LOS ANGELES (thefutoncritic.com) -- CBS finally opened the doors on its 2010-11 freshman class this morning.
Dramas "Hawaii Five-O," "Defenders," "Blue Bloods" (formerly "Reagan's Law") and the "Criminal Minds" spin-off have received formal green lights to series. They join the previously announced comedy "Mike & Molly."
"Five-O" is a revival of the 1970s franchise of the same name, about the workings of the fictional Hawaiian State Police Department. Alex O'Loughlin and Scott Caan topline the CBS Television Studios-based hour, which comes from co-creators Alex Kurtzman, Roberto Orci and Peter Lenkov. Len Wisman directed the pilot, whose ensemble also includes Daniel Dae Kim, Grace Park, Jean Smart and Taryn Manning.
"Defenders" stars Jerry O'Connell and Jim Belushi as two charismatic and fiery Las Vegas defense attorneys who go to the mat for their clients. CBS Television Studios is likewise behind the project, which also stars Gillian Vigman, Jurnee Smollett, Tanya Fischer and Teddy Sears. Kevin Kennedy and Niels Mueller co-created and Davis Guggenheim directed the hour.
The newly monikered "Blue Bloods" revolves around a multi-generational family of New York-based cops. The show's cast includes Bridget Moynahan, Donnie Wahlberg, Dylan Moore, Flex Alexander, Len Cariou, Tom Selleck and Will Estes. Michael Cuesta directed the CBS Television Studios-based pilot, which comes from Mitchell Burgess and Robin Green.
And finally the untitled "Criminal Minds" spin-off follows a separate group of BAU operatives. Beau Garrett, Forest Whitaker, Matt Ryan and Michael Kelly star in the series, which aired as a backdoor pilot last month. Richard Shepard directed while Chris Mundy and Edward Allen Bernero co-wrote the script. ABC Studios, CBS Television Studios and The Mark Gordon Company are co-producing.
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