Tried & True With A Wild Card : The 2021CBS TCA Summer Press Tour
The power of the CBS lineup lies in its franchises. Although new originals come into play, procedurals seems to fit wonderfully and heavily in the current binge crazy culture. While these shows still adhere to the creation time and engagement, their longevity points well (depending how many episodes are created -- which tends to be more at network). But this tour definitely packs some power behind it.
FBI/Most Wanted/International The power of Dick Wolf resides in his ability to create interconnecting worlds that seem seamless which the “Law & Order” and more recently “Chicago” franchises have shown. The “FBI” brand at CBS is no different. Simply a little younger.
Executive Producer/TV Powerhouse Dick Wolf says that the crossover, which is how these shows are integrated and introduced, embodies what the shows are supposed to be. As far as their influence, he says that all of these shows are fiction but there are certain episodes that will remind you of people and events from real life. He says that they are not the same story but the same vein so the drama will thrive.
Missy Peregrym, who plays Special Agent Maggie Bell on the flagship show "FBI", says that, in terms of the expansion of the franchise, Wolf talked to them out it from the beginning. Zeeko Zaki, who plays Special Agent Omar Adom, says that now with the different crossovers, it allows him to see that this franchise is the real thing. He says that it is almost like they are a sports team. He speaks of different great things about Peregrym as Bell, one of them being that she is "faster". Peregrym does say though that, as they progress through Season 4, she is a big believer that "when things are good on set, it translates on screen."
For Julian McMahon, who plays Special Agent Jess LaCroix in the spin-off: "FBI: Most Wanted", he sees the father attribute of his character as the most engaging and that was very prevalent in the pilot script from the beginning.
"FBI: International" is the newest entry in the “FBI” Franchise and the first season was primarily shot in Bucharest. Wolf reiterates that all three of the shows have definite identities. The main “FBI” show is based in the NY office exclusively and is a "classic two-hander." "Most Wanted is "a different dynamic where everyone they go after is a Ten Most Wanted. “'International' is a whole different cup of tea or kettle of fish" With “International,” the key is that the FBI is about catching the bad guys. The CIA, as a comparison, does not handle crime.
In terms of the changing face of television, Wolf says that the texture of what he has seen, specifically in the new context of binging shows, is that the average binge of a viewer is 3 hours. That is why the “FBI” 3-hour block on CBS he says will work well. 3 hours straight is where people are most comfortable. "After 40 years of doing TV, one thing I know is that if you set the table correctly, they'll stay.” He concludes saying there is no more appointment television and TV is not the same as even it was 10 years ago.
Luke Kleintank, who starred in "The Man In The High Castle" plays Scott Forrester on "International". In terms of the complexity of the show, he says "we just want to show what these people do and keep it as simple as possible. We solve our cases in a day where it takes FBI years [in real life] to solve these cases." He and much of his cast moved to Budapest to shoot the show and that texture, he says, really translates.
NCIS: Hawaii The texture of the “NCIS” franchise continues to build and with the production structure of “Magnum P.I.” as well as the most recent "Hawaii Five-O", this expansion, like “New Orleans” in many ways, seems undeniable.
Executive Producer Jan Nash talks about the initial conception points in the pilot. They had a jet crash into a mountain and a female team leader and then they built around that. She says, in many ways, having a mom as the head of the team almost makes it easier. The TV show, as a result, along with many other elements, can leave people affirmed while solving interesting navy crimes
Vanessa Lachey stars as team leader Jane Tennant. She says seeing this character on paper was a lot more daunting. She says there are female NCIS SACs out there so this was a way to honor them. She also says that "this team completes me" and she hopes this role with help normalize women in this position…the fact that "I can balance my love and my country. If she can lead this operation and do it with grace compassion, vulnerability as well as honor and respect then I can too." As far as a journey and relatability, she says her character does have bad days and "misses being in love, so there is that.
