TV Critics Tour: CBS closes in on 9th season for 'How I Met Your Mother"

Beverly Hills - "How I Met Your Mother," TV's shagggiest dog story, enters its eight season in September, but how much longer this tale keeps spinning has been of concern to fans and CBS alike. Co-creators Carter Bays and Craig Thomas, have said there’s an end-point for this hugely successful series. They just haven't said when, nor has CBS. But at yesterday's TV critics tour here, CBS Entertainment chief Nina Tassler said the network is "in early conversations" with the producers "and we're pretty optimistic" about a ninth. She added that "they have a very strategic wrap up to the show [and] they know we want the show to come back" in 2013, so "we are having conversations right now about extending it."

CBS News expands "Face the Nation" to an hour. "Face the Nation" was launched nearly 58 years ago, but over much of its history trailed "Meet the Press." No longer - it's been Sunday's most viewed network public affairs in recent months, thanks in part to an hour-expansion that began in the early spring on a trial basis. Yesterday CBS News announced the program would be permanently expanded to an hour. Separately, CBS News chairman Jeff Fager, who is also exec producer of "60 Minutes," was asked if there were plans to add a new commentary segment to "60," replacing Andy Rooney's popular feature which aired from 1978 until just before his death last November. "We're in no hurry" find a replacement, Fager said, adding that the show will add more viewer mail, feedback and updates next fall instead. "We don't have anybody in mind for that position." Fager also deflected a question about last week's abrupt replacement of Erica Hill with Norah O'Donnell on "CBS This Morning." "It really is about Norah and her abilities. I feel like where we are going with the broadcast, she's just a perfect fit."

Jason O'Mara tweaks Fox over "Terra Nova" cancellation. It's rare that a star raps a competing network at one of these events but Jason O'Mara, starring on CBS's new drama "Vegas," couldn't help himself. Fox, he said, took "an awful long time to make what was ultimately a premature decision" - cancelling "Terra Nova," which he also starred in.