MUST YOU SEE NBC?

When NBC concluded the 10-year run of one of their greatest sitcom hits "Friends" in May of 2004 many had expected the Peacock network to struggle to maintain their dominant position in the ratings. What they did not know is how fast the No.1 would fall to the bottom.

Home to many of the greatest hits in the history of television (The Cosby Show, Miami Vice, Cheers, Hill Street Blues, ALF, L.A. Law, The Fresh Prince of Bel Air, Seinfeld, Will & Grace, ER, Frasier, The Apprentice, Law & Order), NBC coined the expression Must-See TV to promote their mega-successful line-up of Thursday night programming, the most lucrative platform in TV advertising.

In 2004, the network failed to find suitable replacement for their aging or ending hits, and by late 2005 not only had they fallen to the fourth place in the ratings, but their greatest hit had become the Howie Mandel hosted "Deal or No Deal" ridiculed by critics as "That Suitcase Game Show".

That may all change now as the network has received enormous critical praise and Internet buzz for their new line of shows. They all agree NBC has the strongest program development this season.

One year ago, the network was praised for putting critically-acclaimed sitcoms My Name Is Earl and The Office on the schedule, yet their results in the ratings have been mixed. Will the same happen this year or will riskier and more creative choices pay off?

The premiere dates of the new NBC series are as follows:

Studio 60 On The Sunset Strip - Monday, September 18 at 10/9c
Kidnapped - Wednesday, September 20 at 10/9c
Heroes - Monday, September 25 at 9/8c
Friday Night Lights (pictured above) - Tuesday, October 3 at 8/7c
30 Rock - Wednesday, October 11 at 8/7c
Twenty Good Years - Wednesday, October 11 at 8:30/7:30c