CBS Renews 14 Series for 2006-07; 'George Lopez' and 'Freddie' Cross-Over On March 22

In a surprise move, CBS has already announced 14 series that will for sure be on the line-up for next season. Freshmen series pick-ups for 2006-07 include Criminal Minds, Ghost Whisperer and How I Met Your Mother--all of which have delivered impressive time period growth. In addition to the three rookies, CBS also will bring back 60 Minutes, Cold Case, NCIS, NUMB3RS, Survivor, Two and a Half Men, Without a Trace, The Amazing Race, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, CSI: Miami, and CSI: New York.
However, not making the initial short list were veteran comedies The King of Queens & Still Standing. Their future is up in the air right now. 2005-06 freshmen Close To Home, Courting Alex and Out of Practice also were not on the list. Alex and Practice both will move to Wednesdays later this month and that might tell us what their fate will be next season. CBS looks to have a nice slate of comedy pilots, such as The Class (from executive producer David Crane and starring Jason Ritter) and Sex, Power & Politics (with Jane Krakowski, Jay Harrington and James Van Der Beek)--so Alex and Practice need to do very well in order for them to bring both back next fall. CBS still has The New Adventures of Old Christine to premiere later this month (look for our pilot review very soon!). I think one of those three will only be back next season--so they all are competing for a spot next season.
And CBS announced that veteran sitcom Yes, Dear will indeed not return next season, so the series is officially canceled. The last episode aired last month.
Also, The WB has officially canceled veteran drama Charmed. So, that is one series that will not make it to the new CW line-up. The series finale is in May on The WB.

ABC will crossover two of its sitcoms for a very special crossover episode! Sitcoms George Lopez and Freddie will mark sitcom history with the famous crossover episode. But this time, both shows will crossover with each other--cast of Freddie on George Lopez and the cast of George Lopez on Freddie on the same night in a special two-part episode airing back-to-back on Wednesday, March 22 from 8 to 9 p.m. Here is how ABC describes it:

George Lopez: Wednesday, March 22, 2006 at 8 p.m.:

Freddie Prinze, Jr. and Brian Austin Green from Freddie Guest Star in Their First Crossover Episode with George Lopez
“George Gets Cross Over Freddie” – In the first of a two-part crossover episode with Freddie, George discovers that Max has begun an online romance with a teenage girl from Chicago (Zoey from Freddie). When he assumes his son’s identity to protect him from what he suspects is an internet predator, George comes face to face offline with Zoey’s uncle, Freddie, on George Lopez, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 22 (8:00-8:30 p.m., ET), on the ABC Television Network. Guest starring are Freddie Prinze Jr. as Freddie, Brian Austin Green as Chris and Chloe Suazo as Zoey.
“George Gets Cross Over Freddie” was written by Stacey Pulwer and directed by Katy Garretson.


Freddie: Wednesday, March 22, 2006 at 8:30 p.m.:

George Lopez, Valente Rodriguez and Luis Armand Garcia from George Lopez Guest Star in Their First Crossover Episode with Freddie
“Freddie Gets Cross Over George” – After Freddie and Chris’ trip to Los Angeles to investigate whether or not Zoey’s internet friend is genuine or a predator, they realize that George’s son, Max, really is a kid and invite them to Chicago so that Max and Zoey can finally meet face to face. When George sees how well off Freddie is, he teases him that he’s “soft,” so Freddie takes him to a rowdy bar in his old neighborhood to prove he hasn’t lost his edge. But when they get involved in a bar fight and end up in jail, Freddie and George realize that they’ve both lost their edge and don’t mind being a little “soft,” on “Freddie,” WEDNESDAY, MARCH 22 (8:30-9:00 p.m., ET), on the ABC Television Network.
Guest starring are George Lopez as George, Valente Rodriguez as Ernie, Luis Armand Garcia as Max, Jed Rhein as Judd, Frank Merino as Jesse, Angela Sorenson as Krista, Bruno Amato as bartender and Steve Saucedo as guard. Other guest cast TBD.
“Freddie Gets Cross Over George” was written by Stacey Pulwer and directed by Bob Koherr.

Both shows are from Warner Bros. Television, Mohawk Productions and Fortis Films. Mr. George Lopez is a producer of both series (executive producer for George Lopez and producer for Freddie).