NBC's "Chuck," "Life" and "Heroes" Renewed for 2008/2009 Season

NBC announced on Wednesday the three scripted dramas that won't be coming back with new episodes this spring are renewed for the 2008/2009 season. The network also disclosed return dates for shows that will continue production immediately.

NBC exec Ben Silverman said all three dramas will get major relaunch campaigns in the fall.

"Chuck" and "Life" have been renewed for 13 episodes (the network may add more if they do well in the fall), while "Heroes" will be coming back for more than the standard 22 episodes (the exact number will be announced in the future).

Freshman dramas "Chuck" and "Life" have averaged 8.68 million and 8.11 million viewers, respectively.

In the early days of the writers' strike, NBC renewed both shows for a full first season of 22 episodes, but was forced to abandon that plan.

The 11-episode second season arc of "Heroes" titled "Generations" averaged 13.07 million viewers, down 9% from 14.37 million "Heroes" averaged last season.

NBC's other freshman dramas "Journeyman" and "The Bionic Woman" are not expected to return next season.

Meanwhile, NBC announced the following return dates for its hit scripted comedies and dramas:


"Medium" (Mondays, 10-11 p.m. ET)
Continues current run

April 3:
"My Name Is Earl" (Thursdays, 8-8:30 p.m. ET)
Resumes with one-hour episode

April 10:
"30 Rock" (Thursdays, 8:30-9 p.m. ET)
"The Office" (Thursdays, 9-9:30 p.m. ET)
"Scrubs" (Thursdays, 9:30-10 p.m. ET)
"ER" (Thursdays, 10-11 p.m. ET)

April 15:
"Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (Tuesdays, 10-11 p.m. ET)

April 23:
"Law & Order" (Wednesdays, 10-11 p.m. ET)


"Scrubs" which is in its final year will return April 10 with the 5 episodes already in the can. NBC has yet to announce if they will order any additional episodes to end the series deservingly. One of the options is for such episodes to go straight to DVD.

Meanwhile, future remains uncertain for "Friday Night Lights" which concluded its second season last Friday.

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NBC to Air Final 2 Episodes of "Chuck" 1/24

NBC which has rocketed to the top of the 18-49 ratings in the past 3 weeks thanks to its strong line-up of reality shows like "Celebrity Apprentice" and "American Gladiators" has announced it will air the final 2 episodes of Monday night drama "Chuck" on Thursday January 24.

Episode #112 will air at 8/7c followed by an all-new episode of "Celebrity Apprentice." The last episode #113 will then air at 10/9c the same night. The network will release more information about the two episodes later this week.

"Chuck" has averaged 8.68 million viewers and a 3.0 rating among adults 18-40 this season. Although the show was renewed for a full season of 22 episodes, only 13 have been filmed due to the writers' strike.

"Chuck" was replaced in its regular time slot - Mondays at 8/7c - by NBC's remake of the "American Gladiators" contest. In its first airing this Monday, the reality show exceeded the average ratings of the spy drama by about 25%.

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"American Gladiators" to Replace "Chuck"

Following last night's Christmas-themed episode, NBC's "Chuck" is moving to Saturday nights where the network will air reruns of the show starting with the pilot episode this weekend. Meanwhile, a "Deal or No Deal" special, a limited run daily reality series "Clash of the Choirs" and a Hulk Hogan hosted program called "American Gladiators" will replace the show in its original timeslot.

"Clash of the Choirs" is described as "the next big live holiday event series that follows five celebrity singers back to their hometowns in search of the talent needed to assemble America's best choir."

The show will air four nights in a row, Monday to Thursday, going head-to-head with ABC's 4-day event "Duel" a "high-stakes tournament-style competition."

Both networks are hoping these shows can build momentum during the week before Christmas to grow into hits as did NBC's "Deal or No Deal" which also began its run with a 4-day event in December 2005.

In January, the network will premiere the "classic physical competition series with a big-arena attitude" called "American Gladiators" on Sunday, January 2 (2-hour episode, 9-11 p.m.) before moving it to Mondays at 8 p.m. the following day.

