Today at TCA: CBS to tout new shows, address tough year in ratings

CBS remains television’s most-watched broadcast network, but it ended last season having to relinquish those bragging rights when it comes to the advertiser-coveted adult demo.

In that 18- to 49-year-old sandbox, CBS fell behind not only NBC but Fox, too.

How will the Eye net turn things around in 2014-15? Thursday Night Football, for one thing. We’ll hear more about that and other new arrows in network’s quiver on Wednesday, when it’s CBS’s turn to take the stage at the TV critics’ press tour in Beverly Hills, Calif.

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CBS entertainment chair Nina Tassler will get things started, most likely addressing the network’s comedy challenges now that “How I Met Your Mother” is gone and “Two and a Half Men” isn’t far behind.

She also might talk more about changes in the late-night landscape. David Letterman has announced he’s out the door next year, Stephen Colbert is coming in to save the day (er, night) and Craig Ferguson’s replacement remains a big question mark. If Tassler doesn’t voluntarily tackle these topics, you can be sure she’ll be asked to by a room full of reporters.

In TCA fashion, the rest of the day will be made up of panels devoted to new series, such as a New Orleans-set “NCIS” spinoff and the new drama “Madam Secretary,” where Tea Leoni stars as Secretary of State. (The pilot is cut from “The Good Wife” cloth.) I’m looking forward to the panel on “Battle Creek,” a Michigan-set cop drama from Vince Gilligan (“Breaking Bad”).

Also up: A new sitcom called “The McCarthys” from Second City alum Brian Gallivan. Steppenwolf Theatre vet Laurie Metcalf co-stars.

The always entertaining and candid CBS President Les Moonves will talk about the network’s foray into Thursday Night Football (and other things, no doubt).

If you have any questions about CBS’s shows — past, present or future — shoot me an email at lrackl@suntimes.com or ask on Twitter @lorirackl. I’ll do my best to get answers. I’ll also be posting stories throughout the day on the Sun-Times blog.

In case you missed it, here’s my story (and photos) from yesterday’s seriously funny set visit to the Fox sitcom “Brooklyn Nine-Nine.”