CBS mixes tried with new

Fans of James Woods’ legal drama “Shark,” David Mamet’s “The Unit” and the Barneyism-filled “How I Met Your Mother,” you can rest.

Your CBS shows will be back.

Those who were enjoying “The Class” and “Close to Home” are not as fortunate. Those shows have been canceled by the network, according to sources.

“The New Adventures of Old Christine,” which already earned Julia Louis-Dreyfus an Emmy, will air sometime in midseason, probably on a new comedy night the network hopes to develop. But sources say “Old Christine” was picked up for only 13 episodes, which “Old Christine” must not be happy about.

It remains to be seen what will happen with “Jericho,” but it all seems rather ominous, considering the star of the show doesn’t know its fate either.

For its part, CBS isn’t saying much. It’s been secretive about its fall lineup, preferring to unveil it all at Carnegie Hall today.

As for the CW: What a difference a year makes.

The CW seems to have learned its lesson from last year in that it’s actually picking up a few new shows. On Tuesday, the network picked up one comedy and three dramas for the fall season. Among them:

* “Aliens in America,” a comedy about a well-meaning mom who brings home an exchange student so her 16-year-old shy son can have a friend. She pictures a Nordic athlete. Instead she gets a Pakistani Muslim living in her Wisconsin home.

* “Reaper” is about a 21-year-old video game addict who learns his soul was sold to the devil.

* “Running Wild” is based on a British series, “Wild at Heart,” and is a family drama about a vet who moves his family to a game park in South Africa. This is an ambitious drama -- it will be filmed entirely in South Africa.

* And finally, Josh Schwartz’s “Gossip Girl,” an adaptation of the bestselling books.

maria.elena.fernandez@ latimes.com

*

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX)

Showtrackers

The wise-cracking, fast-talking mother-daughter duo better known as the “Gilmore Girls” bid farewell to its fanatical -- and now heartbroken -- fans.

This week’s “24” was the TV equivalent of a summer blockbuster thrill ride, with all the action timed just right and punctuated by a lot of talking.

“Dancing With the Stars” inspired the question: Could Ian Ziering’s problem be, quite simply, that he is too blond? (Once he donned that Elvis wig, the semifinals got even more entertaining.)

On “Heroes,” meanwhile, the penultimate chapter in the first season attended to unfinished business, with some twists to keep things interesting: Little Micah’s high-tech skills swung an entire election, guest star Missy Peregrym showed a softer side as seemingly soulless shape-shifter Candice and, oh, yeah, some people died.

For more on television series’ highs and lows, go to latimes.com/showtracker.