TV Crime Does Pay -- the More Complex the Better

NEW YORK (AdAge.com) -- CBS, often accused of hooking the country on by-the-numbers procedurals that entertain the masses but don't always garner critical acclaim, has quietly been infusing its dramas with a new formula. Rather than continue to launch "just-the-facts" crime-solvers, it has launched two programs containing plotlines that require several episodes to resolve; characters with exceedingly complex pedigrees; and enigmatic elements that hint at looming conspiracies. For CBS, maneuver isn't without risk. ...