Today & TCA - Dennis Quaid Ethan Miller/Getty Images

By: Valerie Milano – Beverly Hills, CA (Hollywood Today) 7-29-12

Nina Tassler, CBS Network Chief, began the CBS panel holding a brown furry stuffed monkey, modeling the NBC panel for “Animal Practice”.

On the 8^th day of TCA this morning, with news she never tires of sharing, “CBS scored another broadcast television trifecta this year.  We’re number one in viewers.  We’re number one in upfront revenue.  We’re number one in Emmy nominations.”

80% of their scripted returners have been sold into syndication including “Hawaii Five-0” and “Mike & Molly”. Great news for CBS. The accolades continued as Tassler reported they received 60 Emmy nominations in all categories, reality, comedy and drama.

Take a look at some of the efforts in store for this fall season:

Dennis Quaid is coming to television in “Vegas”, starring Michael Chiklis and Quaid. Picture Las Vegas mob set in the 1960’s. Tassler explained the 60’s setting is really secondary to the main them of “two forces that were battling for the heart and soul of Las Vegas at a very key moment in the history of the city.”

“Elementary” is based on a modern day, female Dr. Watson. Tassler explained, “when you have an opportunity to build a show around one of the greatest detectives in all of literature, you’re going to jump at that opportunity. “ With great faith in Rob Doherty who pitched the idea, she said they were sold on this twist as soon as he walked in the door.

“How I Met Your Mother” is currently in negotiations about a 9^th season. Tassler said, “We’ve got a great relationship with Craig and Carter, and certainly they have a very strategic wrap‑up to the show.  They know we want the show to come back next year.  We are having conversations right now about extending it.”

After cancelling “Unforgettable” there are plans to bring it back to television next summer. “.  We saw this as a window of opportunity to put the show on for next season and we jumped at it.”

CBS has already purchased  a  few new pilots including “Ex Men” by Rob Greenberg, a 30 minute comedy about exes. Husbands, not X-Men that is.

Diving more deeply into the social media, CBS is involved with creating SMS notifications for relaying overruns due to NFL games on Sunday nights. No more missing “The Mentalist”, “between texting, between online notification, between Facebook technology, I mean, literally we do everything possible, and will continue to do everything, to make sure that the audience knows that the show will be on later as a result of it.”

I think it is time to go out on the smoking patio with her.