In the first of a series of presentations to key advertisers in NYC yesterday, NBC also unveiled Winter and Summer schedules for the 2008-09 broadcast year, NBC unveiled its new 52-week lineup for the 2008-09 television season, introducing a schedule earlier than ever with four new programs that will join the schedule in the opening weeks of the Fall season.
Among the series returning next season will be "ER” and "Friday Night Lights," slated to re-join the Friday schedule in February as part of a partnership between NBC and DIRECTV.
NBC will deliver year-round original programming on five nights a week at 10-11 p.m. (ET). In addition, NBC has allowed for a better scheduling flow with family shows at 8 p.m., blockbusters at 9 and dramas or mature-themed programs at 10 p.m.
"Normally the broadcast networks unveil their fall lineups in mid-May, but we’ve got so many terrific plans already in place, there was no reason to wait," said Marc Graboff, Co-Chairman NBC Entertainment and Universal Media Studios. "The business is changing rapidly and our clients expect us to stay a step ahead of that change, so we’re giving them the chance now to partner with us, start integrating with our shows from the very beginning and map out their strategies a full year into the future. It’s an innovative way to introduce an innovative schedule."
Presentations will continue in New York this week and continue in Chicago and Los Angeles through the coming weeks.
This Fall’s debuts include the drama series "My Own Worst Enemy," starring Christian Slater; "Chuck" and "Heroes" on the Monday lineup; "Kath & Kim," a new comedy starring Molly Shannon and Selma Blair, based on the hit Australian series, teams with "The Biggest Loser: Families" on Tuesdays; and on Wednesdays, "Knight Rider" goes to series, building on the success of last February’s "Knight Rider" movie. The mid-season dramedy "Lipstick Jungle" will return in the Fall, also on Wednesdays. Drama series "Crusoe," the hit game show "Deal or No Deal" and "Life" are scheduled to join NBC’s Fall Friday lineup. In addition, NBC will introduce "SNL Thursday Night Live," which will share time on Thursdays with "The Office" at 9:30-10 p.m. (ET).
Through the winter, NBC plans to add to its Sunday lineup "Kings," (starring Golden Globe winner Ian McShane) the ambitious new drama from the producer of "Heroes," along with the returning drama "Medium" and the fantasy series "Merlin." On Mondays, NBC adds "The Philanthropist," a drama concerning a renegade billionaire who uses his wealth to help people. Tuesdays introduces a new cycle of "The Biggest Loser: Couples." "Law & Order" returns to Wednesdays for the 19th season. On Thursdays, comedy reigns with the addition of a new series spinning off the "The Office." "The Celebrity Apprentice" returns in its new format on Thursdays. Sundays will be highlighted by special events, including the "66th Annual Golden Globe Awards," the four-hour miniseries "The Last Templar".
In Summer 2009, NBC is slated to introduce "The Listener," a new Thursday drama, as well as two new reality series — "America’s Toughest Jobs," an action-reality series on Mondays and "Shark Taggers," an action-adventure reality series on Wednesdays. "Chopping Block" will premiere on Fridays. Returning shows that Summer will include "American Gladiators," "America’s Got Talent," "Last Comic Standing," "Monk" and "Nashville Star."
Sophomore dramas "Chuck," "Life," and "Lipstick Jungle" will get a re-launch in the Fall, and "Heroes" will come back with a major event in the Fall.
NBC PRIMETIME SCHEDULE FOR FALL 2008-09
*New programs in UPPER CASE (with the exception of "ER")
MONDAY
8-9 p.m. "Chuck"
9-10 p.m. "Heroes"
10-11 p.m. "MY OWN WORST ENEMY"
TUESDAY
8- 9:30 p.m. "The Biggest Loser: Families"
9:30-10 p.m. "KATH & KIM"
10-11 p.m. "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit"
WEDNESDAY
8-9 p.m. "KNIGHT RIDER"
9-10 p.m. "Deal or No Deal"
10-11 p.m. "Lipstick Jungle"
THURSDAY
8- 8:30 p.m. "My Name Is Earl"
8:30-9 p.m. "30 Rock"
9- 9:30 p.m. "The Office"
9:30-10 p.m. "The Office"/ "SNL THURSDAY NIGHT LIVE"
10-11 p.m. "ER"
FRIDAY
8-9 p.m. "CRUSOE"
9-10 p.m. "Deal or No Deal"
10-11 p.m. "Life"
SATURDAY
8-9 p.m. "Dateline NBC"
9-10 p.m. "KNIGHT RIDER" (Encores)
10-11 p.m. "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (Encores)
SUNDAY
7- 8:20 p.m. "Football Night in America"
8:20-11 p.m. "NBC Sunday Night Football"
NBC PRIMETIME SCHEDULE FOR WINTER 2009
*New programs in UPPER CASE (with the exception of "ER")
MONDAY
8- 9 p.m. "Chuck"
9-10 p.m. "Heroes"
10-11 p.m. "THE PHILANTHROPIST"
TUESDAY
8- 9:30 p.m. "The Biggest Loser: Couples"
9:30-10 p.m. "KATH & KIM"
10-11 p.m. "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit"
WEDNESDAY
8-9 p.m. "KNIGHT RIDER"
9-10 p.m. "Deal or No Deal"
10-11 p.m. "Law & Order"
THURSDAY
8- 8:30 p.m. "My Name Is Earl"
8:30-9 p.m. "30 Rock"
9- 9:30 p.m. "The Office"
9:30-10 p.m. "THE OFFICE" SPINOFF
10-11 p.m. "ER"/"The Celebrity Apprentice"
FRIDAY
8-9 p.m. "Deal or No Deal"
9-10 p.m. "Friday Night Lights"
10-11 p.m. "Life"
SATURDAY
8-9 p.m. "Dateline NBC"
9-10 p.m. "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (Encores)
10-11 p.m. "Law & Order" (Encores)
SUNDAY
7-8 p.m. Specials/"Dateline NBC"
8-9 p.m. Specials/"MERLIN"
9-10 p.m. Specials/"Medium"
10-11 p.m. Specials/"KINGS"
NBC PRIMETIME SCHEDULE FOR SUMMER 2009
*New programs in UPPER CASE
MONDAY
8-9 p.m. "American Gladiators"
9-10 p.m. "AMERICA’S TOUGHEST JOBS"
10-11 p.m. "Dateline NBC"
TUESDAY
8-9 p.m. "Most Outrageous Moments"
9-10 p.m. "America’s Got Talent"
10-11 p.m. "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (Encores)
WEDNESDAY
8-9 p.m. "SHARK TAGGERS"
9-10 p.m. "America’s Got Talent" (Results Show)
10-11 p.m. "Law & Order" (Encores)
THURSDAY
8- 8:30 p.m. "The Office" (Encores)
8:30- 9 p.m. "THE OFFICE" SPINOFF (Encores)
9-10 p.m. "Last Comic Standing"
10-11 p.m. "THE LISTENER"
FRIDAY
8-9 p.m. "CHOPPING BLOCK"
9-11 p.m. "Dateline NBC"
SATURDAY
8-9 p.m. Drama Encores
9-10 p.m. Drama Encores
10-11 p.m. Drama Encores
SUNDAY
7-8 p.m. "Dateline NBC"
8-9 p.m. "Monk"
9-10 p.m. "Nashville Star"
10-11 p.m. "KINGS" (Encores)
