CBS puts Big Bang Theory spin-off right after Big Bang Theory

By Esther Zuckerman | May 17, 2017 | 1:27pm

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CBS released its primetime schedule for the 2017-18 broadcast season this morning, naturally slotting in its Big Bang Theory spinoff Young Sheldon after Big Bang Theory. However, execs promised at the network’s annual breakfast this morning that the single camera series starring Big Little Lies’ Iain Armitage will have a different tone, with CBS scheduling head Kelly Kahl likening it to The Wonder Years and Doogie Howser. He added: “It’s not Muppet Babies.” After football is over, those shows will air on Thursdays, going up against NBC’s attempt at reviving “Must See TV,” a concept CBS CEO Les Moonves dismissed. “We are, forgive me Warren Littlefield, Must See TV,” he said. “Not Thursday night on NBC this year. We are Must See TV.” Later, Kahl touted that CBS “launched the most watched drama on TV this year and it ain’t This Is Us, it’s actually Bull.” So, indeed, CBS was feeling boastful this morning. (Moonves would go on to call ABC’s Roseanne revival a “stunt.”)

CBS is also using the powerful Big Bang Theory muscle to launch the new, confusingly named sitcom 9JKL until it eventually moves to a home behind Kevin Can Wait on Mondays. Kahl said the multi-cam from Mark Feuerstein has “a Raymond feel to it.” That evening will also ultimately be home to the comedy Me, Myself & I with Bobby Moynihan and John Laroquette. On Wednesday, it will put the David Boreanaz military show SEAL Team behind Survivor, while S.W.A.T. with Shemar Moore will live at 10 p.m. on Thursdays. Kahl repeatedly called the latter “noisy.”