CBS announces 2009-10 premiere dates

Alex O'Loughlin of 'Three Rivers'

Credit: CBS

CBS has announced its fall premiere dates for the 2009-10 season and, because this is CBS we're talking about, it's the most orderly of any announced schedule to date.

All but two of CBS' shows -- returning and new -- will premiere between Monday, Sept. 21 and Sunday, Sept. 27. And -- wouldn't you know it? -- CBS' premiere dates coincide with the official start of the Nielsen season.

The two exceptions are "Survivor: Samoa" and "Three Rivers." The long-running reality hit's 19th installment will premiere on Thursday, Sept. 17, one week ahead of the Thursday premieres for "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" and "The Mentalist." The organ transplant drama "Three Rivers," featuring the return of "Moonlight" star Alex O'Loughlin, will premiere on Sunday, Oct. 4, allowing the 15th installment of "The Amazing Race" to have two-hour launch on Sunday, Sept. 27.

Because CBS is proud of the longevity of much of its schedule (including "60 Minutes" starting its 42nd season), it included original premiere dates for all shows in the network press release.

The full premiere list:

Thursday, Sept. 17
8:00-9:00 p.m. ET "Survivor: Samoa" (19th Installment Premiere)

Monday, Sept. 21
8:00-8:30 p.m. ET "How I Met Your Mother" (5th Season Premiere, OAD 9/19/05)
8:30-9:00 p.m. ET "Accidentally on Purpose" (Series Debut)
9:00-9:30 p.m. ET "Two and a Half Men" (7th Season Premiere, OAD 9/22/03)
9:30-10:00 p.m. ET "The Big Bang Theory" (3rd Season Premiere, OAD 9/24/07)
10:00-11:00 p.m. ET "CSI: Miami" (8th Season Premiere, OAD 9/23/02)

Tuesday, Sept. 22
8:00-9:00 p.m. ET "NCIS" (7th Season Premiere, OAD 9/12/03)
9:00-10:00 p.m. ET "NCIS: Los Angeles" (Series Debut)
10:00-11:00 p.m. ET "The Good Wife" (Series Debut)

Wednesday, Sept. 23
8:00-8:30 p.m. ET "The New Adventures of Old Christine" (5th Season Premiere, OAD 3/13/06)
8:30-9:00 p.m. ET "Gary Unmarried" (2nd Season Premiere, OAD 9/14/08)
9:00-10:00 p.m. ET "Criminal Minds" (5th Season Premiere, OAD 9/22/05)
10:00-11:00 p.m. ET "CSI: NY" (6th Season Premiere, OAD 9/22/04)

Thursday, Sept. 24
9:00-10:00 p.m. ET "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" (10th Season Premiere, OAD 10/6/00)
10:00-11:00 p.m. ET "The Mentalist" (2nd Season Premiere, OAD 9/23/08)

Friday, Sept. 25
8:00-9:00 p.m. ET "Ghost Whisperer" (5th Season Premiere, OAD 9/23/05)
9:00-10:00 p.m. ET "Medium" (Network Debut, OAD 1/23/05)
10:00-11:00 p.m. ET "Numb3rs" (6th Season Premiere, OAD 1/21/05)

Saturday, Sept. 26
8:00-9:00 p.m. ET Procedural repeats
9:00-10:00 p.m. ET Procedural repeats
10:00-11:00 p.m. ET "48 Hours Mystery" (Season Premiere)

Sunday, Sept. 27
7:00-8:00 p.m. ET "60 Minutes" (42nd Season Premiere)
8:00-10:00 p.m. ET "The Amazing Race" (15th Edition Premiere)
10:00-11:00 p.m. ET "Cold Case" (7th Season Premiere, OAD 9/23/03)

Sunday, Oct. 4
9:00-10:00 p.m. ET "Three Rivers"(Series Debut)