NBC to announce primetime sked
New lineup includes drama blocks, return of most Thursday laffers
By MICHAEL SCHNEIDER
NBC is set to announce a 2010-2011 primetime sked on Monday bursting at the seams with new fare.
Peacock's fall sked includes drama blocks on Mondays and Wednesdays and the return of its Thursday comedy lineup -- with one notable exception: Critic fave "Parks and Recreation" has been held for midseason.
New J.J. Abrams drama "Undercovers" kicks off Wednesdays at 8 p.m., while the net will use "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" that night to launch "Law & Order: Los Angeles."
As expected -- and posted on Variety's On the Air blog over the weekend -- NBC will launch new comedy "Outsourced" behind "The Office" on Thursdays, and lead into "Love Bites" at 10 p.m.
Mondays will include new dramas "The Event" and "Chase" along with returnee "Chuck." "The Event" is expected to get NBC's biggest marketing push of the year.
Tuesday reps the only night of the week without change, as "The Biggest Loser" continues to air into "Parenthood" at 10 p.m.
Sked is also notable for what it doesn't have: A second night of comedy. Net nixed those plans for now.
Much of NBC's new fare will wait until midseason. including the new series "The Cape," "Friends With Benefits," "Perfect Couples," "Harry's Law" and "The Paul Reiser Show" (formerly "Next"), all of which will premiere later in the season along with a new version of "The Apprentice," "The Marriage Ref" and the new series "America's Next Great Restaurant" -- starring celebrity chef/restaurateur Bobby Flay.
"This new schedule brings NBC back to basics with its commitment to quality scripted programming," said NBC Universal TV Entertainment chairman Jeff Gaspin. "Our new shows are distinctive and feature a combination of the biggest talent, the brightest new stars and the strongest auspices in television. With this new schedule, we're poised to take the next step toward our long-term goals with a lineup that has stabilized and has been building solid momentum through the second half of the season."
Added NBC/Universal Media Studios primetime entertainment prexy Angela Bromstad: "Our team has been working tirelessly to achieve our ambitious goals and we are so pleased to see that these new series demonstrate tremendous upside for NBC. We feel that this development season introduces shows that will become part of the great programming legacy of our network."
Overall, Peacock has added a whopping five new comedies, seven new dramas and one new reality show to the mix.
Here's NBC's fall linup:
*New programs in UPPER CASE; all times ET
MONDAY
8-9 p.m. - "Chuck"
9-10 p.m. -- "THE EVENT"
10-11 p.m. - "CHASE"
TUESDAY
8-10 p.m. - "The Biggest Loser"
10-11 p.m. - "Parenthood"
WEDNESDAY
8-9 p.m. - "UNDERCOVERS"
9-10 p.m. - "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit"
10-11 p.m. - "LAW & ORDER: LOS ANGELES"
THURSDAY
8- 8:30 p.m. - "Community"
8:30-9 p.m. - "30 Rock"
9-9:30 p.m. - "The Office"
9:30-10 p.m. - "OUTSOURCED"
10-11 p.m. - "LOVE BITES"
FRIDAY
8-9 p.m. - "Who Do You Think You Are?"/"SCHOOL PRIDE"
9-10 p.m. - "Dateline NBC"
10-11 p.m. - "OUTLAW"
SATURDAY
Repeats
SUNDAY
7- 8:15 p.m. -- "Football Night in America"
8:215-11:30 p.m. -- "NBC Sunday Night Football"
SUNDAY (beginning March 2011)
7-8 p.m. - "Dateline NBC"
8-9 p.m. - "Minute to Win It"
9-11 p.m. - "The Celebrity Apprentice"
http://www.variety.com/index.asp?layout ... egoryid=14