NBC preps primetime schedule

Network preps big reveal
By MICHAEL SCHNEIDER
original post link: http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117964862.html?categoryid=14&cs=1

While a few of NBC's burning questions were resolved by Sunday night, others won't be answered until today, when the Peacock reveals its fall primetime strategy.

Insiders confirmed that "Scrubs" would indeed return for another season -- ending talk of a move to ABC -- while "Law & Order" is on the callback sheet as well along with earlier survivor "Friday Night Lights."

With the fate of those shows resolved, rival networks itching for intel on NBC's plans wondered whether the net would take a huge gamble and relocate frosh smash "Heroes" -- perhaps to the all-important Thursday night lineup.

Most observers discounted that theory, however, arguing that "Heroes" was more valuable on Monday, where it could possibly help launch a show at 10 p.m. and/or 8 p.m. (Perhaps "Journeyman," "Chuck" or "The Bionic Woman"?)

Even if "Heroes" doesn't move, NBC could possibly open up the Thursday night 10 p.m. slot to a new show -- moving "ER" to a new slot for the first time in its history (possibly Wednesday), or at least resting the show (as the Peacock had originally planned to do this year).

The longterm fate of the medical drama could come into play on Monday. The net's deal with Warner Bros. TV expires after next year, and if NBC decided now that next year is its swan song, it would give the net and studio a chance to plan a big hurrah. There's also intense speculation that Noah Wyle may return to the show for several episodes to fill out his contractural obligation with the studio.

It's also up in the air how NBC might opt to schedule its Thursday night comedy block. Beyond speculation (printed in a national business magazine) that "The Office" could air for an hour, there's always the possibility that the Peacock could make its "supersize" stunt permanent and air 40-minute eps of "My Name Is Earl," "The Office" and "30 Rock."

Such a scenario would mean "Scrubs" -- which was picked up for a shortened 18-episode order -- could once again return for midseason (as it has for the past few years). But if NBC opts for a four-laffer lineup on the night, "The Office" is expected to move to the tentpole 9 p.m. slot.

If that's the case, "Scrubs" will have completed its run by spring, leaving room for newcomer "The IT Crowd."

Laffer, from NBC Universal TV Studio and FremantleMedia, is based on a Britcom about a computer tech crew. David Guarascio, Moses Port, Joe Wiseman, Joe Port, Steve Tao and Graham Linehan exec produce.

Also on the scheduling front, now that both "Friday Night Lights," "Medium" and "Law & Order" have been renewed, where do they go? (It's probably safe to say those "Law & Order: Criminal Intent" second runs head straight to Saturday.)

There's some sense in putting "Friday Night Lights" on Friday -- it's easy marketing, and a no-pressure zone that could help nurture the show without asking it to do much heavy lifting. (You can also argue that "Lights' " target aud is young enough to be nostalgic for Friday night football games, but old enough to be home and not actually at some high school field).

On the reality tip, it's still unclear whether "The Apprentice" will be back, or how many segs of "Deal or No Deal" will be brought into service.

Then there's what to do with NBC's new dramas. Besides "Journeyman" and "Bionic Woman," that includes "Chuck" and "Life" (Daily Variety, May 11) -- and one late add, "Lipstick Jungle."

That show, based on the Candace Bushnell book, revolves around women in Manhattan (Brooke Shields, Kim Raver and Lindsay Price star). NBC Universal TV is behind the series, which is exec produced by DeAnn Heline, Eileen Heisler and Bushnell.

(Josef Adalian in Hollywood contributed to this report.)