SueTube – Let’s talk TV with critic Susan Young

Want to know who’s who when your CBS shows come back this month? We also discover that there is life after “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” for one actor.

Here’s a quick rundown from the network:

CRIMINAL MINDS Wednesdays, 9:00-10:00 PM, ET/PT

Emmy Award nominee JOE MANTEGNA will join the cast of CRIMINAL MINDS starring as FBI Special Agent David Rossi, an original member of the Behavioral Analysis Unit who took early retirement to go on lecture and book tours, and has volunteered to return to the unit.

Mantegna is scheduled to make his first appearance in the sixth episode of the season.

“We are all THRILLED to have Joe Mantegna joining our family. He’s an incredible actor, a genuinely nice person and, as a fellow Chicagoan, I can tell you he makes fantastic Italian Beef sandwiches and Chicago Style Hot Dogs,” said Executive Producer Ed Bernero.

And the reliable actor isn’t likely to skip out on the show like Mandy Patinkin.

CSI: NY Wednesdays, 10:00-11:00 PM, ET/PT

A.J. BUCKLEY will become a series regular after recurring for two seasons as Adam Ross, a CSI Tech guru out of Seattle. Specializing in Computer Forensics, Ross is the go-to scientist for the latest technological applications needed to solve crimes in Manhattan.

“He was hired by Mac Taylor to stay ‘one step ahead’ of the criminals in New York City, who often use more complicated technology than the average crime lab in the country. Therefore, Ross is the X-factor in crime solving and necessary ‘ringer’ to fight the most complex and sophisticated crimes,” said Anthony E. Zuiker, Creator and Executive Producer of the CSI Franchise.

GHOST WHISPERER Fridays, 8:00-9:00 PM, ET/PT

JAY MOHR will become a series regular, playing Professor Payne who provides an encyclopedic knowledge of the spirit world, as well as genuine concern for Melinda’s (Jennifer Love Hewitt) safety as she puts herself in ever greater danger to protect those she cares about — even though he hides his concern behind an ever-present irreverent sense of humor.

“We’re thrilled to have Jay as a series regular this year. He’s a terrific actor who is fun to work with for the same reasons he’s fun to watch: he brings humor, energy, creativity and spontaneity to the set and to his role. He also brings sports commentary and sometimes donuts,” says Executive Producer P.K. Simonds.

SHARK Sundays, 10:00-11:00 PM, ET/PT

KEVIN ALEJANDRO joins the cast as Sebastian’s (James Woods) newest team member Danny Reyes, an edgy and aggressive young deputy district attorney who earned his stripes in the Organized Crime Unit.

“Kevin Alejandro is an incredibly dynamic and intelligent actor who brings great energy and attitude to the legal team,” says Executive Producer/Creator Ian Biederman. “Danny plays by his own rules — which both endears him to Sebastian and creates great conflict.”

NEW RECURRING CAST MEMBERS:

SHARK Sundays, 10:00-11:00 PM, ET/PT

KEVIN POLLAK joins the series in the recurring role of brash and cunning newly elected District Attorney Leo Cutler.

“Kevin Pollak is a superb actor who infuses the role of Leo Cutler with wit and a moral ambiguity that is a perfect fit for the show. Leo’s an outstanding foil for Sebastian and the team,” says Executive Producer/Creator Ian Biederman.

WITHOUT A TRACE Thursdays, 10:00-11:00 PM, ET/PT

Golden Globe nominee HENRY THOMAS (“E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial,” “Gangs of New York”) will join the series in a recurring role as Jack’s (Anthony LaPaglia) evil nemesis, and the leader of a human trafficking group who the FBI team is pursuing.

GUEST STARS:

CSI: CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION Thursdays, 9:00-10:00 PM, ET/PT

JESSICA LUCAS (“The Covenant,” “The L Word”) is set to guest star in four episodes of CSI: CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION beginning Thursday, Oct. 11. She plays the role of Veronica Lake, aka “Ronnie,” a young, overzealous new CSI in training, who is extremely bright, albeit naïve. After graduating from one of the top criminalistics programs in the country, she was offered positions at numerous crime labs, but chose Vegas due to its increase in crime rates. Now that she’s entered the throws of solving real crimes, she’s about to find out that in searching for the perpetrator of a crime, she could easily become his next victim.

