Where reality shows come from; also, CBS and CW fall schedules

After ABC's depressing upfront on Tuesday (Mediaweek dismissed it as "unusually passive"), CBS will attempt to perk things up when it presents its 2008 fall schedule today. Remember last year, when CBS went all avant-garde on us with half-baked musicals and child slave-labor entertainments? This year, not so much - they're back to meat-and-potatoes.

One last note on ABC's upfront: Jimmy Kimmel explained how networks create reality shows. He had a platform with three "Wheel of Fortune"-type wheels trotted out, each with an array of descriptors on them; he spun each one, and came up with "The Amazing Fattest Fifth Grader," which ABC Entertainment president Stephen McPherson immediately announced as a midseason replacement series. Fox later bought the gadget from Kimmell for $30 million.

Anyway, before I head over to see CBS's official announcement (more on this later), here's the story on the network's fall schedule (oh, along with a desultory mention of what The CW is thinking these days):

CBS proved considerably more aggressive in revamping its 2008 fall schedule than ABC, as on Wednesday it unveiled five new series compared to ABC's mere two.

The network picked up three dramas and two comedies, adding another comedy bloc on Wednesdays. It was the first time in years a network expanded its airtime devoted to comedy after years of the genre faltering in primetime.

New shows include:

* "Eleventh Hour," a Jerry Bruckheimer production based on a British drama about a government agent (Rufus Sewell) who investigates scientific anomalies.

* "The Mentalist," starring Simon Baker as a man with acute powers of perception and deduction who aids police in solving crimes, not unlike the USA Network's "Psyche."

* "The Ex-List," starring Elizabeth Reaser as a woman told by a tarot card reader that she has already met her soul mate, so she starts looking up all the men she has dated in the past. It's based on an Israeli series.

* "Worst Week," based on a British comedy about a young couple encountering disaster at every turn as they plan their wedding.

* "Project Gary," starring Jay Mohr as a recently divorced father re-entering the dating pool.

Departing shows include "Shark," "Moonlight," "Jericho," "Cane," "Kid Nation," "Viva Laughlin" and "Welcome to the Captain."

CBS's 2008 fall schedule (* denotes new show; ** denotes new timeslot):

Monday
8 p.m. "The Big Bang Theory"
8:30 p.m. "How I Met Your Mother"
9 p.m. "Two and a Half Men"
9:30 p.m. "Worst Week" *
10 p.m. "CSI: Miami"

Tuesday
8 p.m. "NCIS"
9 p.m. "The Mentalist" *
10 p.m. "Without a Trace" **

Wednesday
8 p.m. "The New Adventures of Old Christine" **
8:30 p.m. "Project Gary" *
9 p.m. Criminal Minds"
10 p.m. "CSI: New York"

Thursday
8 p.m. "Survivor"
9 p.m. "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation"
10 p.m. "Eleventh Hour" *

Friday
8 p.m. "Ghost Whisperer"
9 p.m. "The Ex-List" *
10 p.m. "Numb3rs"

Saturday
8-10 p.m. Repeats
10 p.m. "48 Hours Mystery"

Sunday
7 p.m. "60 Minutes"
8 p.m. "The Amazing Race"
9 p.m. Cold Case"
10 p.m. "The Unit" **

The CW announced its 2008 fall schedule late Monday. It has abdicated its Sunday viewing bloc, turning it over to Media Rights Capital, which is busily developing two comedies and two dramas for the three-hour time period.

The network also announced three new shows, including a remake of the campy soap "Beverly Hills, 90210." It added that it would bring back the action comedy "Reaper" at midseason.

The CW's 2008 fall schedule (* denotes new show; ** new timeslot):

Monday
8 p.m. "Gossip Girl"
9 p.m. One Tree Hill"

Tuesday
8 p.m. "Beverly Hills, 90210" *
9 p.m. "Surviving the Filthy Rich" *

Wednesday
8 p.m. "America's Next Top Model"
9 p.m. "Stylista" *

Thursday
8 p.m. "Smallville"
9 p.m. "Supernatural"

Friday
8 p.m. "Everybody Hates Chris" **
8:30 p.m. "The Game" **
9 p.m. "America's Next Top Model" repeat **