NBC officially revealed its 2011-12 schedule Sunday, confirming the entry of several new comedies and dramas.
Among the significant changes are the inclusion of “The Sing-Off” on the initial fall roster; “30 Rock,” meanwhile, will have its season premiere at midseason as it follows the “uninterrupted” format FOX and ABC used with shows like “24” and “Lost,” respectively.
Heavily-hyped new series “Smash” has been delayed to midseason, where it will be paired with season two of “The Voice.” New series “Awake,” “The Firm” (Sundays at 10PM after “The Celebrity Apprentice”), “Are You There, Vodka? It’s Me, Chelsea,” “Best Friends Forever” and “Bent” are also set for midseason debuts.
Officially part of the fall schedule, “The Sing-Off” will open Mondays with two-hour installments. In that position, it will undoubtedly provide better lead-in support for new 10PM drama “The Playboy Club” than would have been the case with shows like “Chuck.”
Tuesday’s will remain unchanged, with a two-hour “The Biggest Loser” opening into “Parenthood.”
Wednesday, meanwhile, marks NBC’s attempt to expand its comedy roster. The 8PM hour will feature new comedies “Up all Night” and “Free Agents.” That block will lead into “Harry’s Law,” which is getting the chance to be more demo-friendly at 9PM, and “Law & Order: SVU,” which stays in the 10PM slot that has always been more beneficial.
Thursdays will feature “Community” leading into “Parks & Recreation.” The Steve Carell-less “Office” will then segue into new comedy “Whitney,” which opens the door for drama premiere “Prime Suspect.” NBC has thus made the call not to continue with three hours of comedy on Thursdays.
Fridays feature a relocated “Chuck,” new cop series “Grimm” and “Dateline NBC.”
Assuming the football season goes off without a hitch, Sundays in the fall will feature the proven one-two punch of “Football Night in America” and “Sunday Night Football.”
NBC FALL 2011-12 SCHEDULE
*New programs in UPPER CASE; all times ET)
MONDAY
8-10 p.m. – “The Sing-Off”
10-11 p.m. – “THE PLAYBOY CLUB”
TUESDAY
8-10 p.m. – “The Biggest Loser”
10-11 p.m. – “Parenthood”
WEDNESDAY
8-8:30 p.m. – “UP ALL NIGHT”
8:30-9 p.m. – “FREE AGENTS”
9-10 p.m. — “Harry’s Law”
10-11 p.m. — “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit”
THURSDAY
8-8:30 p.m. – “Community”
8:30-9 p.m. — “Parks and Recreation”
9-9:30 p.m. – “The Office”
9:30-10 p.m. – “WHITNEY”
10-11 p.m. – “PRIME SUSPECT”
FRIDAY
8-9 p.m. – “Chuck”
9-10 p.m. – “GRIMM”
10-11 p.m. – “Dateline NBC”
SATURDAY
Encore programming
SUNDAY
7- 8:15 p.m. — “Football Night in America”
8:15-11:30 p.m. — “NBC Sunday Night Football”
NBC 2012 MID-SEASON HIGHLIGHTS
*New programs in UPPER CASE; all times ET)
SUNDAY
7-8 p.m. – “Dateline NBC”
8-10 p.m. – “The Celebrity Apprentice”
10-11 p.m. – “THE FIRM”
MONDAY
8-10 p.m. – “The Voice”
10-11 p.m. – “SMASH”
