A press conference with a network executive is usually about as insightful as one with a politician bloviating on the issues of the day.

Nina Tassler, president of CBS Entertainment, strikes the right notes without really saying very much at all. She might be ready for prime time on the political stage.

When speaking to the biannual gathering of the nation’s TV critics, Tassler also found an audience that doesn’t always ask the tough follow-up questions.

The only time that Tassler was evenly remotely pressed on an issue was under questioning about whether Charlie Sheen’s character is leaving “Two and a Half Men” in a pine box.

On top of that, strong interest was expressed by the assembled scribes in wanting to know more about Aston Kutcher replacing Charlie Sheen, even though his character is unrelated to the “One and a Half Men” remaining.

Critics appeared to be more interested in having the opportunity to ask questions of Kutcher rather than delving into the details of new season shows.

Explaining Kutcher’s absence from the CBS press tour, Tassler said the new star of “Two and a Half Men” was unavailable because the show is “in production” and there’s a “tremendous amount of energy and focus and attention.”

The problem, of course, is that every new show is already in production; otherwise we wouldn’t have an upcoming fall TV season.

CBS, constantly reminding us that it is the most-watched network, will introduce five new shows this fall, three dramas and two sitcoms. In case you didn’t notice, “Mad Love” and “The Defenders” are among the goners.

Inspired by a serious-minded book of the same name, “How to Be a Gentleman” is a comedy about the unlikely friendship between a traditional, refined writer and an unrefined personal trainer.

David Hornsby plays an etiquette columnist whose devotion to ideals from a more civilized time has lead to a life detached from modern society.

His old friend from the past, Kevin Dillon’s reformed “bad boy” has inherited a fitness center, but can still be rude, loud and sloppy.

When Hornsby’s editor (Dave Foley) tells him to put a modern, sexy twist on his column or be fired, he hires Dillon as a life coach in hopes of learning to be less “gentle man” and more “real man.”

Though it may be a case of typecasting, Kevin Dillon’s character seems to have a lot in common with his role of Drama in the soon-to-be-ending HBO series “Entourage.”

The second sitcom is “2 Broke Girls,” about two young women waitressing at a greasy spoon diner who strike up an unlikely friendship in a quest to launch their own cupcake shop.

Kat Dennings is the sassy, streetwise Max Black who works two jobs just to get by. Beth Behrs is the sophisticated Caroline Channing, an uptown trust fund princess who’s run out of cash due to a fiscal calamity.

Saving their tips for startup money, the two girls must cope with an overly flirtatious Russian cook and the 75-year-old hipster cashier.

I swear that I could easily confuse “2 Broke Girls” with another network’s sitcom about two girls coping as roommates in “Apartment 23,” if not for the fact that the latter show is a mid-season replacement for ABC TV.

Of the trio of new dramas, the best one to watch is “Person of Interest,” a crime thriller about the use of surveillance techniques that taps into the modern zeitgeist.

Jim Caviezel stars as a presumed dead former CIA agent who teams up with a mysterious billionaire to prevent violent crimes by using their own brand of vigilante justice.

Caviezel’s special training in covert operations appeals to Michael Emerson’s software genius who invented a program that uses pattern recognition to identify people about to be involved in violent crimes.

Just think if we had this type of program in place at every airport. That could put an end to the horror stories about TSA agents groping old ladies and young children.

As usual, I digress. “Person of Interest” is interesting because Caviezel and Emerson work outside the law to unravel the mystery of the person of interest and stop the crime before it happens.

“Unforgettable” is a crime drama that taps into the exceptional talents of an enigmatic former police detective with a rare condition of a flawless memory for every single detail of every single day.

Poppy Montgomery’s Carrie Wells does not forget anything, except for the details that would help solve her sister’s long-ago murder. Naturally, she is haunted by this traumatic childhood tragedy.

Carrie is unexpectedly reunited with her ex-boyfriend and partner, NYPD Detective Al Burns (Dylan Walsh), when she consults on a homicide case.

Being back on the job after a break feels surprisingly right for Carrie, though not at first.

Despite her conflicted feelings for Al, she decides that joining the homicide unit may even lead to solving the crime against her sister. All she needs to do is remember.

Rounding out the slate of dramas is “Gifted Man,” the story of a brilliant, charismatic surgeon whose life changes forever when his deceased ex-wife begins teaching him the meaning of live from the “hereafter.”

By now you must be getting the sense that CBS has gone all in for new dramas with elements of the supernatural, paranormal, bizarre and mystical.

Patrick Wilson stars as the exceptional doctor Michael Holt who lives a materialistic life of luxury thanks to his work-obsessed career and powerful and wealthy patients.

The good doctor is, of course, on a collision course between his privileged lifestyle and the lingering ideals of providing service to the less fortunate.

Tugging at his conscience is the mysterious appearance of his ex-wife Anna (Jennifer Ehle), an idealistic free-clinic doctor and the true love of his life.

It probably comes as no surprise that “Gifted Man” finds Dr. Holt pulled into carrying on his wife’s mission of keeping the free-clinic up and running.

Tim Riley writes film and television reviews for Lake County News.