Strike's over, but the upfront isn't

There will be shrimp.

With the WGA strike over, CBS Thursday said it will move forward with one of the hallmarks of the small screen calendar: The upfronts.

“CBS plans to hold a presentation for advertisers at Carnegie Hall in New York on Wednesday, May 14,” Eye said in a statement emailed to reporters.  It promised additional details to  be announced “at a later date.”

Eye usually follows its upfront with a finger food-filled bash at Gotham’s Tavern on the Green. A net spokesman wouldn’t confirm if the party was still on, but a rep for Tavern’s group sales office said the restaurant was fully booked for the afternoon and evening of May 14.

CBS announcement follows much speculation that NBC plans to curtail its upfront this year, with NBC Uni CEO Jeff Zucker all but saying so in several public statements. Net has said it will still brief advertisers in some fashion, and it will still participate in the spring upfront selling season.

Fox has made it clear it will reprise its streamlined upfront presentation. ABC and the CW have so far been silent on the matter.

--Josef Adalian