CBS shows must go on

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. — As if trying to manage a billion-dollar business and get big ratings weren't enough to keep you busy, there's all the other stuff that goes along with running a television network.

Just ask CBS Entertainment president Nina Tassler. She and her counterparts get to deal with all sorts of egos, scandals and general weirdness.

"I really thought the first question would be about Shemar Moore and how big that little FBI badge was," said Tassler, having just learned about the nude photos of the "Criminal Minds" star that showed up on the Internet. (Some of them used an FBI badge as a fig leaf; some didn't.)

Tassler was asked about the sudden exit of Mandy Patinkin from "Criminal Minds," citing "creative differences." And, apparently, there's some prohibition in place that's keeping her from commenting on what the heck happened. Or maybe it's just politeness.

"Mandy came to us, and came to me, and asked to be released from the show, and we were able to accommodate that request on his part," she said. "And right now, it's a personal issue."

But, wait a minute — the official release said Patinkin is leaving because of "creative differences" and Tassler just said that it was a "personal issue." Which is it? "Well, I think 'creative differences' is a euphemism for 'personal issues,"' Tassler said with a wink. (C'mon, that's a great answer!)

Of course, not being any more specific only raises a lot more questions. Questions that, apparently, will only be answered by Patinkin. If and when he feels like it.

Which meant that she got to answer — well, not answer — question after question as a variety of critics attempted to come at it from a variety of angles with the same non-results. "This is not the answer you want from me," Tassler said. "I know that, but I'm just telling you that that's the answer I'm going to give you."

Sigh.

And then there was the little problem on her hit show "NCIS" — star Mark Harmon and creator/executive producer Don Bellisario just couldn't get along and it turned into an "It's either him or me" scenario.

So Harmon is back with the show this season; Bellisario is not.

"You try mediator/truce, and then when you realize that the best decision is to make change, you make the change," said Tassler, who dealt with both men through intermediaries.