NEW YORK — NBC today unveiled its new Fall lineup for the 2008-09 television season, introducing a schedule earlier than ever that combines some of the most acclaimed and popular returning series on television with four new programs that will join the schedule in the opening weeks of the season, including "Kath & Kim," "Knight Rider," "My Own Worst Enemy" and "Crusoe."
Among the critically hailed series returning to the NBC schedule next season will be "ER," the most-nominated series in Emmy Award history, returning for its 15th and final season (see separate release) on NBC's Thursday night lineup, and the acclaimed "Friday Night Lights," slated to re-join the Friday schedule in February as part of a unique broadcast partnership between NBC and DIRECTV (see separate release).
Additionally, the most highly anticipated comedy of the upcoming season, "The Office" spinoff, from Executive Producer Greg Daniels, will get the highly coveted premiere timeslot post Super Bowl XLIII following a special original telecast of "The Office" (see separate release).
In the first of a series of presentations to key advertisers today at 30 Rockefeller Center in New York City, NBC also unveiled Winter and Summer schedules for the 2008-09 broadcast year, allowing the advertisers to plan their media strategies for the upcoming year based on a 52-week schedule. Presentations will continue in New York this week and continue in Chicago and Los Angeles through the coming weeks.
The result is that NBC will deliver almost twice as much original entertainment in 2008-09 than it did 10 years ago. There will be year-round original programming on five nights a week at 10-11 p.m. (ET). In addition, NBC has allowed for a better scheduling flow with family shows at 8 p.m., blockbusters at 9 and dramas or mature-themed programs at 10 p.m.
In response to an evolving media marketplace and the changing needs of its advertisers, NBC Universal has created a more innovative, client-centric approach to its traditional Upfront presentation. It will include the announcement of a year-round programming schedule in April; a series of one-on-one client meetings in New York, Los Angeles and Chicago; and a spotlight event on May 12 that will showcase the full scale of the NBCU offerings in a unique, multi-media, interactive environment that will allow advertisers to experience the broad spectrum of marketing opportunities available within the company. The new Upfront process allows NBCU to continue its "customer-first" approach, while working to create new advertising models, define more effective metrics and provide a better return on its clients' investments.
"NBC has established itself as the place to go for the hottest, highest quality programs on television, and now we're ready to take it to the next level," said Ben Silverman, Co-Chairman NBC Entertainment and Universal Media Studios. "With many of the very biggest events of the 2008-09 television season on the NBC schedule, like the Beijing Olympic Games, Super Bowl Forty Three, the Golden Globes and a full season of 'Sunday Night Football,' all the elements are in place to make this an unforgettable year for NBC, its affiliates, its advertisers and its viewers."
"Normally the broadcast networks unveil their fall lineups in mid-May, but we've got so many terrific plans already in place, there was no reason to wait," said Marc Graboff, Co-Chairman NBC Entertainment and Universal Media Studios. "The business is changing rapidly and our clients expect us to stay a step ahead of that change, so we're giving them the chance now to partner with us, start integrating with our shows from the very beginning and map out their strategies a full year into the future. It's an innovative way to introduce an innovative schedule."
The roll-out of NBC's 52-week lineup begins in the Fall, as the debuting drama series "My Own Worst Enemy," starring Christian Slater, joins "Chuck" and "Heroes" on NBC's Monday lineup; "Kath & Kim," a new comedy starring Molly Shannon and Selma Blair, based on the hit Australian series, teams with "The Biggest Loser: Families" on Tuesdays; and on Wednesdays, "Knight Rider" goes to series, building on the success of last February's "Knight Rider" movie, the highest-rated movie telecast on any network in three years in adults 18-49. The mid-season dramedy "Lipstick Jungle" will return in the Fall, also on Wednesdays. Drama series "Crusoe," the hit game show "Deal or No Deal" and "Life" are scheduled to join NBC's Fall Friday lineup. In addition, NBC will introduce "SNL Thursday Night Live," which will share time on Thursdays with "The Office" at 9:30-10 p.m. (ET).
Through the winter months, NBC plans to add to its Sunday lineup "Kings," (starring Golden Globe winner Ian McShane) the ambitious new drama from the producer of "Heroes," along with the returning drama "Medium" and the exciting fantasy series "Merlin." On Mondays, NBC adds "The Philanthropist," a drama concerning a renegade billionaire who uses his wealth to help people. Tuesdays introduces a brand new cycle of "The Biggest Loser: Couples." "Law & Order" returns to Wednesdays for the series unparalleled 19th season. On Thursdays, comedy reigns with the addition of a new series spinning off the NBC hit "The Office." "The Celebrity Apprentice" returns in its popular new format on Thursdays. Sundays will be highlighted by special events, including the "66th Annual Golden Globe Awards," the four-hour miniseries "The Last Templar" (starring Oscar winner Mira Sorvino) and "XIII" (starring Val Kilmer and Stephen Dorff).
Key launches and series events will be timed to make maximum promotional use of the big events coming up on the NBC primetime schedule, including the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games in August, "NBC Sunday Night Football" throughout the fall, the "Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade" in November, NFL Wild-Card playoff games and the "66th Annual Golden Globe Awards" in January as well as the Super Bowl XLIII in February 2009.
In Summer 2009, NBC is slated to introduce "The Listener," a new Thursday drama, as well as two new reality series from executive producer Thom Beers ("Ice Road Truckers") -- "America's Toughest Jobs," an action-reality series on Mondays and "Shark Taggers," an action-adventure reality series on Wednesdays. "Chopping Block" will premiere on Fridays to complement a strong slate of original summer programming. Returning shows that Summer will include "American Gladiators," "America's Got Talent," "Last Comic Standing," "Monk" and "Nashville Star."
Sophomore dramas "Chuck," "Life," and "Lipstick Jungle" will benefit from an aggressive re-launch in the Fall, and the hit "Heroes" will come back with a bang owing to a major event in the Fall.
Joining the cast of "Life" is Donal Logue ("Grounded for Life") as Captain Brian Tidwell, Crews' (Damian Lewis) and Reese's (Sarah Shahi) new boss. Tidwell is a seen-it-all New York cop whose weaknesses include the track and the ladies. He isn't going to fit in Los Angeles, and he could care less.
Specific dates for most season and series premieres and other schedule changes will be announced at a later date. In addition, NBC Digital Entertainment today announced its full slate of content for the Summer and Fall seasons (see separate release).
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