CBS announces 2012-13 primetime schedule

America's most-watched network adds four new series; 19 current series return

"CSI: NY" to open Fridays at 8; "The Mentalist" takes over Sundays at 10

CBS announced its 2012-13 primetime schedule Wednesday, ordering four new series and making four key time period moves to further enhance television's top-rated schedule. CBS will finish the season as America's most-watched network for the ninth time in the past 10 years, leading in viewers by the widest margin of any network in 23 years.

The new series include "Elementary," a contemporary take on the legendary detective Sherlock Holmes in New York City, starring Jonny Lee Miller and Lucy Liu; "Vegas," a drama inspired by a real-life sheriff and his battle with a powerful mobster for control of Las Vegas in the 1960s, starring Dennis Quaid and Michael Chiklis; "Made in Jersey," starring Janet Montgomery as a smart first-year lawyer with working-class roots practicing at a prestigious Manhattan law firm; and "Partners," a comedy about two very different life-long best friends and business partners and their significant others, starring David Krumholtz and Michael Urie.

"These new series feature a great range of bold concepts, rich characters, big stars and fresh faces," said Nina Tassler, president of CBS Entertainment. "From a new take on Sherlock Holmes to an epic battle for control of 1960s Las Vegas to a working-class point of view in a prestigious law firm, the dramas each have a unique style and sensibility. And, our new comedy 'Partners' fits perfectly with the CBS Monday night tradition of relationship comedies with a lot of heart and humor."

The freshman series will be joined by 19 returning shows, including the season's No. 1 drama/scripted program - "NCIS"; the No. 1 scripted series in adults 18-49 and No. 1 comedy - "The Big Bang Theory"; No. 1 new series - "Person of Interest"; No. 1 new series/comedy in adults 18-49/25-54 - "2 Broke Girls"; No. 1 news program - "60 Minutes"; and the eight-time Emmy Award winner "The Amazing Race."

The other returning series include "How I Met Your Mother," "Mike & Molly," "Hawaii Five-0," "NCIS: Los Angeles," "Survivor," "Criminal Minds," "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation," "Two and a Half Men," "CSI: NY," "Blue Bloods," "48 Hours Mystery," "The Mentalist" and "The Good Wife."

For midseason, the Emmy Award-nominated "Undercover Boss" returns, plus the new reality series "The Job" from executive producers Michael Davies and Mark Burnett. Also for midseason are the new drama "Golden Boy" and the new comedy "Friend Me."

CBS Television Network

2012-13 primetime schedule

(N=New, NT=New Time, all times ET/PT)

MONDAY

8-8:30 p.m. HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER

8:30-9 p.m. PARTNERS (N)

9-9:30 p.m. 2 BROKE GIRLS (NT)

9:30-10 p.m. MIKE & MOLLY

10-11 p.m. HAWAII FIVE-0

TUESDAY

8-9 p.m. NCIS

9-10 p.m. NCIS: LOS ANGELES

10-11 p.m. VEGAS (N)

WEDNESDAY

8-9 p.m. SURVIVOR

9-10 p.m. CRIMINAL MINDS

10-11 p.m. CSI: CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION

THURSDAY 

8-8:30 p.m. THE BIG BANG THEORY

8:30-9 p.m. TWO AND A HALF MEN (NT)

9-10 p.m. PERSON OF INTEREST

10-11 p.m. ELEMENTARY (N)

FRIDAY

8-9 p.m. CSI: NY (NT)

9-10 p.m. MADE IN JERSEY (N)

10-11 p.m. BLUE BLOODS

SATURDAY

8-9 p.m. CRIMETIME SATURDAY

9-10 p.m. CRIMETIME SATURDAY

10-11 p.m. 48 HOURS MYSTERY

SUNDAY

7-8 p.m. 60 MINUTES

8-9 p.m. THE AMAZING RACE

9-10 p.m. THE GOOD WIFE

10-11 p.m. THE MENTALIST (NT)

CBS logo.