2013 TV Upfronts : CBS Hopes Robin Williams, 'The Crazy Ones' Keeps Network in Top Spot
In anticipation for a competitive upcoming season of cable television programming, CBS executives hosted various advertising personas at Carnegie Hall on Wednesday afternoon and touted their recent domination in the most coveted primetime spot.
CBS will finish this season in the number one spot in all key demographics, including the most coveted 18-49 demo, putting the network in the top spot for the first time in over 20 years.
CBS Entertainment chief Nina Tassler praised the network's fresh and popular new shows that were able to place CBS first in every key demo, every night and in every genre.
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During the presentation Leslie Moonves, CBS Corp. CEO, continually made jokes referencing the other networks' ratings, as well as several high-profile conflicts between on-air personalities.
"We think great drama belongs in primetime not at 7 o'clock in the morning," Moonves said as a screen depicted still shots of Ann Curry's emotional farewell from Today and an endearing hug between NBC's Jimmy Fallon and Jay Leno.
Moonves continually referenced the fact that CBS will finish the season as the top network among the highly coveted 18-49 year-old viewers for the first time since the 1992-93 season and left ad buyers with a simple choice.
"When making your buys," he said, "please don't hold our youth against us."
CBS is also looking to remain the dominant network in cable programming and revealed that their highly anticipated new series, "The Crazy Ones," will feature the return of Robin Williams to television for the first time in more than two decades. He will appear in the new series alongside Sarah Michelle Gellar.
The show focuses around the lives of a father and daughter who are in charge of a successful advertising agency and will air Thursdays at 9 p.m.
