CBS makes stronger case for Letterman
Network is focusing on 10 p.m. slot for fall

An already strong CBS looks to have bolstered its lineup, at least on paper,

and might even have addressed part of David Letterman's lingering grievances, as the network announced its new fall season Wednesday in New York.

In the process CBS added to a growing trend: San Francisco as a desirable backdrop for new television series.

The network added five new dramas and two comedies to its schedule at the annual "upfront" presentation to advertisers. The new lineup puts four of those five dramas in the 10 p.m. slot, which should partly appease Letterman, who figures stronger shows in that time period will lead to more viewers staying for the local news across the country, which in turn would help his late-night show.

Richard Dreyfuss became the latest big-screen casualty who couldn't make it on television, as CBS axed "The Education of Max Bickford." Also cut loose were James Garner's "First Monday" (which ends TV's Supreme Court fascination, since ABC already killed Sally Field's "The Court"), "That's Life," "Family Law" (see-ya, Tony Danza) and the already dead or presumed dead "Ellen Show," "Citizen Baines," "Wolf Lake" and "Danny."

Surprising (and ludicrous) minor hit "Baby Bob" will be returning to the lineup midseason.

A Sylvester Stallone-produced series about a Catholic priest didn't make the fall lineup or the midseason list, but CBS said the show was still in play and wasn't a victim of the Catholic Church controversies.

Of CBS' pedigree-impressive new additions for the fall, there's "Presidio Med," a hospital drama from the original producers of "ER," John Wells and Lydia Woodward. It will star Dana Delany, Blythe Danner, Anna Deavere Smith and Oded Fehr, among others and, yes, be set in the Presidio.

Oddly enough, "Presidio Med" will be going head-to-head Wednesday nights with "Meds," another San Francisco-based medical drama from ABC, so you'll have to choose your poison. Or "Law & Order."

The biggest news from CBS is already old news. The network will spin off its major hit, "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" with "CSI: Miami," starring David Caruso, Emily Proctor ("West Wing") and Khandi Alexander ("ER," "The Corner," "NewsRadio").

The Eye network can boast two Jerry Bruckheimer additions for fall, a Michael Mann action series, a determined effort from the rejuvenated Wells and a midseason courtroom drama, "Queens Supreme," that stars Oliver Platt, Robert Loggia and Annabella Sciorra, is executive-produced by Julia Roberts and has a pilot directed by Tim Robbins.

The new series are:

"CSI: Miami," 10 p.m. Mondays. That's a good slot for viewers because it doesn't interfere with anything substantial, and it ought to be another built- in hit for CBS, given the "CSI" fan base. Shooting in Miami will give the series the opposite look of the original's Las Vegas locale, going from dark nights to sun-filled days.

"Presidio Med," 10 p.m. Wednesdays. This is a chance for Wells to reinvigorate a medical drama now that "ER" is all but played out. The cast is solid, and Wells seems motivated to reclaim the genre he helped refine.

"Without a Trace," 10 p.m. Thursdays. This Bruckheimer-produced series focuses on the FBI's Missing Persons Squad, which is charged with tracking down those who have disappeared, using all the latest technology, of course. It stars Anthony LaPaglia.

"RHD/LA," 10 p.m. Fridays. Yes, the acronyms are out of control in TV land. This one stands for Robbery and Homicide Division, Los Angeles. It comes from filmmaker Mann and is about solving ultra-high-profile crimes in the City of Angels. Tom Sizemore adds star appeal. Fridays on TV need all the help they can get, so why not?

"Hack," 9 p.m. Fridays. One of television's finest actors, Andre Braugher, gets another shot. He joins "St. Elsewhere" star David Morse in this drama about a decorated but disgraced cop (he took money from a crime scene) who becomes -- you guessed it -- a taxi driver. There he learns he can still fight crime on the sly. No word yet if this is feel-good or gritty.

"Bram and Alice," 8 p.m. Sundays. CBS is trying to build a comedy hour after "60 Minutes" to challenge Fox. The network went so far as to move "Becker" off of Mondays and put it after this show, which stars Alfred Molina and Traylor Howard as a famous grump of an author and his biggest fan -- who turns out to be his daughter. Hmmm. Dicey.

"Still Standing," 9:30 p.m. Mondays. This show gets the "Becker" slot and a cushy lead-in from CBS' hit Monday lineup. It's a family comedy without much distinction, but that hasn't stopped people from watching similar shows in the past.

CBS' FALL SCHEDULE

-- Sunday: 7 p.m., "60 Minutes"; 8 p.m., "Bram and Alice"; 8:30 p.m., "Becker"; 9 p.m., "Sunday Night Movie"

-- Monday: 8 p.m., "King of Queens"; 8:30 p.m., "Yes, Dear"; 9 p.m., "Everybody Loves Raymond"; 9:30 p.m., "Still Standing"; 10 p.m., "CSI: Miami"

-- Tuesday: 8 p.m., "JAG"; 9 p.m., "The Guardian"; 10 p.m., "Judging Amy"

-- Wednesday: 8 p.m., "60 Minutes II"; 9 p.m., "The Amazing Race 3"; 10 p. m., "Presidio Med"

-- Thursday: 8 p.m., "Survivor"; 9 p.m., "CSI"; 10 p.m., "Without a Trace"

-- Friday: 8 p.m., "48 Hours"; 9 p.m., "Hack"; 10 p.m., "RHD/LA"

-- Saturday: 8 p.m., "Touched by an Angel"; 9 p.m., "The District"; 10 p.m. , "The Agency"