NBC - Fall 2008
No need to check your calendars. No, you’re not flashing-forward. This really is NBC’s fall schedule being presented to you in April instead of the usual mid-May timeframe. For some strange reason, NBC thinks that it’s giving itself an advantage by rolling things out earlier than ever before. Okay… whatever you say, NBC. The real reason for rolling out early? NBC hopes to make product integration (think “Coca Cola glasses” on the American Idol judges’ desk) a much bigger business by starting the ad pitches earlier than ever. Oh, boy.
Anyway…
As part of its new “year-round” programming strategy, NBC is planning to follow a scheduling format that will break their primetime lineup into three distinct blocks:
- The 8:00 hour will be NBC’s “family hour.”
- The 9:00 hour will become what NBC is calling its “blockbuster hour.”
- The 10:00 hour is now being labeled as the “adult themed hour.” No, not that “adult themed.” Get your minds out of the gutter.
So, does NBC’s new fall schedule really reflect this strategy? You be the judge: if we’re to hold NBC at its word, then Deal or No Deal is no longer considered to be “family” programming, but instead is now “blockbuster” programming because it's now a 9:00 show. Blockbuster? Deal or No Deal?? That’s the Howie Mandel game show, right? Maybe I missed something. Am I thinking of the right show? Sorry, but “no deal” on this one, NBC!
Deal or No Deal status aside, here's NBC's Fall 2008 schedule (new shows in blue):
MONDAY
8:00 Chuck
9:00 Heroes
10:00 My Own Worst Enemy
TUESDAY
8:00 The Biggest Loser
9:30 Kath & Kim
10:00 Law & Order: SVU
WEDNESDAY
8:00 Knight Rider
9:00 Deal or No Deal
10:00 Lipstick Jungle
THURSDAY
8:00 My Name is Earl
8:30: 30 Rock
9:00 The Office
9:30 (untitled Office spinoff)
10:00 ER / Celebrity Apprentice
FRIDAY
8:00 Crusoe
9:00 Deal or No Deal
10:00 Life
SATURDAY
8:00 repeats
SUNDAY
7:00 Football Night in America
8:00 Sunday Night Football
MY OWN WORST ENEMY
Christian Slater hits series television in this spy drama (that likely wouldn't have sold if Christian Slater hadn't been cast in the lead).
KATH & KIM
Former SNL’er Molly Shannon and Selma Blair star in this American remake of an Australian sitcom about a pair of dysfunctional suburbanites.
KNIGHT RIDER
It’s baaaaaaack. NBC’s Knight Rider film earlier this year did great Nielsens, so the peacock has decided to treat us to a weekly dose of the talking car. How will we ever thank you, NBC?
CRUSOE
NBC is promising an updated Robinson Crusoe story infused with both action and humor. Considering NBC's track record of late, I won't be getting my hopes up.
Please note that before the spinoff of The Office shows up on the Thursday schedule (late in 2008 or possibly early 2009), NBC plans to run a series of live politically-themed comedy specials featuring the troupe from Saturday Night Live (tentatively titled SNL - Thursday Night Live).
Getting back to that "year-round" programming thing... NBC already has changes planned for midseason (January 2009) and Summer 2009.
Come January, a new drama entitled The Philanthropist will take over the Mondays-at-10 slot, and a new season of the critically-acclaimed but very poorly-rated Friday Night Lights will be back on Fridays (at 9:00). Also, the ever-durable Law & Order will be back on Wednesdays (at 10) for what seems like its 200th season.
After football season is over, NBC's Sundays will include another season of Dateline NBC, a new drama Merlin, returnee Medium, and the new Kings.
And just when you think that there couldn't possibly any more programming announcements from NBC... comes NBC's plans for SUMMER 2009! Hey, I guess they really mean business with this year-round thing. Then again, Summer 2008 is a looooong way away... which means that this schedule will likely not look much like what the network has announced:
MONDAY
8:00 American Gladiators
9:00 America’s Toughest Jobs
10:00 Dateline
TUESDAY
8:00 Most Outrageous Moments
9:00 America’s Got Talent
10:00 Law & Order: SVU
WEDNESDAY
8:00 Shark Taggers
9:00 America’s Got Talent
10:00 Law & Order
THURSDAY
8:00 The Office
8:30 Office spinoff
9:00 Last Comic Standing
10:00 The Listener
FRIDAY
8:00 Chopping Block
10:00 Dateline
SATURDAY
8:00 repeats
SUNDAY
7:00 Dateline
8:00 Monk
9:00 Nashville Star
10:00 Kings
Pretty sad, isn't it?
Anyway...
Not returning for another season are Journeyman, Bionic Woman, and 1 vs. 100. Scrubs will likely turn up on ABC.
