(Editor’s Note: CBS, America's most watched network, will officially open the 2011-2012 season on Monday, Sept. 19, highlighted by the special series debut of its new comedy, 2 BROKE GIRLS, which premieres at a special time behind the season premiere of TWO AND A HALF MEN. 

            CBS will once again launch the majority of its new and returning programming during premiere week (Sept. 19-25).  SURVIVOR returns one week earlier (Wednesday, Sept. 14) for the ninth time in the past 10 seasons with a 90-minute premiere, paired with the 90-minute finale of BIG BROTHER for an all-reality night.  The comedies MIKE & MOLLY (Monday, Sept. 26) and HOW TO BE A GENTLEMAN (Thursday, Sept. 29) will debut one week later.  RULES OF ENGAGEMENT premieres on its new night and time period on Saturday, Oct. 8.

            The new drama, PERSON OF INTEREST, opens Thursday, Sept. 22 preceded by back-to-back episodes of THE BIG BANG THEORY.  UNFORGETTABLE premieres Tuesday, Sept. 20 and A GIFTED MAN on Friday, Sept. 23.

            "Our playbook is pretty consistent: wherever and whenever possible we use established successful series to introduce new shows," said Kelly Kahl, Senior Executive Vice President, CBS Primetime.  "We've also asked a couple of our strongest series to work overtime during premiere week in order to support the new series and bolster our performance."

CBS's 2011-2012 Premiere Dates

Wednesday, Sept. 14

8:00-9:30 PM              SURVIVOR: SOUTH PACIFIC (23rd edition premiere)

9:30-11:00 PM            BIG BROTHER (finale)

Monday, Sept. 19

8:00-8:30 PM              HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER (7th season premiere)

8:30-9:00 PM              HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER (S)

9:00-9:30 PM              TWO AND A HALF MEN (9th season premiere)

9:30-10:00 PM            2 BROKE GIRLS (series debut)

10:00-11:00 PM          HAWAII FIVE-0 (2nd season premiere)

Tuesday, Sept. 20

8:00-9:00 PM              NCIS (9th season premiere)

9:00-10:00 PM            NCIS: LOS ANGELES (3rd season premiere)

10:00-11:00 PM          UNFORGETTABLE (series debut)

Wednesday, Sept. 21

9:00-10:00 PM            CRIMINAL MINDS (7th season premiere)

10:00-11:00 PM          CSI: CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION (12th season premiere)

Thursday, Sept. 22

8:00-8:30 PM              THE BIG BANG THEORY (5th season premiere)

8:30-9:00 PM              THE BIG BANG THEORY (S)

9:00-10:00 PM            PERSON OF INTEREST (series debut)

10:00-11:00 PM          THE MENTALIST (4th season premiere)

Friday, Sept. 23

8:00-9:00 PM              A GIFTED MAN (series debut)

9:00-10:00 PM            CSI: NY (8th season premiere)

10:00-11:00 PM          BLUE BLOODS (2nd season premiere)

Saturday, Sept. 24

10:00-11:00 PM          48 HOURS MYSTERY (season premiere)

Sunday, Sept. 25

7:00-8:00 PM              60 MINUTES (44th season premiere)

8:00-9:00 PM              THE AMAZING RACE (19th edition premiere)

9:00-10:00 PM            THE GOOD WIFE (3rd season premiere)

10:00-11:00 PM          CSI: MIAMI (10th season premiere)

Monday, Sept. 26

8:30-9:00 PM              2 BROKE GIRLS (time period premiere)

9:30-10:00 PM            MIKE & MOLLY (2nd season premiere)

Thursday, Sept. 29

8:30-9:00 PM              HOW TO BE A GENTLEMAN (series debut)

Saturday, Oct. 8

8:00-8:30 PM              RULES OF ENGAGEMENT (6th season premiere)

*   *  *

Press Contacts: Phil Gonzales               818-655-1580             phil.gonzales@cbs.com

                                    Ed Harrison                 818-655-1584             ed.harrison@cbs.com