Nash Bridges

LOS ANGELES -- In one of the most abrupt reversals of strategy in network television history, CBS announced during the weekend that it is through chasing after viewers in their 20 and 30s and wants to win back its older audience.It was only six months ago that the struggling network launched 11 new series -- like "Central Park West," a prime-time soap opera from the creator of Fox's "Melrose Place" -- and a multi-million-dollar advertising campaign aimed exclusively at young viewers."In terms of looking at what's happened to the CBS schedule over the last six months, there were mistakes that we made," said Leslie Moonves, president of CBS Entertainment.

LOS ANGELES -- Last fall, it seemed everyone in network television wanted to be "Friends." But in their single-minded pursuit to create the next hip series for young adults, the networks instead made enemies of viewers from the baby boom generation.At the halfway point of this television season, that's the big story: Network ratings are down across the board, with viewers rejecting all but a few of some 40 new series. As a result, each of the networks is reconsidering its demographic strategy.

From its post-Super Bowl debut in 1993 to its coming NBC-mandated get-better-ratings-or-die sixth season, "Homicide: Life on the Street" has earned every bit of its reputation as one of television's top dramas.Not that its run has been without problems. Despite its high-profile introduction -- not only did it debut in a time slot guaranteed to produce big ratings, but its executive producer was Oscar-winner (and Baltimore expatriate) Barry Levinson -- the show has never been a ratings smash.

During Saturday's Preakness Stakes, Michael Styer, head of the Maryland Film Office, was at another race track on the other side of the country, playing host to 200 television and movie executives.To say the least, the timing of this long-planned "Preakness in Hollywood" party was awkward. The event was intended to help lure film production to Maryland, but it came just two days after filmmaking here received its worst ever setback. On Thursday, NBC canceled "Homicide: Life on the Street," the critically acclaimed television series that had greatly enhanced Baltimore's credentials with Hollywood studios and established its credibility in television production.

As the hell-raising, middle-finger-waving anti-hero of World Wrestling Entertainment, "Stone Cold" Steve Austin always does things on his own terms. Outside the scripted realm of professional wrestling, Austin shares that trait with his alter ego. For instance, when WWE approached Austin four years ago about writing his autobiography, he wasn't interested. At the time, WWE was the heavyweight champion of pop culture, and subsequent books by Mick "Mankind" Foley and Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson each hit No. 1 on the New York Times best-seller list.

How bad is the new network season?"It's so bad that we can't even bring ourselves to officially cancel Tony Danza's show and put it out of its misery," an NBC executive joked last week about a series that was sent on hiatus after three episodes played to horrible ratings and vicious reviews."