CBS

CHICAGO – The Greek actress with the hard-to-pronounce name (kan-uh-kuh-REE-deez), was a presenter in Chicago at the Gabby Awards, honoring Greek Americans, between seasons portraying a forensics expert on her hit TV show, “CSI: NY”.

CHICAGO – In a relatively shocking announcement as a part of fall schedule upfronts this week, CBS actually pulled the trigger on “Without a Trace,” a show that had reportedly gotten too expensive for the network. There were rumors that they may do the same with “Cold Case,” but that show will return with on-the-bubble shows “The New Adventures of Old Christine” and “Rules of Engagement” also being miraculously renewed and “Medium” being saved.

CHICAGO – The first season of “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation,” one of the most successful and beloved shows of the ’00s, is finally available in widescreen HD from CBS/Paramount. With five discs and over 17 hours of murder mystery mayhem, “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation” is a perfect gift for the TV fan in your circle of friends and family.

Television Rating: 2.5/5.0

CHICAGO – I’ve been looking forward to “Harper’s Island” for months. Last summer, CBS sent out a brief preview with some actors who would eventually be recast (including Bill Pullman) that laid out the general idea of this modern take on Agatha Christie’s “Ten Little Indians”. The concept of a 13-week mystery featuring beautiful people getting whacked week to week was definitely intriguing. Now that I’ve seen the premiere, the bubble has burst.

Television Rating: 4.5/5.0

CHICAGO – For six years there has been an Emmy Award for Outstanding Reality Competition Program and for every one of those years the same show has walked home with the trophy, beating series like “Project Runway,” “Survivor,” and “American Idol”. That show is “The Amazing Race”. Based on the strength of the premiere, it seems likely the producers of this CBS mainstay should probably make room for Emmy #7.

Television Rating: 3.5/5.0

CHICAGO – The 18th installment of the show that really started it all with reality television, “Survivor,” debuts Thursday, February 12th, 2009 with the promise of another season of backstabbing, infighting, and immunity challenges.

DVD Rating: 5.0/5.0

CHICAGO – The first “60 Minutes”-branded DVD from CBS Home Entertainment and Paramount Home Entertainment is the surprisingly comprehensive account of the last two years of President Barack Obama’s life, “Obama: All Access - Barack Obama’s Road to the White House,” a great DVD for political junkies, historians, news fans, and everyone in between.

CHICAGO – Be honest, TV fans. Fall 2008 was lackluster at best. The TV season really starts now.

With the strike delaying production on established series and the development of new ones, many more programs are returning or premiering in Jan. 2009 than the average mid-season. It couldn’t have come at a more important time for the medium, too.

Join HollywoodChicago.com television critic Evan O’Donnell for
what’s hot and what’s not across ABC, CBS, FOX and NBC television.
CHICAGO – Once again, it’s that magical time of year when kids return to school, leaves start to change and we’re obliged to cease all human communications and glue ourselves in front of the tube for eight months to enjoy other people doing things.