NBC Drastically Retools TV Lineups

NBC has announced changes in prime time impacting every night of the week except Saturday. The network will introduce four new series—sitcom Perfect Couples, scripted dramas The Cape and Harry’s Law and reality/competition America’s Next Great Restaurant—while opening new seasons of Minute to Win It, Parks and Recreation, Who Do You Think You Are?, The Marriage Ref and Celebrity Apprentice. Chase, Parenthood, Law & Order: Los Angeles, Law & Order: SVU, 30 Rock and Outsourced, six of its current series, meanwhile, will move to new time periods. Upcoming NBC midseason dramas The Cape and Harry’s Law will inherit the Monday 9-11 p.m. block (in place of The Event and Chase) effective on Monday, Jan. 17. Previewing on Sunday, Jan. 9, The Cape stars David Lyons as a cop framed for murder who tries to clear his name by taking on the persona of his son’s (Ryan Wynott) favorite superhero. Harry’s Law from executive producer David E. Kelly is an ensemble legal drama about a crusty unemployed patent lawyer (Kathy Bates) who unexpectedly partners in a law practice with a young man (Ben Chaplin) trying to figure out life. Current Monday 9 p.m. NBC occupant The Event will return on Monday, Feb. 28 (with a two-hour broadcast), followed by relocated Parenthood at 10 p.m. effective on March 7. Chase, which airs Mondays at 10 p.m., will move to Wednesday at 9 p.m. beginning on Jan. 12 into Law & Order: SVU, which shifts back one hour. Recent Wednesday 10 p.m. entry Law & Order: Los Angeles moves to Tuesdays at 10 p.m. effective on February 8 out of The Biggest Loser: Couples from 8-10 p.m. Filling the Tuesday 10 p.m. hour for four weeks beginning on Jan. 4 will be Parenthood. Also on Wednesday is the return of game show Minute to Win It at 8 p.m. (in place of canceled Undercovers), beginning on Jan. 5. Stepping in at 9 p.m. on March 16 (in place of Chase) is new reality/competition America’s Next Great Restaurant. In an unprecedented move, NBC will expand its Thursday 8-10 p.m. sitcom block to 11 p.m. beginning on Jan. 20. Low-rated Thursday 8 p.m. anchor Community will remain intact, leading into new Olivia Munn sitcom Perfect Couples at 8:30 p.m., the story of three very different couples who struggle to maintain their so-called ideal relationships. Airing out of The Office at 9:30 p.m. is the return of Parks and Recreation, followed by relocated 30 Rock and Outsourced from 10-11 p.m. On Friday, sophomore Who Do You Think You Are? from Lisa Kudrow will return to the 8 p.m. hour in place of low-rated recent entry School Pride on Jan. 21. And NBC will fill Sunday after football season beginning on March 6 with another edition of Dateline, followed by the returns of The Marriage Ref and Celebrity Apprentice from 9-11 p.m. Here is the updated NBC lineup (with new shows in caps): Monday8:00 p.m.: Chuck9:00 p.m.: THE CAPE (effective Jan. 17) – The Event returns on Feb. 2810:00 p.m.: HARRY’S LAW (effective Jan. 17) – Parenthood (effective on March 7) Tuesday8:00 p.m.: The Biggest Loser: Couples (two hours)10:00 p.m. Law & Order: Los Angeles (new day, effective Feb. 8) Wednesday8:00 p.m.: Minute to Win It (season premiere on Jan. 5)9:00 p.m.: Chase (effective Jan. 12) – America’s Next Great Restaurant (effective March 16)10:00 p.m.: Law & Order: SVU (effective Jan. 5) Thursday8:00 p.m.: Community8:30 p.m.: PERFECT COUPLES (effective Jan. 20)9:00 p.m.: The Office9:30 p.m.: Parks and Recreation (season premiere Jan. 20)10:00 p.m: 30 Rock (new time, effective Jan. 20)10:30 p.m.: Outsourced (new time, effective Jan. 20) Friday8:00 p.m.: Who Do You Think You Are? (season premiere on Jan. 21)9:00 p.m. Dateline (two hours) Saturday8:00 p.m.: Drama repeats9:00 p.m.: Drama repeats10:00 p.m.: Drama repeats Sunday 7:00 p.m.: Dateline8:00 p.m.: The Marriage Ref (season premiere on March 6)9:00 p.m.: The Celebrity Apprentice (season premiere on March 6)

Convergent TV

NBC Drastically Retools TV Lineups

Marc Berman

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Marc Berman