Thursday, December 06, 2007

Director's Alert: NBC Announces First Quarter 2008 Lineup

NBC's first-quarter primetime schedule is slated to deliver significantly more hours of original programming than was ever the case in the first quarter of 2007. The line-up features a schedule packed with original scripted, reality programming and specials, featuring the return of "Medium" on Monday, January 7 (10-11 p.m. ET) plus new episodes of such favorites as "ER," "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit," "Friday Night Lights," "Las Vegas," "Scrubs" and the returns of "Law & Order" and "Law & Order: Criminal Intent." Also included will be the premiere of the previously announced new dramedy "Lipstick Jungle."

In addition, NBC has a solid lineup of original reality programming, including the announcement of the new series premiere of "The Baby Borrowers" on Monday, February 18 (8-9 p.m. ET). It will join another previously announced new reality series, "American Gladiators," and the fresh season debuts of "The Biggest Loser," "The Celebrity Apprentice," "1 vs 100," as well as the continuing hit "Deal or No Deal," which returns to Mondays (9-10 p.m. ET) beginning January 7 in addition to its Wednesday edition (8-9 p.m. ET).

Sunday specials include "The 65th Annual Golden Globes Awards" -- Hollywood's biggest night for film and television -- broadcasting live on Sunday, January 13 (8-11 p.m. ET), "The Guinness Book of World Records - Live!" featuring a live death-defying stunt on Sunday, January 27 (9-11 p.m. ET) and "Top 100 Most Outrageous Moments" on Sunday, February 10 (9-11 p.m. ET).

The following includes NBC's new mid-season schedule and premieres (all times ET):

Mondays (effective January 7, 2008)
8-9 p.m. -- "American Gladiators"; (premieres Sunday, January 6, 9-11 p.m.)
9-10 p.m. -- "Deal or No Deal"
10-11 p.m. -- "Medium" (season premiere)

Tuesdays (effective January 1, 2008)
8-10 p.m. -- "The Biggest Loser"
10-11 p.m. -- "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit"

Wednesdays (effective January 9, 2008)
8-9 p.m. -- "Deal or No Deal"
9-10 p.m. -- "Law & Order: Criminal Intent" (broadcast premiere)
10-11 p.m. -- "Law & Order" (premieres January 2 with a two-hour debut)

Thursdays (effective January 3, 2008)
8-8:30 p.m. -- NBC Comedy Series
8:30-9 p.m. -- NBC Comedy Series
9-10 p.m. -- "The Celebrity Apprentice" (season premiere)
10-11 p.m. -- "ER" ("Lipstick Jungle" premieres February 7 in time slot)

Fridays (effective January 4, 2008)
8-9 p.m. -- "1 vs. 100"
9-10 p.m. -- "Friday Night Lights"
10-11 p.m. -- "Las Vegas"

Additional programming dates:

Sunday, January 6, 2008
7-9 p.m. - "Deal or No Deal"
9-11 p.m. - "American Gladiators" (two-hour series premiere; regular night January 7)

Sunday, January 13, 2008
8-11 p.m. - "The 65th Annual Golden Globe Awards"

Sunday, January 27, 2008
9-11 p.m. - "The Guinness Book of World Records - Live!"

Thursday, February 7, 2008
10-11 p.m. - "Lipstick Jungle"

Sunday, February 10, 2008
9-11 p.m. - "Top 100 Most Outrageous Moments"

Mondays (effective February 18, 2008)
8-9 p.m. -- "The Baby Borrowers" (series premiere)