CBS is getting out in front with early renewals for fall, picking up 18 of its series for next season. Among the dramas landing renewals on Wednesday were NCIS, NCIS: Los Angeles, Hawaii Five-0, Criminal Minds, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, The Mentalist, Blue Bloods, The Good Wife and freshman entry Person Of Interest. Comedies getting a greenlight were Mike & Molly and 2 Broke Girls. Reality shows The Amazing Race and Undercover Boss earned pickups as well.

Previously renewed for next year were comedies How I Met Your Mother and The Big Bang Theory, as well as reality hit Survivor. 60 Minutes and 48 Hours Mystery are also back for next season.

CBS confirmed that the network and Warner Bros. TV are “in preliminary discussions regarding future seasons for Two and a Half Men.” At the PaleyFest panel for Two and a Half Men on Monday, star Ashton Kutcher dodged questions about signing up for another year by pointing out that the show had not yet been renewed. But Kutcher and creator Chuck Lorre have all but said that they expect to be back for another year.

The Wednesday announcement did not include pickups for CSI: Miami or CSI: New York — at least one of which isn’t expected to return. Freshman dramas A Gifted Man and Unforgettable are also still awaiting their fate, while comedies Rob and Rules of Engagement remain on the bubble. (The future of those two shows may depend on whether CBS goes forward with a 4-comedy block on Thursdays next year, as most expect.) CBS’ NYC-22 doesn’t debut until April 15.

CBS traditionally waits until closer to the May upfront announcement to make its series renewals — keeping producers on their toes until then. But as ABC, NBC and Fox hold back this year from making too many fall decisions, CBS executives saw an opening to make a splash this week with a whole-scale announcement (and assert their position as TV’s No. 1 network with total viewers).

“This large-scale renewal is testimony to the strength, stability and success of a deep and diverse roster of top-rated programming,” says Nina Tassler, President, CBS Entertainment. “It positions us for continued success next season and certainly creates an environment that will give our new shows the best possible chance to succeed.”

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The March 27 episode of CBS’ NCIS, titled “The Good Son,” is centered around Director Vance (Rocky Carroll) and will provide a rare glimpse into the character’s personal life — along with the addition of a new family member.

Joining returning members of Vance’s kin will be hunky actor Jocko Sims as Vance’s brother-in-law, Michael. According to my source, Michael is brought into the world of NCIS when he becomes the lead suspect in a murder case.

Jocko (cool name by the way!) was a series regular on the 2008-09 series, Crash.

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   NCIS soared to a season high on Tuesday with more than 20 million viewers and was also the top-rated program of the night in adults 18-49, according to Nielsen preliminary live plus same day ratings for Nov. 8.

NCIS was first in households (12.6/19), viewers (20.31m), adults 25-54 (5.7/14) and adults 18-49 (4.1/11) for the eighth consecutive week.  NCIS was the night’s #1 program in households, viewers, adults 25-54 and adults 18-49 for the second consecutive week.  First-run episodes of NCIS beat first-run episodes of “Glee” every week this season in households, viewers, adults 25-54 and adults 18-49.  If the ratings hold, NCIS will beat “Glee” by its largest margin to date in households (+8.2), viewers (+13.41m), adults 25-54 (+2.8) and adults 18-49 (+1.0).  Compared to last week, NCIS was up +3% in households (from 12.2/19), +2% in adults 25-54 (from 5.6/14), +5% in adults 18-49 (from 3.9/11) and added +600,000 viewers (from 19.71m, +3%).  NCIS posted its largest audience since Feb. 22, 2011.

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