WITHOUT A TRACE Thursdays, 10:00-11:00 PM, ET/PT

JAMES MARSTERS (“Buffy the Vampire Slayer,” “Angel”) will guest star in a five episode arc beginning with the season premiere on Thursday, Sept. 27. He will play Grant Mars, a detective who helps Vivian (Marianne Jean-Baptiste) with an unsolved case.

RULES OF ENGAGEMENT Mondays, 9:30-10:00 PM, ET/PT

Golden Globe nominee HEATHER LOCKLEAR (“Spin City”) will guest star in two episodes later this season as Barbara, the sister of Audrey (Megyn Price) who comes to town to visit. During her stay, Barbara announces that her marriage, which Audrey has always idealized, may be over. While Audrey has a difficult time dealing with the news, she is even more surprised to learn that her sister has agreed to go on a date with Russell (David Spade).

There’s a chicken farmer, a school lunch lady and even a professional poker play, but for once there isn’t a single “Survivor” castaway from the Bay Area.

CBS announced today the 16 new castaways who will compete in “Survivor: China” when the 15th installment premieres Thursday, Sept. 20 on CBS-Channel 5.

“Survivor: China” begins not on an island, but in urban Shanghai before moving to HuangPu Mountain’s Mi Tuo Temple for a Buddhist ceremony where they will be instructed to leave all of their worldly possessions behind.

The castaways will then be marooned with the clothes on their back at two separate islands on Zhelin Lake (translation: the Land of 1,000 Lakes) located in the Jiangxi Province. They will split into two tribes, Fei Long (translation: Flying Dragon) and Zhan Hu (translation: Fighting Tiger), and will each be given a copy of Sun Tzu’s The Art of War for tribe motivation and assistance throughout the game.

This time there will be a not-so-Hidden Immunity Idol which may save someone from elimination at a future Tribal Council. The idols will be in plain sight, although the castaways won’t realize it at first.

Each week, the winning tribe of the Reward Challenge will be allowed to kidnap someone from the losing tribe. The person who is kidnapped will receive a note from host Jeff Probst before departing for the enemy camp and will be instructed to give it to one member of the enemy tribe (the kidnapped victim will decide who receives it) in private.

The clue will inform this person of the Hidden Immunity Idol located somewhere at their camp. This person must then decide if they wish to share the information with their tribe or keep it to themselves. The kidnapped victim will return to their original tribe at the following Immunity Challenge.

The castaways are:

JEAN-ROBERT BELLANDE

36

Las Vegas (originally from Long Island, N.Y.)

Professional Poker Player

JAMES CLEMENT

30

Lafayette, La.

Grave Digger

DAVE CRUSER

37

Simi Valley, Calif.

Former Model

JAIME DUGAN

22

Columbia, S.C. (originally from Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.)

Student

TODD HERZOG

22

Pleasant Grove, Utah

Flight Attendant

ERIK HUFFMAN

26

Nashville, Tenn. (originally from Greenville, S.C.)

Musician

AMANDA KIMMEL

23

Los Angeles (originally from Kalispell, Mont.)

Hiking Guide

PEIH-GEE LAW

29

Marina Del Rey, Calif. (born in Hong Kong)

Jeweler

SHEREA LLOYD

26

Atlanta (originally from Pontiac, Mich.)

Elementary Teacher

DENISE MARTIN

40

Douglas, Mass. (originally from Revere, Mass.)

School Lunch Lady

ASHLEY MASSARO

28

East Northport, N.Y.

Professional WWE Wrestler

CHICKEN MORRIS

47

Marion, Va.

Chicken Farmer

LESLIE NEASE

38

Tega Cay, S.C.

Christian Radio Talk Show Host

AARON REISBERGER

32

Venice, Calif. (originally from Belmont County, Ohio)

Surfing Instructor

COURTNEY YATES

26

New York City (originally from Boston)

Waitress

FROSTI ZERNOW

20

Chicago (originally from Traverse City, Mich.)

Parkour Athlete/Student

We’re not saying anything against Mandy Patinkin, we’ll let his co-stars like Shemar Moore do that.

Shemar railed against Mandy when he decided to simply not show up for work, quitting and leaving the cast and crew in the lurch.

