CBS at TCA: Executive Session Live-Blog

CBS is presenting at the Television Critics Association tour, starting with the network’s executive session. Kelly Kahl, President, CBS Entertainment, and Thom Sherman, Senior Executive Vice President, Programming are answering questions from television critics, so follow along to see what they have to say…

9:04 AM: 53% of the writers on CBS are women or people of color, per Sherman. Additionally, 50% of their directors are women or people of color. Kahl noted they take improving diversity and inclusiveness seriously, and last year’s slate was a first step. They feel this year’s shows takes things further.

9:07 AM: CBS has made a series commitment to THE LINCOLN LAWYER, by David E. Kelley. Additionally, LOVE ISLAND has been renewed.

9:11 AM: They’re going to look at the scheduling next year for LOVE ISLAND to dissect what they’ve learned. What they’ve learned so far, Kahl says, is that the audience has learned how to interact with the show.

9:12 AM: Kahl says they found out about the BULL settlement when the press did. They reassessed and found that in Michael Weatherly’s case that he had no complaints outside of the incident with Eliza Dushku. Per CBS, he’s undergoing leadership coaching and is “taking responsibility” to make the set a positive place to work. The showrunner, Glenn Gordon Caron, is undergoing the same leadership training.

9:14 AM: “To us, it’s a show that does very well,” Kahl says of BULL. “It’s a very popular show…Michael is loved by the audience. Even after the allegations came out, people continued to watch.”

9:15 AM: THE LINCOLN LAWYER will air during the 2020-2021 season.

9:16 AM: “It’s scary, it’s entertaining, there is some depth to it,” Sherman says of EVIL.

9:18 AM: A BIG BROTHER producer “overstepped” with the recent controversy, and the team has taken unconscious bias training.

9:20 AM: “We have heard things on the show that we are not comfortable with and we have not enjoyed seeing,” Kahl says of BIG BROTHER. They’re going to reassess elements of the show after the season ends.

9:23 AM: “We still get the biggest audiences,” Sherman says of producers like Kelley coming to CBS after being at a streaming platform. “You get a broader [group] of people and tell dynamic stories.” Kahl also notes it’s appealing to have shows on weekly.

9:24 AM: What is leadership counseling? “Its how to be a leader on the set and how to be an example for everybody,” Kahl says. re: the BULL team: “They want to be as strong and good and fair leaders as they can be.”

9:25 AM: “We are very much hoping to work with James for a long, long time,” Sherman says of Corden’s future with the network.

9:27 AM: They haven’t made a decision about WORLDS BEST. If the show gets renewed, they’d likely tweak the format.

9:28 AM: Everyone, “top to bottom,” is receiving training in leadership.

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