CBS explains why it passed on Nancy Drew series; discusses diversity in its lineup

NEW YORK, May 18 (UPI) -- CBS unveiled its 2016-17 slate of new shows Wednesday and its head of entertainment was immediately questioned about why only one of them focused on a female lead character.

"We are the network that has Madam Secretary and 2 Broke Girls and Mom. We have lots of big, female leads. We also have Doubt, that was mentioned, with Katherine Heigl. I think we have a great balance," Glenn Geller said in a teleconference with reporters.

Pressed to address why the majority of its new shows centered on white males -- played by Kevin James, Joel McHale, Matt LeBlanc, Michael Weatherly, Lucas Till and Dermot Mulroney -- at a time when the country is talking about diversity in entertainment, Geller said: "Actually, our new series are more diverse this year than last year and when Doubt premieres -- I am really happy to say -- it's going to be the first broadcast series to feature a transgender series regular character played by a transgender actor. I think that's phenomenal and we are definitely moving in the right direction."

Geller was also asked whether he objects to a media report claiming the network decided not to move forward on a contemporary Nancy Drew series starring Sarah Shahi as an adult version of the iconic girl sleuth because the pilot was "too female."

"Well, that's just not true. We have a number of pilots to choose from and we chose the best pilots," Geller said.