“I don’t think it’s right. He left us hanging… no warning, no nothing. We all showed up to work on Day 1, and he didn’t,” a testy Shemar told a group of reporters during a CBS party last month. “He needs to take responsibility for his actions. (We’re) an ensemble, a team. We just want the courtesy and the respect that we deserve. And we felt like if he had given us that initially, this would be much easier to deal with. He essentially just slapped us in the face.”

Mandy will never work in this town again. Except maybe. Because he quit CBS’ “Chicago Hope” in 1995 after one season, then returned in 1999 for the final season. And CBS execs say he’ll come back to do at least a scene that ties up his character.

But enough about the old, now we’ve got the new: Joe Mantegna will join the cast as FBI Special Agent David Rossi, making his first appearance in the fifth episode of the season.

Here’s our Joe!

“We are all THRILLED (yep, they used capitals in the press release) to have Joe Mantegna joining our family. He’s an incredible actor, a genuinely nice person and, as a fellow Chicagoan, I can tell you he makes fantastic Italian Beef sandwiches and Chicago Style Hot Dogs,” said Executive Producer Ed Bernero.

Special Agent Rossi is an original member of the Behavioral Analysis Unit who took early retirement to go on lecture and book tours, and has volunteered to return to the unit.

Joe wowed us this summer in the miniseries “The Starter Wife,” which earned him an Emmy nomination. He also won a Tony Award for her performance in “Glengarry Glen Ross.”

His credits include the CBS series “Joan of Arcadia,” and we’d like to note that he has never once walked off a TV series.

Berkeley’s Nessa Nemir wrote to say that fellow “Pirate Master” Cheryl Kosewicz. was found dead Friday in Sparks, near Reno. It was an apparent suicide just days after the series was canceled by CBS.

The 35-year-old Cheryl was a deputy district attorney who was cut from the show on the June 21 episode.

“Her boyfriend had killed himself a couple months after we got back from the Carribbean,” Nessa writes. “Her funeral will be held in Reno on Tuesday (today)… Everyone is shocked and devastated…. I haven’t seen anything about it in the news yet… Thought you might want to know.”

Charlie Sheen used to be known as the tabloid headling king for his antics involving Hollywood madams, drugs and overall chaotic life.

But now, he reminds us, he’s just a guy doing a TV show who has some nice kids and is happily engaged. And Sheen’s more than eager to let the Lindsay Lohans and Britney Spears take that searing spotlight.

“There’s several people recently at least in the last year that have snatched that torch from me,” Sheen says with his dry wit delivery. “I just stay home and let it happen basically, but I feel for them.”

Any advice?

“I mean, it’s not that complicated to hire a car or just to carry some extra cab fare at some point,” he says.

Will we ever discover if Berkeley’s Nessa Nemir takes all the treasure on the CBS reality show “Pirate Master”?

Nessa unveils the Royal Pardon at the last airing of “Pirate Master.” Photo: Tommy Baynard/Mark Burnett Prod.

The Mark Burnett summer reality series has been ordered to walk the plank and won’t even get a Thursday send-off. Instead, anyone interested in seeing the final five episodes will have to go the CBS web site beginning tomorrow, according to USA Today.

At least there Nemir’s family might actually see the show. During an interview with her sister before the show air, it was revealed that the family doesn’t even own a television set.

In the private dining room of Circa 55 at The Beverly Hilton, about six reporters gathered for lunch with the charismatic star of CBS’ new vampire series “Moonlight,’’ which had a major renovation from the presentation version sent out to critics and advertisers.

BROODING VAMP ALEX

The only actor left standing after the housecleaning was lead Alex O’Loughlin, a charming Australian actor best known in the United States for his role this season on FX’s “The Shield.’’

(Note to “Veronica Mars” fans: Alex’s new vamp pal will be played by Jason Dohring.)

Alex, 30, tells us his mom was devastated by the widely reported Internet rumor that he was one of many children fathered by the late AC/DC wild man Bon Scott.

“She wasn’t very happy being called a harlot,’’ Alex says. “And my dad wasn’t very happy either.’’

O’Loughlin just finished filming a movie with Kate Beckinsale and says after a dry spell he’s finally getting some juice into his career.

