Under NBC’s new “time-share” schedule, we may finally put to rest which series can draw more viewers–“Heroes” or “Chuck.”
The network will is splitting its season next year with the dividing line being the Winter Olympic Games. That coupled with the new Jay Leno variety show airing nightly at 10 p.m. and prime time real estate will be in high demand next season on the Peacock network.
“Heroes” will air in the first half of the year on Monday evenings at 8 p.m. EST. The series will conclude its fifth volume before the Olympics and give way to the return of “Chuck” in early 2010.
NBC is positioning itself as a “52-week-a-year programmer,” Silverman said, with the Olympics offering a strong launching pad to establish new midseason shows.
“Hopefully, it’s going to be a very strong year for us,” Silverman said of the network that is taking a big gamble on Jay Leno’s new daily prime-time series.
The network decided to bring back “Law and Order” for a 20th season, tying it with “Gunsmoke” as the longest running prime-time drama. NBC passed on a new season of “Medium,” but there is word that CBS could be interested in picking up a new season of the show. The network also gave a pink slip to the comedy series, “My Name is Earl,” which may migrate to Fox.
Here are NBC’s two schedules:
FALL:
Monday: 8 p.m., “Heroes”; 9 p.m., “Trauma” (new drama), 10 p.m., “Jay Leno”
Tuesday: 8 p.m., “The Biggest Loser”; 10 p.m., “Jay Leno”
Wednesday: 8 p.m., “Parenthood” (new drama); 9 p.m., “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit”; 10 p.m., “Jay Leno”
Thursday: 8 p.m., “SNL Weekend Update Thursday”; 8:30, “Parks and Recreation”; 9 p.m., “The Office”; 9:30, “Community”; 10 p.m., “Jay Leno”
Thursday (after “SNL” ends): 8 p.m., “Community” (new series); 8:30 p.m., Parks and Recreation”; 9 p.m., “The Office”; 9:30, “30 Rock”; 10 p.m., “Jay Leno”
Friday: 8 p.m., “Law & Order”; 9 p.m., “Southland”; 10 p.m., “Jay Leno”
Saturday: 8 p.m., “Dateline NBC”; 9 p.m., “Trauma” repeats; 10 p.m., “Law & Order: SVU” repeats
Sunday: 7 p.m.: “Football Night in America”; 8:20, “Sunday Night Football”
MIDSEASON:
Monday: 8 p.m., “Chuck”; 9 p.m., “Day One” (new drama), 10 p.m., “Jay Leno”
Tuesday: 8 p.m., “The Biggest Loser”; 9:30, “100 Questions” (new comedy); 10 p.m., “Jay Leno”
Wednesday: 8 p.m., “Mercy” (new drama); 9 p.m., “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit”; 10 p.m., “Jay Leno”
Thursday: 8 p.m., “Community” (new series); 8:30 p.m., Parks and Recreation”; 9 p.m., “The Office”; 9:30, “30 Rock”; 10 p.m., “Jay Leno”
Friday: 8 p.m., “Law & Order”; 9 p.m., “Southland”; 10 p.m., “Jay Leno”
Saturday: 8 p.m., “Dateline NBC”; 9 p.m., “Southland” repeats; 10 p.m., “Law & Order: SVU” repeats
Sunday: 7 p.m., “Dateline NBC”; 8 p.m., “The Marriage Ref” (new reality); 9 p.m., “Celebrity Apprentice”
Medium teamed with Ghost Whisperer is actually a smart idea for CBS… I wonder if they’ll follow through with the pickup.
When are networks going to learn that variety shows are gone-gone-gone.
There is no more Ed Sullivan, Sonny & Cher, Donny & Marie, Carol Burnette or Johnny & June. Successful variety programming died after their era’s ended and has never been successfully rescucitated. I doubt that Jay will do anything to improve on the CPR methods. If Rosie, who should have been a shoe-in for a variety type venue couldn’t make it work, then Jay will certainly flop.
I personally am happy to see Chuck get it’s 8:00 timeslot back even if I do have to wait until January. I think that if the role was reversed (Heroes in Jan. and Chuck in the fall) Heroes wouldn’t servive but I think Chuck could and will survive this. I look at it this way, it’s way better then sunday nights. We’ll leave that to “The Marriage Ref”. May it die a quick peacfull death.
Chuck and 30 rock at least they have 2 shows you can watch. Does anyone know why NBC seems to be trying to go out of business, or better yet who they expect to watch this crap.
They seem to be relying heavily on a comedian who isn’t very funny. Maybe he’s comforting… of course, he gives me the heebie-jeebies…
I still think cutting prime time by one hour from 8-10 is going to hurt them, and us, That means 5 other shows don’t get air time. I’m not sure what demographic I fall in, but I know 3 hours of talk shows every night is not my idea of quality programming.
Has NBC started hiring FOX executives?