‘The Odd Couple’ Gets Post-‘Big Bang Theory’ Slot, ‘Two And A Half Men’ Finale Date Set

CBS has put in place the last pieces of its midseason schedule, unveiling its Thursday comedy lineup for the final leg of the season and setting an exit date for veteran Two And A Half Men and an arrival date for The Odd Couple, Matthew Perry’s reboot of the Neil Simon classic.

2.5 Men will end its 12-season run with a one-hour finale on Feb. 19 from 9-10 PM. It will be preceded by the series debut of Odd Couple, which is getting the strongest comedy lead-in on television, The Big Bang Theory, in the Thursday 8:30 PM slot. The Odd Couple premiere will be sandwiched between an original Big Bang and the 2.5 Men finale.

It is a bad news-good news situation for CBS’ sophomore comedy Mom. It will be losing its Big Bang lead-in but will be getting the second best comedy lead-in, Big Bang reruns. Beginning Feb. 26, Mom will move to 9:30 PM on Thursday, with Big Bang repeats taking the 9 PM anchor slot.

With 2.5 Men given a partial final season, The Millers cancelled and freshman The McCarthys getting an abbreviated 2-episode back order, CBS for the first time in years was coming up short a comedy for midseason. Not surprisingly, it is turning to its super star, Big Bang, to fill the hole with repeats, which perform better than most other comedy originals on TV and are economically advantageous for CBS. (Producer Warner Bros. TV likely doesn’t mind much as the repeats would be used to help its newest CBS comedy, Mom, grow into a potential asset for the studio. It already is showing better retention behind Big Bang at 8:30 PM than The Millers ever did.)

By putting Odd Couple, starring Perry and Thomas Lennon, on at 8:30 PM, CBS is trying to give the comedy, which the network owns, the best shot possible. Word of caution, however. Like NBC’s Friends curse, CBS is yet to launch a successful comedy behind its biggest series, with a slew of half-hours that started in the time slot quickly getting the ax, $#*! My Dad Said, How To Be A Gentleman, Rob and The Millers.

Here is CBS’ Thursday lineup in midseason:

CBS Thursday, Feb. 19

8:00-8:30 PM THE BIG BANG THEORY

8:30-9:00 PM THE ODD COUPLE (P)

9:00-10:00PM TWO AND A HALF MEN (One-Hour Series Finale)

10:00-11:00 PM ELEMENTARY

CBS Thursday, Feb. 26

8:00-8:30 PM THE BIG BANG THEORY

8:30-9:00 PM THE ODD COUPLE

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

9:30-10:00 PM MOM (New Time Period)

10:00-11:00 PM ELEMENTARY