“I had sold my car and had to sell my motorbike,’’ Alex, who was being considered for such roles as James Bond, says. “Then I got the chance to go on `The Shield,’ which I love, and then this and two movies.’’

He’s so giddy about it all, he doesn’t even mind going to San Diego next week for Comic Con to boost “Moonlight’s’’ profile before it airs in September. He’s got all of the vamp folklore down solid and he’s waiting to show it all off

“(Producer) Joel Silver told me `You ARE going to Comic Con,’ ” Alex says with a laugh. “I’m ready.”

And it helps to have the beloved icon of vampdom on board, David Greenwalt of “Buffy, the Vampire Slayer”’ and “Angel.” David will be overseeing the series and keeping it in the right vein.

MOONLIGHT (L-R) Joel Silver Executive Producers , Alex O’Loughlin, David Greenwalt Executive Producers and Sophia Myles speak to the press at the TCA – 2007

Way to use that online clout.

Here’s the letter sent out by CBS entertainment president Nina Tassler on giving “Jericho” a second chance:

To the Fans of Jericho:

Wow!

Over the past few weeks you have put forth an impressive and probably unprecedented display of passion in support of a prime time television series. You got our attention; your emails and collective voice have been heard.

As a result, CBS has ordered seven episodes of “Jericho” for mid-season next year. In success, there is the potential for more. But, for there to be more “Jericho,” we will need more viewers.

A loyal and passionate community has clearly formed around the show. But that community needs to grow. It needs to grow on the CBS Television Network, as well as on the many digital platforms where we make the show available.

We will count on you to rally around the show, to recruit new viewers with the same grass-roots energy, intensity and volume you have displayed in recent weeks.

At this time, I cannot tell you the specific date or time period that “Jericho” will return to our schedule. However, in the interim, we are working on several initiatives to help introduce the show to new audiences. This includes re-broadcasting “Jericho” on CBS this summer, streaming episodes and clips from these episodes across the CBS Audience Network (online), releasing the first season DVD on September 25 and continuing the story of Jericho in the digital world until the new episodes return. We will let you know specifics when we have them so you can pass them on.

On behalf of everyone at CBS, thank you for expressing your support of “Jericho” in such an extraordinary manner. Your protest was creative, sustained and very thoughtful and respectful in tone. You made a difference.

Sincerely,

Nina Tassler

President, CBS Entertainment

P.S. Please stop sending us nuts

“Please stop sending us nuts,” writes CBS entertainment president Nina Tassler in a message to the online community supporting the return of “Jericho.”

After CBS announced that the post-apocalyptic drama would not be returning to the fall schedule, fans started sending nuts to network. The idea came from the final episode in which the townsfolk of “Jericho” decided to go to war against the neighboring town rather than surrender.

In the episode, when the town called for Jericho’s surrender, they were given the answer “Nuts…go to hell” by Skeet Ulrich’s character Jake Green in reference to a general’s famous quote from the World War II Battle of the Bulge.

“You got our attention; your emails and collective voice have been heard,” Tassler wrote. “In success, there is the potential for more. But, for there to be more `Jericho,’ we will need more viewers.”

CBS is planning a campaign to reintroduce “Jericho,” including rerunning the show on CBS this summer, streaming episodes and clips online and releasing the first season on DVD on Sept. 25.

The return date has not yet been announced, but it is expected to air next year as a midseason replacement.

CBS taking chances?

Who would have thought it of the conservative network, home of the police procedurals and slightly naughty sitcoms.

The network will bring back 17 current programs, but the sitcom “The Class” and the once-promising “Jericho” won’t be among them. CBS brings just one comedy, one reality show and three dramas this fall, leaving most of the schedule intact.

Earlier this year, CBS entertainment president Nina Tassler tipped off a few reporters about her plans to shake things up with a musical drama, a wife-swapping drama and a Latino sudser.

“We approached our development this year with a specific goal in mind _ to be daring and different,” Tassler says when announcing the new fall series on Wednesday. “The fall and midseason series we have selected offer creativity and variety with great potential to excite and surprise television audiences.”

Well, it certainly surprised us, even though Tassler had already told us about “Viva Laughlin,” we never thought the CBS suits would buy it.

We were wrong.