However... the best news to emerge from NBC’s fall schedule announcement is the renewal of television’s best comedy, 30 Rock. Hey NBC… YOU Rock.
Get it? Rock… and rock? Ahhh, never mind.
Anyway…
As part of its new “year-round” programming strategy, NBC is planning to follow a scheduling format that will break their primetime lineup into three distinct blocks:
- The 8:00 hour will be NBC’s “family hour.”
- The 9:00 hour will become what NBC is calling its “blockbuster hour.”
- The 10:00 hour is now being labeled as the “adult themed hour.” No, not that “adult themed.” Get your minds out of the gutter.
So, does NBC’s new fall schedule really reflect this strategy? You be the judge: if we’re to hold NBC at its word, then Deal or No Deal is no longer considered to be “family” programming, but instead is now “blockbuster” programming because it's now a 9:00 show. Blockbuster? Deal or No Deal?? That’s the Howie Mandel game show, right? Maybe I missed something. Am I thinking of the right show? Sorry, but “no deal” on this one, NBC!
Deal or No Deal status aside, here's NBC's Fall 2008 schedule (new shows in blue):
MONDAY
8:00 Chuck
9:00 Heroes
10:00 My Own Worst Enemy
TUESDAY
8:00 The Biggest Loser
9:30 Kath & Kim
10:00 Law & Order: SVU
WEDNESDAY
8:00 Knight Rider
9:00 Deal or No Deal
10:00 Lipstick Jungle
THURSDAY
8:00 My Name is Earl
8:30: 30 Rock
9:00 The Office
9:30 (untitled Office spinoff)
10:00 ER / Celebrity Apprentice
FRIDAY
8:00 Crusoe
9:00 Deal or No Deal
10:00 Life
SATURDAY
8:00 repeats
SUNDAY
7:00 Football Night in America
8:00 Sunday Night Football
MY OWN WORST ENEMY
Christian Slater hits series television in this spy drama (that likely wouldn't have sold if Christian Slater hadn't been cast in the lead).
KATH & KIM
Former SNL’er Molly Shannon and Selma Blair star in this American remake of an Australian sitcom about a pair of dysfunctional suburbanites.
KNIGHT RIDER
It’s baaaaaaack. NBC’s Knight Rider film earlier this year did great Nielsens, so the peacock has decided to treat us to a weekly dose of the talking car. How will we ever thank you, NBC?
CRUSOE
NBC is promising an updated Robinson Crusoe story infused with both action and humor. Considering NBC's track record of late, I won't be getting my hopes up.
Please note that before the spinoff of The Office shows up on the Thursday schedule (late in 2008 or possibly early 2009), NBC plans to run a series of live politically-themed comedy specials featuring the troupe from Saturday Night Live (tentatively titled SNL - Thursday Night Live).
Getting back to that "year-round" programming thing... NBC already has changes planned for midseason (January 2009) and Summer 2009.
Come January, a new drama entitled The Philanthropist will take over the Mondays-at-10 slot, and a new season of the critically-acclaimed but very poorly-rated Friday Night Lights will be back on Fridays (at 9:00). Also, the ever-durable Law & Order will be back on Wednesdays (at 10) for what seems like its 200th season.
After football season is over, NBC's Sundays will include another season of Dateline NBC, a new drama Merlin, returnee Medium, and the new Kings.
And just when you think that there couldn't possibly any more programming announcements from NBC... comes NBC's plans for SUMMER 2009! Hey, I guess they really mean business with this year-round thing. Then again, Summer 2008 is a looooong way away... which means that this schedule will likely not look much like what the network has announced:
MONDAY
8:00 American Gladiators
9:00 America’s Toughest Jobs
10:00 Dateline
TUESDAY
8:00 Most Outrageous Moments
9:00 America’s Got Talent
10:00 Law & Order: SVU
WEDNESDAY
8:00 Shark Taggers
9:00 America’s Got Talent
10:00 Law & Order
THURSDAY
8:00 The Office
8:30 Office spinoff
9:00 Last Comic Standing
10:00 The Listener
FRIDAY
8:00 Chopping Block
10:00 Dateline
SATURDAY
8:00 repeats
SUNDAY
7:00 Dateline
8:00 Monk
9:00 Nashville Star
10:00 Kings
Pretty sad, isn't it?
Anyway...
Not returning for another season are Journeyman, Bionic Woman, and 1 vs. 100. Scrubs will likely turn up on ABC.
However... the best news to emerge from NBC’s fall schedule announcement is the renewal of television’s best comedy, 30 Rock. Hey NBC… YOU Rock.
Get it? Rock… and rock? Ahhh, never mind.
posted by TV Boy at 9:25 PM
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