programs that have been running for years.

But if it ain't broke, why fix it? Multi-camera sitcoms like "Two and a Half Men" and "How I Met Your Mother" have done tremendously well, and nobody can doubt the success of "CSI" or "Survivor."

The fall 2011 schedule for CBS is filled with returning favorites and some hotly anticipated new shows. Read on to find out when they all premiere!

New Shows:

"2 Broke Girls" - Monday, Sept. 19th at 9:30pm ET/PT

Kat Dennings, whom you might have recently seen in "Thor," stars in this comedy along with Beth Behrs. The two play a pair of waitresses in their 20's with a dream of opening a cupcake shop, but seeing as they're waitresses and they live in New York City, they can barely pay their rent, much less the start-up costs for a new business.

This is the second multi-camera sitcom to premiere this season created by comedienne Whitney Cummings, the other being "Whitney," which landed on NBC. This marks yet another show on CBS that has pulled an actor usually known for feature films into television.

"Unforgettable" - Tuesday, Sept. 20th at 10pm ET/PT

Yes, CBS has another crime procedural, but this one has a special twist: detective Carrie Wells (played by Poppy Montgomery of "Without A Trace") has an exceptional memory. She can remember every single moment of every single day of her entire life with complete accuracy. But there's one day she doesn't remember: the day her sister was murdered.

This adds to an already long line of procedurals on CBS, but the extra twist makes it a little more "Mentalist" and a little less "CSI." Fun fact: some people actually have the ability to remember everything that they see or hear with perfect accuracy, so this show isn't just making it up.

"Person of Interest" - Thursday, Sept. 22nd at 9pm ET/PT

When J.J. Abrams, creator of "Lost," "Alias" and "Fringe," makes a new show, people pay attention. That's exactly why "Person of Interest" is one of the more buzzed-about shows of the fall 2011 season. The story rings a bit of "Minority Report" as a billionaire (played by "Lost" alum Michael Emerson) creates a computer program that can predict future crimes. Emerson is joined in the cast by Jim Caviezel and Taraji P. Henson.

"A Gifted Man" - Friday, Sept. 23rd at 8pm ET/PT

A medical show with a supernatural element, "A Gifted Man" stars Patrick Wilson as a rich and talented surgeon who is visited by the ghost of his deceased wife, who asks him to keep the free clinic that she founded running. "Dexter" alum Julie Benz also stars as Wilson's sister. Hey, it's an hour-long drama that's not a procedural!

"How to Be a Gentleman" - Thursday, Sept. 29th at 8:30pm ET/PT

David Hornsby, husband of Emily Deschanel who recurred on "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia," created and stars in this multi-camera comedy about an uptight writer who clashes with his personal trainer, played by "Entourage" star Kevin Dillon. The series features a cast of talented comedians including Dave Foley and "24" star Mary Lynn Rajskub. This rounds out CBS' comedy slate this fall, all of which will be multi-camera sitcoms.

Returning Shows:

"Survivor: South Pacific" - Wednesday, Sept. 14th at 8pm ET/PT

The long-running reality show returns for its 23rd edition, this time set in the South Pacific. And no, I don't think this has anything to do with the musical of the same name.

"How I Met Your Mother" - Monday, Sept. 19th at 8pm ET/PT

Last season's finale left us with a bunch of questions, the biggest of which is this: will this show still be good if Barney becomes a normal person with feelings and stuff?

"Two and a Half Men" - Monday, Sept. 19th at 8pm ET/PT

Monday's comedy block continues with CBS' biggest sitcom starring Charlie Sheen and--what's that? Charlie Sheen isn't on the show any more? Why, this is the first I've heard of it! Why didn't anyone in the news report on this?

Sarcasm aside, this premiere is one of the most-anticipated of the fall. How will the show fare with Ashton Kutcher instead of Sheen? Will Charlie Harper's cause of death be as ridiculous as rumored? How the season as a whole fares is anyone's guess, but chances are good that this premiere episode will see some huge numbers.

"Hawaii Five-0" - Monday, Sept. 19th at 10pm ET/PT

This remake of the classic Hawaii-based procedural returns for a second season, and hopefully another healthy dose of Grace Park in a bikini.

"NCIS" - Tuesday, Sept. 20th at 8pm ET/PT

CBS loves their procedurals, and so do its viewers: this crime show is back for its ninth season. And, of course, it leads right into...

"NCIS: Los Angeles" - Tuesday, Sept. 20th at 9pm ET/PT

With "NCIS" right before it and "Unforgettable" right after, "NCIS" is the meat in a procedural sandwich. Wait, that would mean that it would be a sandwich with meat in between two pieces of meat...okay, it's the bacon in a procedural KFC Double Down.

"Criminal Minds" - Wednesday, Sept. 21st at 9pm ET/PT

Two of the network's veteran procedural shows premiere on Wednesday the 21st, starting with the seventh-season premiere of "Criminal Minds."

"CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" - Wednesday, Sept. 21st at 10pm ET/PT

The mother of all modern procedurals, "CSI" returns for its 12th season on the 21st. Can you believe it? This show is almost as old as Elle Fanning.

"The Big Bang Theory" - Thursday, Sept. 22nd at 8pm ET/PT

The fourth season finale left us with a shocking hook-up that could have big implications for the relationships of our main characters. Expect a lot of turmoil in this premiere as those issues are addressed. Oh, and science jokes.

"The Mentalist" - Thursday, Sept. 22nd at 10pm ET/PT

Another procedural with a twist, this fourth season of "The Mentalist" should work as a nice partner show to "Unforgettable," which airs on Tuesdays.

"CSI: NY" - Friday, Sept. 23rd at 9pm ET/PT

More procedural. More crimes. Different city. Though it hasn't quite had the shelf life of the original "CSI," this version has still been on the air for seven seasons, making this the eighth.

"Blue Bloods" - Friday, Sept. 23rd at 10pm ET/PT

After a very successful first season, this family/police drama returns for another. New showrunner Ed Zuckerman has promised more romances, more butting heads between Frank and the mayor, and more mustache. Okay, he didn't promise the third one, but c'mon, it's Tom Selleck. The mustache quotient is pretty high here.

"Rules of Engagement" and "Comedytime Saturday" - Saturday, Sept. 24th at 8pm and 8:30pm ET/PT

"Rules of Engagement" will be moving to Saturdays this fall, an interesting tactic from CBS to build up the show's episode bank for syndication. The 8pm block will feature a new episode in the show's sixth season. The 8:30pm block will feature a rerun of one of CBS' many sitcoms.

"The Amazing Race" - Sunday, Sept. 25th at 8pm ET/PT

The 19th edition of this long-running reality show will feature new teams (including some "Survivor" alumni) traveling across the world and generally being clueless, as per usual.

"The Good Wife" - Sunday, Sept. 25th at 9pm ET/PT

Having received all kinds of Emmy love over the past couple of years, "The Good Wife" is looking to return for a strong third season.

"CSI: Miami" - Sunday, Sept. 25th at 10pm ET/PT

Have you had enough crime procedurals yet? No? What are you some kind of machine? Well here, have the 10th-season premiere of "CSI: Miami" then. You monster.

"Mike & Molly" - Sunday, Sept. 26th at 9:30pm ET/PT

Fresh off an Emmy nomination for this very show and the huge success of "Bridesmaids," star Melissa McCarthy and the rest of "Mike & Molly" should enjoy a boost from all the extra exposure.