I've been thinking about that. over-analysing again.

Well, heck, I have CM on ION, in the background. There's nothing else good on TV tonight.

This is the ratings for CM. It's in the Top TEN of ALL shows during the week - not just Wed nite, in total viewers (number following title is in millions)
1 AMERICAN IDOL-WEDNESDAY 23,031
2 American Idol-THURSDAY 21,918
3 DANCING WITH THE STARS 20,930
4 NCIS 19,870
5 DANCING W/STARS RESULTS 15,964
6 NCIS: LOS ANGELES 15,456
7 CRIMINAL MINDS 13,585
8 CASTLE 12329 9 Bones 11,448
10 SURVIVOR: REDEMPTION ISLD 11,086
Of the top 5 scripted shows (not reality-tv shows,) it was the # 5 scripted show in the demographic 18-49 and # 3 in total viewers! Blue font are scripted shows.
1 AMERICAN IDOL-WEDNESDAY 7.3 (reality-tv)
2 American Idol-THURSDAY 6.4 (reality-tv)
3 DANCING WITH THE STARS 4.5 (reality-tv)
4 OFFICE 4.0
5 NCIS 3.9
6 Modern Family 3.9 7 Bones 3.5
8 Criminal Minds 3.5
9 NCIS: LOS ANGELES 3.3 10 HOUSE 3.2
(Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior was over all #16 but # 10 scripted show in total viewers and # 22 over all # 15 in the 18-49 demo.)
With so many million viewers watching CM and 13 million who turned out to see Prentiss' last episode, that's a LOT of viewers who most likely will NOT watch her new sitcom, if they know it means she will come back to CM, if that series tanks!
Even if only half the current viewers: 1.5 million in the 18-49 demographic, and 8 million total, don't watch, that means only about 1.5 viewers show up, which really puts the sitcom in jeopardy.
There is always a chance too, *I think,* that the series could decide to replace her if they go to series, and buy her contract out. Or something like that. I remember when Merrin Dungey (from
Alias,) was in the pilot for
Private Practice. When it got picked up as a series, they replaced Merrin.
The same happened with the blonde in pilot episode of
Breakout Kings.
Maybe,

NBC will realize if the want that sitcom to have any chance at all, it would be better to
replace Paget.