As for Saturday nights, the network will air "Chuck" at 8 p.m., followed by repeats of "30 Rock" at 9 p.m. and "Saturday Night Live" specials at 9:30 p.m. "The Best of Chris Farley" and "The Best of Will Ferrel" will air first.

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NBC's "Life" & "Chuck" Renewed for Full Season

NBC has given two of its freshman shows, Josh Schwartz's ('The O.C.') nerd-turns-spy series "Chuck" and Wednesday night cop drama "Life" back-9 orders. The fate of the Peacock's other two rookie series "The Bionic Woman" and "Journeyman" is yet to be determined.

Season-to-date "Chuck" has averaged 8.42 million viewers, while "Life" has scored 8.04 million viewers.

"Chuck" does reasonably well kicking off NBC's Monday night schedule, while "Life" has lately been building on its flat-lining lead-in "The Bionic Woman."

"Life" however regularly finishes last in the timeslot, well behind ABC's freshman series "Dirty Sexy Money."



For this reason, the network is giving "Life" a special boost next week, by airing the first part of a special double episode on Monday night, after the "Heroes" fall finale, pre-empting "Journeyman."

NBC is hoping the additional exposure will then help the second part of the episode which airs in the show's regular timeslot on Wednesday narrow the gap with "Dirty Sexy Money."

Incidentally, ABC's "Dirty Sexy Money" and NBC's "Chuck" and "Life" are the only freshman series to receive full season pick-ups since the writers' strike began in early November.

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"Cane" & NBC Shows Get Script Ordrers

Script orders may not necessarily be full-season pick-ups yet, but they are definitely a step in the right direction. Suddenly there is hope for CBS' Florida-based sudser "Cane," The CW's freshman comedy "Aliens in America" and all four NBC dramas "Chuck," "Journeyman," "The Bionic Woman" and "Life."

The writers of all of these shows were asked to come up with three additional scripts, except for "Cane" where CBS ordered 4 scripts.

It is not unusual for networks to order additional scripts when they see a potential in a series.

Before they make the final decision whether to give a show a full season pick-up or not, they networks can see in which direction the show will be going creatively.

This year the networks are also eager to have scripts on hand due to the increasingly likely November 1 writer's strike.

Only one freshman network series has received a full season renewal thus far - The CW ordered additional 9 episodes of "Gossip Girl" on Tuesday.

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O.C. Star Bilson to Guest Star on NBC's "Chuck"

Former O.C. star Rachel Bilson has agreed to do a multi-episode guest starring arc on her ex-boss Josh Schwartz's new NBC comedy "Chuck" playing a love interest for the titular character.



I have yet to see the pilot for "Chuck," but I have heard nothing but great buzz for this hot new NBC show which will anchor Monday nights for the network airing before "Heroes" and going head to head with FOX's "Prison Break."

And if I am not mistaken, the lovely and adorable Bilson who has spent the past year filming her new Doug Liman movie "Jumper" (with good buddy Hayden Christensen) is right up the show target audience's alley.

In a conference call with reporters, Schwartz said today: "She's really, really funny, and we felt like she could really fit the tone of the show. We thought the chemistry she'd have and the comedy between her and Zach seemed ideal." Zach of course being Zachary Levi who plays Chuck.

Bilson will be introduced in the 7th episode as a sandwich maker who falls in love with Chuck. But since out hero, an underpaid big box-store employee is also a spy, he begins to wonder is she really is who she says she is. Now that's something I would almost give up "Prison Break" for. Almost.

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New NBC Shows: "Chuck"

Comedic spy thriller from the creator of "The O.C." about a computer geek (Zachary Levi) who becomes an unlikely agent after a database of government secrets is downloaded into his brain.



When Chuck opens an e-mail subliminally encoded with government secrets, he unwittingly downloads an entire server of sensitive data into his brain.

Now, the fate of the world lies in the unlikely hands of a guy who works at Buy More. Instead of fighting computer viruses, he must fight assassins and international terrorists.


With the government's most precious secrets in Chuck's head, Major John Casey (Adam Baldwin, "My Bodyguard") of the NSA assumes the responsibility of protecting him.

Bottom line: This jake 2.0. inspired pilot is so silly that it could actually work. But how long till the novelty wears off?

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