NBC Announces Midseason Schedule

NBC have now released their full reality-filled writers' strike-induced midseason schedule including the return of Patricia Arquette-fronted psychic drama "Medium." Check out the new schedule, after the jump.

"Medium" will be back in its original time slot from 2005, Mondays at 10:00 p.m. The show was moved to Wednesday nights last season to make way for "Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip," but the ratings declined.

In addition to "Medium" there is more scripted drama on the reality-heavy schedule with all 3 incarnations of the "Law & Order" franchise, new episodes of "Friday Night Lights" and "Las Vegas" and the new dramedy "Lipstick Jungle."

On Thursdays night, the Peacock will rotate repeats of its critically-acclaimed comedies. NBC's signature series "Heroes" as well as the freshman dramas "Chuck" and "Life" are, for the time being, on hiatus until further notice.


SCHEDULE:


Mondays (effective January 7, 2008)

8:00 p.m. "American Gladiators";
(premieres Sunday, January 6, 9-11 p.m.)
9:00 p.m. "Deal or No Deal"
10:00 p.m. "Medium" (season premiere)


Tuesdays (effective January 1, 2008)

8:00 p.m. "The Biggest Loser"
10:00 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)

8:00 p.m. NBC Comedy Series
8:30 p.m. NBC Comedy Series
9:00 p.m. "The Celebrity Apprentice" (season premiere)
10:00 p.m. "ER" ("Lipstick Jungle" premieres February 7 in time slot)


Fridays (effective January 4, 2008)

8:00 p.m. "1 vs. 100"
9:00 p.m. "Friday Night Lights"
10:00 p.m. "Las Vegas"


OTHER:


Sunday, January 6, 2008

7:00 p.m. "Deal or No Deal"
9:00 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

10:00 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)

This is
TELEVISIONISTA.Net
Entertainment Exposed

NBC's "Wedding" Crashed; "Medium" To Live

NBC has announced it is pulling the low-rated reality series "The Real Wedding Crashers" putting repeats of "Law & Order: Criminal Intent" in its place, while Patricia Arquette-fronted "Medium" got an early renewal for a fourth season.

"Law & Order: CI" as well as its original incarnation are considered to be "on the bubble," but there now seems to be hope for the former as the network puts its fall schedule together.

The new schedule will of course be unveiled at next week's Upfronts event in New York. NBC has however decided not to wait that long and give its Wednesday night series "Medium" an early renewal.

The show has struggled in its new timeslot, but it nevertheless manages to build on its lead-in "Crossing Jordan." Last month the network ordered more scripts, always a good sign for a show's survival.

Meanwhile, there is still no news on the fate of "Friday Night Lights," the network's other "on-the-bubble" Wednesday night show which has awed TV critics and its small but loyal audience with its quality storytelling.

There has, however, been some positive buzz that the cast will be attending the event in New York next week, which means the drama may also get the network's bode of confidence.

This is TELEVISIONISTA

NBC May Pick Up "Medium", "Scrubs" Returns Earlier

Emphasis on the word "may". The word is out the Peacock network has just ordered six additional scripts for its supernatural drama "Medium". And that's always good news. The network's midseason comedy "Andy Barker, P.I." won't be that lucky, though.

According to trade press, the psychic crime drama starring Patricia Arquette may get a new episodic order.

The show was off to a hot start back in January 2005 when it premiered to over 16 million viewers, being one of the brightest spots in the network's schedule that season.

Then NBC moved the show to its current Wednesday at 10 timeslot and delayed its 3rd season premiere till November 2006 to make way for Aaron Sorkin's "Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip" which unceremoniously flopped.

Although the ratings for the show cooled off quite a bit in its new timeslot the script order may be the first indication the network is thinking of bringing the show back for a 4th season.

Hollywood Reporter says NBC renewed its other "on-the-bubble" drama "Las Vegas" in part to keep the show in production and bank new episodes as there is some talk of a writer's strike in the fall.

Meanwhile "Andy Barker, P.I.", the new comedy from Conan O'Brien will no longer air as part of "Comedy Night Done Right" line-up. The last 2 episodes were rescheduled to Saturday night, the horrible place where bad shows go to die.

That's great news for the fans of "Scrubs" - NBC will air a new episode of the comedy a week earlier than originally scheduled, that's this Thursday at 9:31 p.m., in the show's new timeslot.

This is TELEVISIONISTA

90210 Hunk To Guest Star on NBC's "Medium"

TV Guide reports that former 90210 hunk Jason Priestley will appear in a three-episode arc as a gambling addict named Walter Paxton on NBC's supernatural series "Medium". He starts work this week, and his first episode airs in May.

Meanwhile, another familiar face from FOX Wednesdays in the 90's "Party of Five" vet Neve Campbell is also scheduled to appear on the series in May, although the details of her appearance remain unknown.

Medium airs on NBC on Wednesday nights at 10 p.m., opposite Neve's former "Party of Five" castmate Matthew Fox's hit drama "LOST" on ABC.

This is TELEVISIONISTA