'The Real Love Boat' dating show to sail on CBS' fall lineup

NEW YORK (AP) - Network TV's fondness for reality fare and reboots combine in 'œThe Real Love Boat,'ť a sea-going dating show that's part of the CBS fall schedule announced Wednesday.

Described as a 'œromance adventure competition,'ť the series credits as its inspiration the popular and kitschy comedy-drama 'œThe Love Boat,'ť which aired from 1977-86 on ABC. 'œThe Real Love Boat'ť will follow returning shows 'œSurvivor'ť and 'œThe Amazing Race'ť on Wednesday, a rare all-reality night for CBS.

With so much programming available to viewers, 'œflow is important, lead-ins are important, compatible programming is important,'ť said Kelly Kahl, CBS Entertainment president. 'œThis looked like a real good bet to us. It also looks like a real competitive kind of counter-programming move.'ť

By contrast, network rivals NBC and ABC have stocked their Wednesday lineups with comedies and dramas. There's more to guard against than just other broadcasters, given the rise of streaming services with splashy shows and on-demand convenience.

That's prompted growing broadcast reliance on fare known to viewers, including spinoffs and reboots. But CBS, which leans on the scripted 'œNCIS'ť and 'œFBI'ť franchises, is also placing bets on a trio of unpedigreed new dramas this fall.

'œEast New York'ť stars Amanda Warren as the newly promoted head of a police precinct in the working-class neighborhood where she has roots. Jimmy Smits co-stars. 'œFire Country'ť follows young convict (Max Thieriot, 'œSeal Team'ť) who joins a California prison-release firefighting program for a second chance.

The other scripted addition, 'œSo Help Me Todd,'ť is described as a 'œhumorous legal drama.'ť Oscar-winner Marcia Gay Harden ("Pollock") stars as a successful attorney who hires her less-driven son, a private detective played by Skylar Astin, to work for her law firm.

The shows canceled by CBS are 'œMagnum P.I.'ť; 'œUnited States of Al'ť; 'œB Positive'ť; 'œGood Sam'ť and 'œHow We Roll.'ť

The network and its Paramount Global siblings, including Paramount+, presented their wares to advertisers in New York on Wednesday. The streaming service announced that 'œTulsa King,'ť starring Sylvester Stallone as a mobster exiled to Oklahoma, will debut Nov. 13.

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Media Writer David Bauder reported from New York and Television Writer Lynn Elber reported from Los Angeles.