Life Serial: "Dexter" Heads to CBS

It's official. After weeks of speculation, Showtime serial (and ratings) killer Dexter, starring Michael C. Hall as a police forensics expert who happens to be a serial killer, will head over to scripted-starved network CBS in a rare display of network/cable repurposing, especially for a pay cable drama.

CBS will air edited versions of the twelve episodes from Dexter's first season on Sunday nights at 10 pm, beginning February 17th.

Content will be edited for violence and language, as well as screen time; an average episode of Dexter runs pretty darn close to an hour, so expect that about 12 or 13 minutes will be removed to get it down to a broadcast runtime.

"Dexter is a "high-quality, compelling series that will be new and original programming for most CBS viewers," said CBS entertainment president Nina Tassler. "It's also a great match with our existing lineup."

CBS plans to repurpose all twelve eps over twelve consecutive weeks, so Showtime-deprived audiences will get to see what all the fuss over Dexter is all about, without any gaps.

Still, not everyone is thrilled about Dexter being repurposed for network TV. Former Dexter executive producer Daniel Cerone (who wrote the Season Two premiere and finale as well as the Season One finale) doesn't think that the series is appropriate for broadcast television.

"We didn't pull any punches," Cerone told Variety. "We were very aware that we were writing for a premium cable audience. The most interesting thing about Dexter is he kills without remorse. I'm curious and intrigued at how they would cut the show down to make him a character that works on broadcast TV. I wouldn't feel like a responsible writer-producer if I didn't express that concern."

While the moral and ethical dilemma over whether or not to tune in to CBS' Dexter is completely in your lap, gentle readers, I do predict some boffo numbers for the series' network run.