"Sunday Night Movie" Returns to NBC

Although theatricals have done badly on broadcast television in recent years, NBC is hoping its new string of Sunday Night Movies may score Nielsen gold. Well, it's either that or they have nothing else to air on Sunday nights once "The Apprentice" ends.

It all begins on April 29 with the comedy "Along Came Polly" starring Jennifer Aniston and Ben Stiller.

The following week (May 6) the network will air a 2-hour SNL special with new interviews with Dana Carvey, Will Ferrell, Tina Fey, Mike Myers and Chris Rock.

Then on May 13 "Shrek" rules again with the final telecast of the blockbuster animated movie.

Finally, on May 20 Nicolas Cage stars in "National Treasure" (airs 8-11 p.m.)

The proliferation of alternative viewing platforms (including pay-TV, VOD, DVD, I-pods, the Internet, etc.) have cut into the broadcast ratings overall, with telecasts of theatricals, once a staple of every broadcast network schedule, suffering the most.

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