VIVA LAUGHLIN
Executive produced by Tony and Emmy Award winner Hugh Jackman (pictured, guest staring as Nicky Fontana).
Photo: Robert Voets/CBS

Based on the British series “Viva Blackpool,” the series is produced and co-stars Hugh Jackman. In addition to high-wattage star power, the series also marks the first time since Steven Bochco’s ill-fated “Cop Rock” that a musical drama series has made it to the air.

Ripley Holden’s sole ambition is to run a casino in Laughlin, but he gets embroiled in a murder investigation after his business partner’s body is found at Ripley’s club. Ripley (Lloyd Owen) also deals with an attention-starvedwife (Madchen Amick) and teen daughter and son. The characters break out in contemporary songs to punctuate the drama and the comedy.

MOONLIGHT
Alex O’Loughlin as Mick St. John. CBS 2007 Upfront Photo: Robert Voets

Tapping into the “Angel” market, “Moonlight” centers on Mick St. John (Alex O’Loughlin) as a vampire who uses his powers to help people through his private investigation firm.

CANE
Pictured right to left: Jimmy Smits, Paola Turbay, Hector Elizondo, and Rita Moreno. 2007 Upfront Photo: Robert Voets/CBS

“Cane” stars Jimmy Smits, Hector Elizondo and Nestor Carbonell (Richard on “Lost”) as the power players in this steamy drama about a large Cuban-American family running a successful rum and sugar business in South Florida.

Coming on in midseason is “Swingtown” from the director of the Showtime series “Big Love” and HBO’s “Rome.” The series takes viewers back to 1970s suburbia where the sexual revolution is being played out with open marriages and women’s lib. When a couple (Molly Parker and Jack Davenport) moves into an affluent Chicago suburb in search of barbecues and neighborhood get-togethers, they have no idea what is really happening. Grant Show (“Melrose Place” and “Dirt”) and Lana Parrilla play the swinging couple who share more than just recipes with their neighbors. Miriam Shor and Josh Hopkins play the couple’s former neighbors and friends who are appalled and intrigued by the neighborhood.

THE BIG BANG THEORY
Brainy best friends Leonard (Johnny Galecki, right) and Sheldon (Jim Parsons, left) meet their new neighbor, Penny (Kaley Cuoco, center) 2007 Upfront Photo: Robert Voets/CBS

The lone comedy on the schedule, “The Big Bang Theory,” comes from “Two and a Half Men” producer Chuck Lorre. The show centers on a group of geeks being navigated through the crazy world of women with the help of their sexy new neighbor Penny (Kaley Cuoco).

KID NATION
Photo: Monty Brinton/ CBS

CBS, which will be keeping “Survivor” and at least one cycle of “The CBS, which will be keeping “Survivor” and at least one cycle of “The Amazing Race” this season, branches out with the reality series “Kid Nation.” The series drops 40 kids into a New Mexico ghost town where they will have 40 days to build a working town. The children, aged 8 to 15, will also create a new government. Sounds a little PBS to us.

While not on the fall schedule, “The New Adventures of Old Christine” has been picked up as a midseason replacement series. We would have put “Christine” on this fall rather than sticking with the lukewarm “Rules of Engagement” for the Monday night comedy block. But, again, we didn’t get that phone call from CBS asking our opinion.

Here’s the CBS fall lineup:

Monday
8 p.m. “How I Met Your Mother”
8:30 p.m. “THE BIG BANG THEORY”
9 p.m. “Two and a Half Men”
9:30 p.m. “Rules of Engagement”
10 p.m. “CSI:Miami”

Tuesday
8 p.m. “NCIS”
9 p.m. “The Unit”
10 p.m. “Cane”

Wednesday
8 p.m. “Kid Nation”
9 p.m. “Criminal Minds”
10 p.m. “CSI: New York”

Thursday
8 p.m. “Survivor: China”
9 p.m. “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation”
10 p.m. “Without a Trace”

Friday
8 p.m. “Ghost Whisperer”
9 p.m. “MOONLIGHT”
10 p.m. “Numb3rs”

Saturday
8 p.m. “Crimetime Saturday”
9 p.m. “Crimetime Saturday”
10 p.m. “48 Hours: Mystery”

Sunday
7 p.m. “60 Minutes”
8 p.m. “VIVA LAUGHLIN”
9 p.m. “Cold Case”
10 p.m. “Shark”