On Monday, NBC held the first of a two-day session with reporters to discuss its new fall shows and the changes from the old ones. This year, they also announced some significant changes to the schedule they unveiled in the fall.
In addition to the hiring of former Grey's Anatomy star Isaiah Washington for a role on Bionic Woman, which we discussed here yesterday, NBC had a few other surprises up its sleeve, according to TV Guide's Michael Ausiello:
- Donald Trump will bring The Apprentice back for a celebrity edition, where the competitors will play for charity and not a job with his company. He's looking for well-known people who also have business ventures, and he's even rolling out the welcome mat for arch-nemesis Rosie O'Donnell to take part. She, however, wants no part of it. It all depends on casting, but I think this show could be interesting. It could have the dynamics of The Surreal Life. Or it could be more like this terrible show.
- NBC will use two of its new series to bookend Heroes on Monday nights, moving its sci-fi comedy Chuck to 7:00pm. Chuck is about a guy who gets covert CIA documents downloaded to his brain and hilarity ensues. It has potential.
- If you were part of the audience who watched - and enjoyed - The Singing Bee last Tuesday, you'll be happy to know it's getting a full-time slot on Tuesdays in the fall.
- Deal or No Deal moves to Fridays and Las Vegas and Friday Night Lights will swap time slots. I think it's a good deal for both shows. Vegas should always have been a 9:00pm show, using a later time slot for edgier fare. Hopefully, Friday Night Lights will become appointment viewing for a young generation and 8:00pm is early enough for them to watch the show before they go out on the town. Hey, a guy can dream, right?
- Radisha Jones (Karen) will be back for at least the first few episodes of The Office. Producer Greg Daniels seems to indicate they will continue to explore the Jim and Pam plot, but won't make it the center of the show. Hallelujah! (on both counts). The Office will open the season with four consecutive hour-long episodes. And Jan is back!
- Jerry Seinfeld will make a guest appearance on 30 Rock to help promote Bee Movie. Tina Fey says Alec Baldwin will be back.
- If you saw the season finale of My Name Is Earl, you may have wondered about the cliffhanger that saw Earl go to jail. He's going to start the season there, according to the show's executive Producer Greg Garcia. "He has a lot of friends in prison," he jokes.
- Scrubs will produce this season's 18 episodes and then no more. I know, we've heard this before, but they seem to mean it this time.
- Saturday Night Live may have aired its last Donatella Versace sketch. Maya Rudolph may not be back next season. She's still having conversations with Lorne Michaels about it.
The premiere dates with new shows in bold:
Sunday, Sept. 9
6 p.m. "Football Night in America"
7:15 p.m. "Sunday Night Football"
Tuesday, Sept. 11
7 p.m. "The Biggest Loser" (two hours)
Monday, Sept. 24
7 p.m. "Chuck"
8 p.m. "Heroes"
9 p.m. "Journeyman"
Tuesday, Sept. 25
8:30 p.m. "The Singing Bee"
9 p.m. "Law & Order: SVU"
Wednesday, Sept. 26
7 p.m. "Deal or No Deal"
8 p.m. "Bionic Woman"
9 p.m. "Life"
Thursday, Sept. 27
7 p.m. "My Name Is Earl" (one hour)
8 p.m. "The Office"
Friday, Sept. 28
7 p.m. "Deal or No Deal" (new timeslot)
8 p.m. "Las Vegas" (two hours)
Thursday, Oct. 4
7:30 p.m. "30 Rock"
Friday, Oct. 5
8 p.m. "Friday Night Lights"
Thursday, Oct. 25
8:30 p.m. "Scrubs"
We should have more news tomorrow as the meetings continue. We'll pass the tidbits along as we get them.
Jeff Field
NBC Action News Executive Producer