Three New Dramas for CBS?

CBS has been extremely tight-lipped this season, not even giving a hint as to which shows will be renewed this year, and which pilots have the most likely chance of making it into the fall lineup.  But today three new dramas for the network seem closer than ever to an official pickup, which should be announced  later this week at their upfront presentation.

So if CBS is being so tight-lipped, how could we possibly know that these three series are inches away from an official pickup?  The net gave a greenlight to start hiring staff for these three dramas, which is usually a clear indication that the series is getting picked up.  All three of these shows also come from CBS Paramount Network TV (the CBS TV Studio).

NCIS spinoff

It's a shame that this show doesn't have a formal title yet, because I grow tired of putting "NCIS spinoff."  This show will star LL Cool J and Chris O'Donnell and the pilot recently aired as a two-part episode of NCIS.

Three Rivers

This is the Eye's new medical drama which will center around the world of organ donors.  At the helm are Carol Barbee and Curtis Hanson, as well as Carol Fenelon and Ted Gold.  Starring in the show is Alex O'Loughlin who you might remember from either Moonlight or The Sheild.

Good Wife

This show has seemed like a sure thing for a while now, with executive producers like Ridley Scott, Tony Scott and David Zucker, as well as the star Julianna Margulies.  Good Wife is about a lawyer who returns to work after her husband is sent to jail.

That's it for early info from CBS.  The network also gave a renewal to Cold Case today, and the jury is still out for Without a Trace and The Unit, though neither were looking too good a few weeks ago.