CBS to Debut ‘Falcone’ Series in Nightly Installments

Seeking to capitalize on the millions of viewers--most of them men--sure to tune in during the NCAA basketball tournament, CBS will try a virtually unprecedented scheduling stunt by showing eight episodes of the new dramatic series “Falcone” during a nine-night stretch in April.

Inspired by the film “Donnie Brasco,” with Jason Gedrick playing an undercover FBI agent infiltrating the Mafia, the series will premiere with a two-hour installment on April 4--the night after the college championship game--then air at 10 p.m. seven of the next eight nights.

CBS hopes the strategy will generate attention for the series and cash in on the promotional platform provided by the tournament.

In addition, CBS has few slots available for a new prime-time drama, having exceeded expectations for its first-year series “Judging Amy” and “Family Law.” The April window also allows a rest for current series--which would have been forced to air some reruns anyway--prior to the May sweeps.

If successful, “Falcone” would be renewed and return weekly in the fall. Networks have aired miniseries on consecutive nights but have not done so with a dramatic series meant to be renewed.

Last May, CBS officials said the show’s mob theme and violence--in light of the Columbine shootings--contributed to the decision not to include it in the fall lineup.