Paramount Global unveils upcoming programming, including the CBS fall lineup

NEW YORK — CBS2’s parent company, Paramount Global, has unveiled its vast slate of programming across a diverse portfolio of brands, including Paramount+ and the CBS fall lineup.

There are three new dramas and one unscripted series joining 18 returning shows.

“Fire Country,” based on California’s inmate firefighter program, is one of the new dramas debuting on CBS this fall. “SEAL Team” star Max Thieriot is both the star and an executive producer. He says a lot of the show is based on people he grew up with in a small northern California town.

“I think everybody realized, wait a second, we can get firefighters and prisoners in the same show, fighting fire together and it’s real? I think from a storytelling standpoint it just gives you so much stuff to explore,” Thieriot said.

“CAL fire, you know, their department is considered the Navy SEALs of the firefighting department … I mean, these individuals are skilled in water rescue, you name it, so being able to be a part of that and get into the action aspect of that, as well as the drama,” actor Jordan Calloway said. “It’s a story of redemption as we see with the inmate program, so you’re seeing these inmates that are getting a second chance, which is something to rally behind.”

“When we first started filming, we did a boot camp, and I was like, I had no idea we were boot camping here. It was intense. It was informative. I had no idea all the different parts that CAL Fire had, and I’m just so proud of Max for bringing this to life for people across America to know how important CAL Fire is,” actor Jules Latimer said.

FIND OUT MORE: CBS Unveils 2022-2023 Primetime Lineup

Skylar Astin co-stars with Academy Award winner Marcia Gay Harden in “So Help Me Todd.” It’s about a lawyer who hires her aimless son as her law firm’s investigator.

Watch: Jenna DeAngelis talks to “So Help Me Todd” stars Skylar Astin and Marcia Gay Harden

CBS2’s Jenna DeAngelis spoke to the stars on the blue carpet for the Paramount Upfront afterparty.

“‘So Help Me Todd’ centers around a mother and a son. She’s a high-powered attorney. I’m the black sheep of the family who’s a bit tech savvy, a little bit scrappy and eventually we have to work together as mother and son and that’s where the real case begins,” Astin said.

“She’s very analog, she’s very old school, and he’s very, you know, kind of hip and loose and young school, and between the two of them, that creates a lot of conflict, which is funny, but it also, they end up getting the job done which is the important thing,” Gay Harden said.

The gritty new police drama “East New York” stars Amanda Warren as the newly promoted boss of a Brooklyn precinct.

“This is a no-holds punches. We are here to tell the truth and really tap into the human condition,” Warren said.

In addition to the new dramas, a new romance adventure competition series inspired by “the Love Boat” called “The Real Love Boat” joins long-running reality hits “Survivor” and “The Amazing Race” on Wednesday night.

Among CBS’ 18 returning shows is the number one new series “Ghosts,” starring Rose McIver.

“It’s fun. People get to enjoy some of the humor in it,” McIver told CBS2’s Dana Tyler.

The hit comedy “Young Sheldon” will also be back, as will the number one broadcast series “NCIS.”

CBS also announced another new drama, “True Lies,” will debut mid-season. It’s based on the 1994 James Cameron film of the same name.

These announcements came as part of Upfront Week, one of the most exciting times for broadcast networks. Every year some of the industry’s biggest players gather to present their new and current shows hitting the airwaves this year.