Contingency plans: Look for CBS News producer Susan Zirinsky ("48 Hours Mystery") to be pressed into duty, filling numerous hours with specials. And the Eye is hoping its crime dramas still repeat well (they've been slipping a bit lately).

CBS reality czar Ghen Maynard has been stocking the shelves with reality and gameshow contenders, including new episodes of "Power of 10" and the Regis Philbin-hosted "Million Dollar Password."

Then there's "Big Brother." Summer staple could easily return as soon as March -- maybe even with a long-rumored celebrity edition.

Launching a new comedy night might be easier. CBS could use "Two and a Half Men" repeats to help build a new half-hour beachhead. And a newcomer like "Swingtown" might have a better shot of getting sampled in a strike atmosphere.

"If you're a new show with completed episodes and you can get on the air against mostly repeats, it could give you a leg up," Kahl says."

I know it was just a "maybe" - but I still thought it was interesting.