In contrast to other TV networks, such as ABC where the president of entertainment was canned earlier in the summer, the leadership stability at CBS Television is eerily unsettling because it leads to unwanted questions and even speculation from the press.

At the recent gathering of the nation’s TV critics during summer press tour, one scribe had the temerity to ask Nina Tassler, president of CBS Entertainment, if there is a downside to having so much stability at the top.

But after answering that stability is a good thing, Tassler, in reference to the fired ABC honcho, lamented, “Damn it, he got out of doing press tour.”

Participating in these press conferences can be vexing or annoying. After all, who wants to answer questions about the dearth of acting roles for pre-operative transsexuals, leprechauns or one-legged kick boxers?

Maybe the actors on CBS programs aren’t truly diverse, but Tassler told critics that there is a “real diversity in terms of source material for the new shows.”

For the fall season, CBS has the first show ever based on a Twitter feed – that would be “$#*! My Dad Says,” which actually turned into a funny book of a young man’s remembrances of his profane father’s uncensored views on life in general.

CBS also turned a pitch for a reality series about two Las Vegas attorneys into a scripted series called “The Defenders.” I guess this is CBS’ idea of breaking out of the shell of conformity.

At the risk of sounding old, I always liked Jack Lord as the no-nonsense Steve McGarrett, leader of an elite unit of the Hawaii state police, in the classic series “Hawaii Five-O.” His trademark “Book ‘em, Danno” was the iconic parting words to the latest scofflaw hauled off to the joint.

For some unfathomable reason, CBS thinks a reboot of “Hawaii Five-O,” set to a contemporary take about a new elite federalized task force cleaning up crime in the Aloha state, is a terrific idea. Well, maybe it is for viewers with no recollection of a vintage show that managed to showcase the most appealing scenic elements of the islands paradise while scraping the ugly underbelly of the criminal world.

Alex O’Loughlin’s Steve McGarrett is not, as they say, your father’s McGarrett. Yeah, this guy is young, sexy and hunky – antithetical to Jack Lord.

Now McGarrett is a decorated Naval officer-turned-cop who returns to Oahu to investigate his father’s murder and stays after Hawaii’s governor persuades him to head up a new team.

What appeals to the new McGarrett is the ability to run a unit with no red tape and full blanket authority to hunt down the big game.

Joining McGarrett is detective Danny “Danno” Williams (Scott Caan), a newly relocated ex-New Jersey cop who prefers skyscrapers to the coastline.

Chin Ho Kelly (Daniel Dae Kim), an ex-Honolulu Police detective and former protégé of McGarrett’s father, is wrongly accused of corruption and relegated to a federal security patrol. Chin’s cousin, Kono Kalakaua (Grace Park), is a beautiful and fearless native, fresh out of the academy and eager to establish herself with McGarrett’s elite squad. Her gorgeous presence alone guarantees a truly different “Hawaii Five-O.”

Speaking of Hawaii, it is fitting that Tom Selleck, once of “Magnum, P.I.” fame, stars in “Blue Bloods” as the patriarch of a multi-generational family of cops dedicated to New York City law enforcement.

Selleck’s Frank Reagan, the New York Police Commissioner, heads both the police force and the Reagan brood. He runs his department as diplomatically as he runs his family, even when dealing with internal politics. His eldest son Danny (Donnie Wahlberg) is a seasoned detective, family man, and Iraq War vet who on occasion uses dubious tactics to solve cases.

The sole Reagan female in the family, Erin (Bridget Moynahan), an assistant district attorney and newly single parent, also serves as the legal compass for her siblings and father.

Jamie (Will Estes) is the youngest, fresh out of Harvard Law and the family’s “golden boy.” However, unable to deny the family tradition, Jamie gives us a lucrative future in law and becomes a newly minted cop.

Jamie’s life takes an abrupt turn when he’s asked to join a clandestine police investigation that even his father knows nothing about, and one that could impact the family’s legacy. “Blue Bloods” seems like the apt title for this police procedural.

Whether “The Defenders” is better as a scripted series will be anyone’s guess. Two colorful Las Vegas defense lawyers have plenty to work with in Sin City.

Jim Belushi’s Nick Morelli is the hard-charging type who is still focused on repairing a fractured marriage to his estranged wife and remaining a presence in the life of their young son. Meanwhile, Jerry O’Connell’s Pete Kaczmarek, whose passion for the law is matched only by his love of fast cars, beautiful women and expensive clothes, is often busy cruising the Vegas Strip of his latest romantic conquest.

Joining these mismatched partners at the firm is new associate Lisa Tyler (Jurnee Smollett), an enthusiastic attorney looking to put her exotic dancing days behind her.

The first casualty of the CBS fall season is likely to be “$#*! My Dad Says,” because people will probably forget that it is supposed to be pronounced “Bleep My Dad Says.”

William Shatner stars as Ed Goodson, an opinionated dad who relishes expressing his unsolicited and often wildly politically incorrect observations to anyone within earshot.

The most frequent recipient of his rants is son Henry (Jonathan Sadowski), a struggling writer-turned-unpaid blogger forced to move home when he can no longer pay rent.

Trapped by misfortune in his dad’s home, Henry knows the verbal assault will not abate and there is no escape. “Bleep” should have been on Showtime, if for no other reason than to escape network censorship.

“Mike & Molly,” a rather predictable sitcom, may be another candidate for early elimination. That would be regrettable since it stars real people, not the skinny model types who proliferate on screen.

This is a comedy about a working class Chicago couple who find love at an Overeaters Anonymous meeting.

Officer Mike Briggs (Billy Gardell) is a good-hearted cop who sincerely wants to lose weight, while taking a lot of ribbing from his fast-talking wise guy partner (Reno Wilson).

While speaking at an O.A. meeting, Mike meets Molly Flynn (Melissa McCarthy), an instantly likable fourth grade teacher with a good sense of humor about her curves.

Tim Riley writes film and television reviews for Lake County News.