Networks Already Testing The Waters For Next Fall

It’s the time of year when network programmers are already looking at possible series for next fall and start announcing tryouts for some of the candidates.

That explains why NBC said last week it will debut the sitcom “Just Shoot Me” in the Wednesday comedy lineup on March 5 at 9:30 p.m. after giving the series a preview the night before.

“Just Shoot Me,” starring Laura San Giacomo, George Segal and David Spade, is set for a five-episode run. It replaces “Men Behaving Badly,” which will return after the “Shoot Me” tryout.

That’s not the only change coming up on Wednesday nights. CBS just last week pulled the anchorless magazine show “Coast to Coast” from its 9 p.m. slot and the Larry Hagman drama “Orleans” out of 10 p.m. for the February sweeps.

With “Coast” and “Orleans” gone, movies and specials will fill the 9-11 p.m. time slot on Wednesdays this month. Then on March 5, the new drama “Feds” will move into the 9 p.m. time slot, followed by “EZ Streets” at 10 p.m. That night the network also will introduce the sitcom “Temporarily Yours” at 8:30 p.m., replacing “Pearl,” which will return to Wednesdays in April. “The Nanny” stays at 8 p.m.

“Coast to Coast” lasted only three outings, but CBS promises to bring it back in June for another six tries. “Orleans,” after four outings so far, will return on Fridays at the end of March, when CBS has pretty much concluded its college basketball playoff schedule. On March 28, “JAG” will move to 8 p.m., but CBS hasn’t decided between “Orleans” and “Nash Bridges” for the 9 and 10 p.m. slots.

In other CBS changes, on Monday night, “Everybody Loves Raymond” moves from Friday to the 8:30 p.m. spot after “Cosby,” “Ink” moves from 8:30 to 9:30 p.m., and “Cybill” will replace “Murphy Brown” at 9 p.m., at least until April.

“Feds” is set in the Manhattan federal prosecutor’s office and stars Blair Brown, Adrian Pasdar and others. Dick (“Law & Order”) Wolf is the executive producer.