CBS GAMBLES ON MUSICAL DRAMEDY 'VIVA LAUGHLIN'.

Byline: David Kronke

Television Writer

CBS, longtime home for crime procedurals, shook up its schedule a bit when unveiling its 2007-08 season in New York on Wednesday.

The network announced the addition of three fairly adventurous new dramas, a sitcom and a reality show to its schedule. Its most provocative new series, "Viva Laughlin," is based on an acclaimed, stylish British musical dramedy (which aired in America under the title "Viva Blackpool") about a dreamer and small-time hustler who hopes that his new casino will transform Laughlin, Nev., into a gambling mecca, despite overwhelming obstacles. Characters routinely break into song, performing hit tunes reinforcing the story line and its emotional underpinnings. "Viva Laughlin" is executive-produced by Hugh Jackman, who will also appear in the show as a successful casino owner.

Also joining the schedule is "Cane," an ambitious drama starring Jimmy Smits as the head of a large Cuban-American family running a rum and sugar business in South Florida. Rita Moreno, Hector Elizondo and Polly Walker also star.

"Moonlight," about a private eye who also happens to be a vampire (think "Angel") seeking romance, will also join the network's lineup.

CBS' new sitcom comes from "Two and a Half Men's" Chuck Lorre: "The Big Bang Theory" concerns brainy geeks who recruit their comely new neighbor (Kaley Cuoco of "8 Simple Rules") to instruct them in the ways of social interaction.

"Kid Nation" is CBS' quirky new reality series. In it, 40 kids, ages 8 through 15, are charged with rebuilding a New Mexico ghost town. It's a little like "Lord of the Flies," only hopefully without all that unpleasantness. Tom Forman ("Extreme Makeover: Home Edition") is the executive producer.

CBS also introduced "Swingtown," a midseason series set in a '70s suburban milieu in which spouse-swapping was all the rage.

Reality competition series "The Amazing Race" and sitcom "The New Adventures of Old Christine" will also return midseason.

The network's schedule largely remained intact, though the dramas "Shark" and "Without a Trace" switched time slots.

Over the summer, the network will air the game show "Power of 10," hosted by Drew Carey.

Departing series include "The Class," "The King of Queens," "Jericho" and "Close to Home."

David Kronke [phone]

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CBS' fall schedule

MONDAY

8 p.m. -- "How I Met Your Mother"

8:30 p.m. -- "The Big Bang Theory"

9 p.m. -- "Two and a Half Men"

9:30 p.m. -- "Rules of

Engagement"

10 p.m. -- "CSI: Miami"

TUESDAY

8 p.m. -- "NCIS"

9 p.m. -- "The Unit"

10 p.m. -- "Cane"

WEDNESDAY

8 p.m. -- "Kid Nation"

9 p.m. -- "Criminal Minds"

10 p.m. -- "CSI: NY"

THURSDAY

8 p.m. -- "Survivor: China"

9 p.m. -- "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation"

10 p.m. -- "Without a Trace"

FRIDAY

8 p.m. -- "Ghost Whisperer"

9 p.m. -- "Moonlight"

10 p.m. -- "Numb3rs"

SATURDAY

8 p.m. -- "Crimetime Saturday"

10 p.m. -- "48 Hours Mystery"

SUNDAY

7 p.m. -- "60 Minutes"

8 p.m. -- "Viva Laughlin"

9 p.m. -- "Cold Case"

10 p.m. -- "Shark"

CAPTION(S):

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Photo:

In CBS' "Kid Nation" reality series, cameras will follow 40 children as they try to set up their own society -- without adult supervision -- in an abandoned New Mexico town.

Box:

CBS' fall schedule (see text)