She points to Yasmine Al-Bustami's character Lucy Tara as possibly the next Tennant down the road. For Lachey, as much as possible, an actor can take their lives and bring it to their roles. She cites her formative years growing up as an Air Force Brat. She was actually born at Hawthorne Military Base in the Philippines. When the cast and her got to spend the 4th of July at Pearl Harbor and "witness", she says it really brought a sense of belonging. That...and Manapua Buns which sounds like, for the cast and Vanessa, is the "perfect snack" because in Hawaii, the "love language is food."
They also do a lot of running and exertion though she gives undeniable credit to the stunt team including "Brian -- a water legend" as well as stunt coordinator David Wilno, But she does love that the show is "well rounded" and has "action with heart."
Executive Producer Christopher Silber says that the cast gelled immediately and that they try to balance the action element in the show. Matt Bosack is another executive producer who seems to have an innate connection to Hawaii, especially with his background he says as a Japanese American military brat. He continues that "we recognize that we have a responsibility to 'pana' (to honor those who came before us) and we want to make a show that is part of Hawaii"
CSI: Vegas Having William Petersen return to the show he helped burgeon to success 21 years ago which started the intensive of the modern procedural is a big deal. But it is a heavy responsibility. Technology has changed. People have changed. But both Vegas as well as combining old and new members are the right people to bring the story full circle.
Petersen reflects with an interesting approach. "When I initially started this, I never liked science." He says this series "worked the other side of my brain" but says "I have become more like Grissom in appreciating what he appreciates." He recalls that when "we first started in the whole creation in the 1st CSI, i didn't want to carry a gun at all." That was a big part in his decision to engage. having played cops before and always having that as a primary detail. "The idea of being able to work with just at the mind as an actor was a challenge to grow." With this new approach to CSI in 2021, 21 years after the 1st began, "it is a whole new lab, all-new construction, and new technology that Grissom wouldn't have been comfortable with even 10 years ago."
Executive Producer Jason Tracey says one one of the big advances, of course, is genetics. Paula Newsome's character on the show is based around that science of DNA. Newsome herself says "the science is like Disneyland. Our tech advisor talks about stuff on our set as stuff that he would love to have.
Ghosts A remake of a British show about a haunted house and the ghosts that inhabit it as a comedy satire is an interesting play but one the requires just the right amount of tongue-in-cheek approach without losing too much heart.
Executive Producer Joe Wiseman says that they moved the setting of the show to the Hudson Valley (it was original based on a UK series using British historical elements as ghosts). Although they shot the pilot in a house near USC, the actual filming is now done it seems on sound stages in Montreal.
Executive Producer Joe Port lays the groundwork in saying the concept speaks to the fact that the ghosts in the basement all died of cholera but the house was simply built on the same space
Lead actress Rose McIver who was one of the stars of “IZombie” stars as Sam, an live person who now lives in the house. The basis, she says, is showing people that one can get lost in this world. Growing up in New Zealand, she says, as an actor there, you get a chance to go into different worlds. She says they call NZ "the sword and sandals company". But at the end of the day, especially with a genre show like "Ghosts", escapism and humor are a big part of the allure.
CBS Round Up Before the panels began, Kelly Kahl, President of CBS Entertainment, gave some opening remarks. In talking about streaming, he mentioned an interesting fact that the dedicated CSI Channel on PlutoTV is actually one of their most popular.
Tom Sherman, Senior Executive Vice President Of Programming, then gave some quick updates on new elements heading into the fall at CBS.
There will be a new dance competition show executive produced by LL Cool J & Chris O'Donnell called "Come Dance With Me" with Jenna Dewan serving as one of the judges.
Justin Hartley of "This Is Us" fame is bringing in a pilot about a tracker based on a novel by NY Times best-selling author Jeffrey Deaver. Ken Olin is partnering on the series
Casting on the "True Lies" series adaptation is continuing with Anthony Hemingway directing.
Finally CBS will be conducting their New Year's Eve programming as a 5-hour event from Nashville with performances from Miranda Lambert, Jason Aldean, Zach Brown and Blake Shelton among others.
CBS in speaking to the fall has its tried and true approaches with a wild card in "Ghosts" and some interesting new ideas and plans in the cooker.
By Tim Wassberg
