NBC provides broadcast, NBC Universal cable entities and online audiences with an upgraded backstage pass to view the network’s new and returning series for Fall as series star Joel McHale from NBC’s new comedy “Community” hosts “The NBC Primetime Preview.”
The lively 30-minute cavalcade will feature exclusive, behind-the-scenes views to be delivered across a wide gamut of NBC Universal media platforms beginning August 8 through September 27. The program will run an estimated 306 times over broadcast and cable platforms.
The fresh entertainment show also will feature appearances by former late-night king Jay Leno, who launches his new comedy series “The Jay Leno Show” on Monday, September 14 (10-11 p.m. ET). The spotlight of the preview also focuses on new dramas “Trauma” and “Mercy,” new comedy “Community,” “The Biggest Loser,” NBC’s Thursday-night comedies, the Emmy Award-winning “30 Rock” (which recently became the first comedy series to record 22 Emmy nomination in a single year), “Heroes,” “Southland” and “Sunday Night Football,” among others.
The annual Fall program will be offered to NBC’s 232 television stations (check local listings) as well as other channel entities such as USA, Syfy, Bravo, UniHD, Chiller, mun2, MSNBC, CNBC, Oxygen, Sleuth, NBC2Go, on-demand and broadband. NBC stations can also run it on their websites while NBC.com will also run it as well. In addition, the program will be screened on selected American Airlines flights (estimated to be shown on approximately 11,000 flights).
NBC’s Fall 2009-2010 premiere week begins in earnest on Monday, September 21.
Marking a new era in television, Jay Leno, recently named America’s Favorite TV Personality by the 2009 Harris Poll, moves from late night to primetime on September 14 when “The Jay Leno Show” becomes the first-ever entertainment program to be stripped across primetime on broadcast network television. “The Jay Leno Show” promises more comedy in the 10 o’clock hour and will showcase many of the features that have made Leno America’s late-night leader for more than a dozen years.
From executive producer Peter Berg (NBC’s “Friday Night Lights”) comes “Trauma,” the first high-octane medical drama series to film exclusively in the field where the real action is. “Trauma” premiering Monday, September 28 (9-10 p.m. ET) — is an action-packed look at one of the most dangerous medical professions in the world: first responder paramedics. When emergencies occur, the trauma team from San Francisco City Hospital is first on the scene, traveling by land, by sea or by air to reach victims in time. “Trauma” stars Cliff Curtis (“Push”), Derek Luke (“Notorious”), Anastasia Griffith (“Damages”), Aimee Garcia (“George Lopez”), Kevin Rankin (“Friday Night Lights”) as edgy EMT Tyler Briggs, and Jamey Sheridan (“Law & Order: Criminal Intent”) as mentor Dr. Joe Saviano.
“Mercy,” debuting Wednesday, September 23 (8-9 p.m. ET), is a new medical drama about the lives of the people who work at Mercy Hospital seen through the eyes of those who know it best — its nurses. Nurse Veronica Callahan (Taylor Schilling “Dark Matter”) has just returned to Mercy Hospital from a tour in Iraq and knows more about medicine than all of the residents combined. Together with fellow nurses Sonia Jimenez (Jaime Lee Kirchner, “Rescue Me”) and Chloe Payne (Michelle Trachtenberg, “Gossip Girl”), they navigate the daily traumas and social landmines of life and love both inside the hospital and out in the real world. The cast also includes James Tupper (“Men in Trees”), Diego Klattenhoff (“Supernatural”), Guillermo Diaz (“Weeds”) and James Le Gros as Dr. Harris (“Ally McBeal”).
“Community” a new comedy from Dan Harmon (“The Sarah Silverman Program”) and Emmy Award-winning directors Joe and Anthony Russo (“Arrested Development”) comes “Community” is a smart series about a band of misfits who attend Greendale Community College. At the center of the group is Jeff Winger (Joel McHale, “The Soup”), a fast-talkin’ lawyer whose degree has been revoked. To win the affection of a fellow classmate, Winger forms a study group who eventually learn more about themselves than their course work. “Community” launches on Thursday, September 17 (9:30-10 p.m. ET) and then moves to Thursdays (8-8:30 p.m. ET) on October 8.
Also among the series stars who comprise the group are comedy legend Chevy Chase (“Chuck”) as Pierce, a man whose life experience has brought him infinite wisdom; Gillian Jacobs (“The Book of Daniel”) as Britta, the 28-year-old dropout with something to prove; Yvette Nicole Brown (“Rules of Engagement”) as Shirley, a sassy middle-aged divorcee; Danny Pudi (“Greek”) as Abed, the slightly off-center, yet lovable, classmate; Alison Brie (“Mad Men”) as Annie, a high-strung perfectionist; and Donald Glover (“30 Rock”) as Troy, a former high school football star trying to find his way.
In addition to the new series, the special will focus on other returning series as well, particularly “Chuck” and the Emmy-winning “The Office” (recently nominated for nine Emmys).
“The NBC Primetime Preview” is produced by the NBC Marketing Group
“Heroes” is the only NBC series I’m interested in, oh and “Day One”. But “Day One” won’t air until next year.