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NBC had already planned to unveil only its program lineup for the 2009-10 season Monday, while holding the release of its schedule for the week of May 19, when the rest of the broadcast nets host their upfronts.

http://www.variety.com/article/VR111...goryid=14&cs=1

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• "Parenthood," starring Peter Krause ("Six Feet Under"), Maura Tierney ("ER"), Craig T. Nelson ("Coach") and Bonnie Bedelia as family members dealing with the pressures of life. The show was shadowed by tragedy last week when NBC executive Nora O'Brien died after collapsing on the set in Northern California.

• "Trauma," about the heroics of San Francisco paramedics and deemed by Silverman the "adrenaline-rush" successor to NBC's recently departed "ER." The cast includes Derek Luke ("Notorious"), Aimee Garcia ("George Lopez") and Jamey Sheridan ("Law & Order: Criminal Intent"). Peter Berg is the executive producer.

• "Mercy," a hospital drama that puts nurses at center stage. The ensemble cast includes Taylor Schilling ("Dark Matter"), Jamie Lee Kirchner ("Rescue Me"), James Tupper ("Men in Trees") and Guillermo Diaz ("Weeds").

• "Day One," a saga about neighbors who must rebuild their lives and society after a mysterious catastrophe decimates the world's infrastructure. Adam Campbell ("Date Movie"), Catherine Dent ("The Shield") and Julie Gonzalo ("Eli Stone") star. The drama is planned as a "big event" to follow the Winter Olympics, Silverman said.

• "100 Questions," a comedy about a young woman (Sophie Winkleman, "Peep Show"), looking for love with the help of an online dating site and counselor (Amir Talai, "The Ex List"). It's a traditional multicamera sitcom, a format that has dimmed in popularity in recent years, but which NBC believes in, Bromstad said.

• "Community," a sitcom about community college misfits that brings Chevy Chase of "Saturday Night Live" fame back to TV. The cast includes Joel McHale ("The Soup"), Gillian Jacobs ("The Book of Daniel") and Yvette Nicole Brown ("Rules of Engagement").


http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090504/...jWLvVTF.JxFb8C

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Seth Meyers anchors "Weekend Update," which is expected to kick off NBC's Thursday nights

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The new reality shows "The Marriage Ref," produced by Jerry Seinfeld; "Breakthrough With Tony Robbins" and "Who Do You Think You Are?" also had been announced.

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Among NBC's half-hour contenders, the comedy to watch for the past week has been "Community," which stars Joel McHale as a guy who becomes part of an offbeat extended family after he enrolls in a community college course. Single-camera project hails from scribe Dan Harmon and is exec produced by Harmon, Anthony and Joe Russo (who helmed the pilot) and Russ Krasnoff.

Also high on the buzz radar is "100 Questions for Charlotte Payne," from Universal Media Studios, which stars Sophie Winkleman as a young woman living in New York and using a dating service. It's understood to be seen by many inside NBC as a next-gen "Friends." Buddy cop comedy "Off Duty," starring Bradley Whitford and Romany Malco, is also still kicking.

On the drama side, the action-driven paramedic drama "Trauma" is said to have screened well with execs across the board. Project, from scribe Dario Scardapane and "Friday Night Lights" vets Jeff Reiner, Peter Berg and Sarah Aubrey, is seen as a good fit with the network's needs next season, when its drama real estate will shrink with the launch of "The Jay Leno Show" in the Monday-Friday 10 p.m. slot. Introducing the new-model Leno will also be a top priority for Monday's presentation.

The pilot for "Parenthood," from UMS and Imagine TV, is not completed but NBC execs are supremely confident in what they've seen so far and in showrunner-exec producer Jason Katims and helmer-exec producer Thomas Schlamme.

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Returning shows facing tough cost-driven renewal negotiations include UMS' own "Law & Order," which is poised to reach its 20-year milestone in 2010. Although laffer "My Name Is Earl" looked to be kaput at the Peacock as recently as last week, NBC and 20th Century Fox TV are wrangling over the financials for a fifth-season pickup.

Peacock's scripted skeins already locked in for next season include "The Office," "30 Rock," "Heroes," "Law & Order: SVU" and "Friday Night Lights." Gumshoe drama "Life," from UMS, is not expected to return, nor is comedy "Kath and Kim."

The fate of "Chuck," the cult-fave dramedy from Warner Bros. TV, was said to be part of a larger conversation between Warners and NBC about "Southland" and the hourlong pilot from David E. Kelley, "Legally Mad." The Kelley pilot reportedly had mixed reviews from execs, but the feeling is that there's potential in the premise and the cast, and there's also a big penalty payment due if NBC does not order it to series.

Dick Wolf's UMS femme detective pilot "Lost & Found" is also said to still be in the mix for a possible midseason order. There's speculation in the biz that NBC will put a number of new and returning dramas on the midseason bench as a hedge against the possibility that Leno is a ratings dud.

Even though NBC's not announcing its schedule on Monday, speculation is already swirling that the Peacock may be planning on doing theme nights. Monday, likely more male/action-oriented, with "Heroes" at the very least already confirmed to return. On Tuesdays, "Biggest Loser" could possibly run 90 minutes into a comedy at 9:30. Wednesdays are looking like "Law and Order: SVU" at 8, perhaps paired with "Southland" (which could also end up on Monday). Thursdays, the net will stick with a two-hour comedy block. Fridays will likely see more dramas; Sundays, NBC is already committed to "Sunday Night Football."

http://www.variety.com/article/VR111...goryid=14&cs=1

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More renewals may be announced later this month.

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CHUCK is renewed. I didn’t say we’d hear it on Monday. I said if BS is going for mass “good PR,” then they will. I’m under the impression the contract hasn’t been signed and a time slot has yet to be picked. This can all be tied to the death of their exec. I talked to someone who as a source couldn’t be better. I was told it was a done deal and it was all down to details. L&O is a done deal as well.

CHUCK will be on in the FALL. Likely in the same time slot or Wednesday at 8pm.

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godfather, yeah I think it’s silly. I’ve heard things like SOUTHLAND at 8pm or L&O:SVU at 8pm. There is a lot of talk of shorter seasons for shows. For instance CHUCK may be told they won’t get a back 9. That may mean higher quality product for those 13 episodes.

Tommy, yeah but Wed. at 8 is great for a new show. Less competition, etc. I think CHUCK will be either Monday in the same slot or a winter show in the same slot. The CHUCK fans should just be happy it’s coming back.

NBC screwed up when they didn’t bring the show back last Spring for 5 or 6 episodes. I don’t think the delay would hurt that much.

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