CBS rolled out its new drama and comedy series yesterday at the Upfronts in NYC.

I thought this might be a good time for a brief synopsis on what to expect in the 2013-14 season.

Here goes.

Hostages, set to air on Mondays at 10 (taking the slot of Hawaii Five-0), takes a dare and uses kidnappers led by Agent Duncan Carlisle (Dylan McDermott) to attempt to force a Presidential assassination via threats to Dr. Ellen Sanders (Toni Collette) and her family.  The series is only scheduled for 15 episodes, so it remains to be seen how this will play out.  The show involves numerous backstories on the family, and much of the focus centers on Sanders’ husband, Brian (Tate Donovan).  Hostages is a Jerry Bruckheimer production.

Intelligence takes over midseason where Hostages leaves off.  Intelligence brings Josh Holloway (Lost) back to CBS.  The series focuses on his character, Gabriel Black, as America’s new secret weapon.  A microchip containing data from the internet, satellite, telephone, and WiFi, is implanted into his brain, and he becomes a bit of a superhero for America.  Intelligence also stars Marg Helgenberger (Lillian) and Meghan Ory (Riley O’Neil).

We Are Men, a comedy set to air on Mondays at 8:30, brings together four men – Stuart Stegeman (Jerry O’Connell), Frank Bober (Tony Shalhoub), Gil Brooks (Kal Penn), and Carter Thomas (Christopher Nicholas Smith) who have been divorced, left at the altar, or otherwise “abandoned” by society for one reason or another.  Their failures in life bring the four to live in the same building as they attempt to build new lives apart from their failed ones.  The series brings back Shalhoub (Monk) and Penn (House).  We Are Men is a Rob Greenberg (How I Met Your Mother) production.

Mom, Mondays at 9:30, is a comedy centering on the life of Christy (Anna Faris), who is a recovering alcoholic.  Added to her struggles for sobriety are the struggles she has with her estranged mother, Bonnie (Allison Janney), also an alcoholic.  Mom is a Chuck Lorre (The Big, Bang Theory, Two and a Half Men, Mike and Molly) production.

The Millers, a comedy on Thursdays at 8:30, focuses on Nathan Miller (Will Arnett), who is excited to begin living the single life following his newly divorced status.  His plans are interrupted by the unexpected news that his father, Tom (Beau Bridges), is leaving his mother, Carol (Margo Martindale).  On top of this, Carol decides to move in with her newly-divorced son.  The Millers is a Greg Garcia (Raising Hope) production.

The Crazy Ones, a comedy on Thursdays at 9, brings Robin Williams back to the small screen.  It centers on Williams (Simon Roberts) and his daughter, Sarah Michelle Gellar (Sydney Roberts), as they work at an advertising agency together.  The series, a David E. Kelly production, also stars singer Kelly Clarkson.

CBS will also be bringing the miniseries event, Under the Dome, based on the novel by Stephen King, to the network.  The project centers on the lives of the residents of Chester’s Mill, Maine as a mysterious impenetrable barrier, surrounds the town overnight.  The miniseries begins airing June 24.

Many CBS stars were in attendance at the Upfronts, including Mark Harmon and most of the NCIS cast, the stars of Elementary, and the stars of The Big, Bang Theory.

NCIS and The Big, Bang Theory remain television’s top drama and comedy, maintaining a 21 million and 18 million-strong viewership, respectively.

Biggest changes to the CBS fall schedule included a move for Person of Interest to Tuesdays at 10 and Hawaii Five-0 to Fridays at 9.

This will also be the final season for How I Met Your Mother.

Cheryl has been a freelance TV/film writer for more than 10 years. Simultaneously, she has worked in PR for Bon Jovi Productions in NYC, PolyGram Records (also in NYC), and Rogers & Cowan Public Relations. Cheryl has published articles at suite101.com, “Sci-Fi Entertainment” magazine, and “Soap Opera Weekly.” She was also a credited researcher for English author Denis Meikle’s JOHNNY DEPP: A KIND OF ILLUSION. Cheryl enjoys writing for the entertainment industry and meeting new people. She is also an animal lover.