CBS Unveils Promos for New Fall Shows: 'A Gifted Man,' 'Person of Interest,' 'Two Broke Girls,' 'Unforgettable,' and 'How to Be a Gentleman'

CBS, ever the whipping boy for people like me who desperately try to champion quality programming in a tidal wave of mediocrity, but which remains able to garner huge ratings on all twelve of its crime investigation shows (and "Two and a Half Men!" You know, for kids!), yesterday announced their fall schedule.

To go along with it, they released a few promotional videos explaining their new shows and getting us all totally jacked for the fall season.

First up, "A Gifted Man" sees Patrick Wilson's television series debut as a man who can communicate with the dead - or at least his dead ex-wife. Wilson's one of those rare people who's far too talented to be as attractive as he is (or vice versa), yet has never really have a defining, breakout role. While I'm not loving the drive of the series, I do like that he seems to approach his gift from every scientific angle, and hey, if it gets more people to recognize Patrick Wilson, I'll take it.

Meanwhile, CBS is making it too easy to mock them with this series "How to Be a Gentlemen." Leave it to the former network of Charlie Sheen to create a show geared at reassuring men that it's totally fine to be an inconsiderate, unambitious wad. That's what being a man is all about! The problem is that I like almost everybody in this show...(Ed. Note: Hey wait! Is that Johnny Drama?)

Then there's the Jonathan Nolan/J.J. Abrams collaboration "Person of Interest," which, despite falling into some easy cliches, could be interesting. I'm especially put off by the lead, the classic "man who walked away from it all but still has all his old skills which is really handy when he's called back into action," and not entirely sure Jim Caviezel can bring something new to it. The "Minority Report"-esque premise, in which the characters prevent violent crimes before they happen, makes for a great serialized premise, and I would sort of enjoy seeing Michael Emerson (Ben Linus of "Lost") go back to being so very evil every week.

I should hate "Two Broke Girls," but I sort of love the solid, classic sitcom set-up of two disperate personalities being forced together. And Kat Dennings. Who doesn't love Kat Dennings? Now if we could only do something about that laugh track...

I have an awful memory, so I've always been sort of jealous of people with hyperthemysia, or the superior ability to recall details from one's own life. It also provides an interesting twist to the cop show, and the gimmick of having the protagonist walk around in her own memories is a good visual trick, but the execution on "Unforgettable" looks painfully bland. And ever since "Forgetting Sarah Marshall" called my attention to cop show music, I can't help but be annoyed by it.

And that's that!