Evidently, there is a downside to being the highly paid star of a popular police procedural. Just ask CSI: MIAMI’s David Caruso, whose decade old show just lost out in the television network executive’s Sophie’s Choice equivalent after CBS opted to renew the more affordable CSI: NY ahead of Wednesday’s annual Upfront announcement in New York City.
What’s more, the artist formerly known as Horatio Caine isn’t alone. For joining Caruso on the unemployment line next season to make room for the four new dramas and two new comedies are the stars of A GIFTED MAN, NYC 22, UNFORGETTABLE and ROB.
That said, where things get really interesting is who CBS has enlisted to replace the likes of David Caruso, Poppy Montgomery and Patrick Wilson next season.
Starting on the comedy front, UGLY BETTY’s Michael Urie is coming back to television in PARTNERS, a new comedy from the brains behind WILL & GRACE (David Kohan, Max Mutchnick, James Burrows) that tells the tale of two friends (Urie and David Krumholtz) whose weird “relationship” has out lasted most of their romantic ones. Also hoping to find a permanent spot as part of either CBS’ Monday or Thursday night lineups is the somewhat less exciting FRIEND ME that sees two twenty-something best friends move from Indiana to Los Angeles to begin their exciting new lives working at Groupon. (And no, we’re not making that up!)
In the dramatic department, CBS has tapped Jonny Lee Miller for ELEMENTARY, a modern-day spin on the classic Sherlock Holmes format with Lucy Liu as Watson. Former HUMAN TARGET Janet Montgomery lawyers up for MADE IN JERSEY. Kevin Alejandro is creator Greg Berlanti’s GOLDEN BOY which tracks one cops rise from officer to detective to Police Commissioner. While Goodfellas writer Nicholas Pileggi pens VEGAS based on the true story of the city that never sleep’s infamous cowboy turned sheriff Ralph Lamb starring Carrie-Anne Moss, Dennis Quaid, and Michael Chiklis. 
