Moonves: 'New York' Will Rule The Ratings

See Also: 'MIA/NYC - NonStop' Episode Guide

CBS chairman and CEO Les Moonves said yesterday CSI: New York will be the most-watched scripted television program in the 2004-2005 television season.

"I'll bet any amount of money that CSI: New York is the highest-rated new [scripted] show next season," Moonves told the New York Daily News during a Big Apple news conference.

The prediction isn't simply the usual bluster from a network executive. CSI: Crime Scene Investigation remains the top-rated non-reality television drama and spin-off CSI: Miami is usually found in the week's top 10 programs. "This is as close to a sure thing as you can get in network television," Moonves said.

CBS is so confident in its existing schedule that the network will probably only order four new shows, one of which will be CSI: New York. Crime shows such as Cold Case and Without a Trace have been rating strongly, and reality staple Survivor, now in its eighth incarnation, continues to draw in the crowds.

CSI: New York, which will star Gary Sinise (Apollo 13) as Rick Calucci and Providence's Melina Kanakaredes as Stella Bonasera, will be launched in an episode of CSI: Miami, entitled "MIA/NYC - NONSTOP". Currently set to air on May 17, the episode will see Horatio Caine following the trail of a murderer all the way to the Big Apple.

The original article can be found here at the New York Daily News.

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