NBC's "Lipstick Jungle" to Replace "ER"

Following last week's announcement that a new 'celebrity' cycle of Donald Trump's reality show "The Apprentice" would replace the popular NBC comedy "The Office" come January 3, the network has now said that midseason drama "Lipstick Jungle" from "Sex and the City" author Candice Bushnell and starring Brooke Shields, will replace "ER" effective February 7.

ER which airs Thursdays at 10 p.m. will run out of fresh episodes written prior to the strike by the end of January at which time it will be taken off the schedule to make way for the, as NBC exec Ben Silverman puts it, provocative new series.

The new dramedy is based on Bushnell's bestselling novel of the same title and it stars Shields ("Suddenly Susan"), Kim Raver ("24") and Lindsay Price ("Beverly Hills, 90210") as three high-powered friends living in New York City.

NBC has yet to announce what they will air on Thursdays at 8, but many believe the Peacock will stick with repeats of its popular comedies "My Name is Earl" and "The Office."

Even if the strike is resolved before Christmas, it may take a few weeks before production continues on shows that had been forced to shut down, so even if NBC does go back to its regulra Thursday night schedule, chances are this will be NBC's Thursday night line-up in the early weeks of 2008:

8:00 pm Comedy Reruns
9:00 pm Celebrity Apprentice
10:00 pm Lipstick Jungle

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"Friday Night Lights" Premieres October 5, Seinfeld Returns to NBC

Phew! So Ben Silverman didn't cancel 'Friday Night Lights' after all. He is only moving the Texas-based drama's premiere date to October 5 and 9 p.m. Now that may actually be a very good idea. Here's more on that and all NBC fall premiere dates, plus the return of Jerry Seinfeld and "Chuck's" switch to Mondays before "Heroes."

Most of the network's shows will premiere during the official first week of the new TV season beginning Monday, September 24. Because of a 2-hour season premiere of Las Vegas on September 28, FNL will start its sophomore year on October 5.

The show is also swapping timeslots with "Las Vegas" which moves to 10 p.m. In addition to "Las Vegas" being more of 10pm show than FNL, the move may give the football drama a better chance of luring eyeballs as it now goes head-to-head with unestablished rookie shows on ABC and CBS ("Women's Murder Club" and "Moonlight," respectively).

NBC's Comedy Night Done right line-up will begin on September 27 with one-hour episodes of "My Name Is Earl" (8 p.m.) and "The Office" (9 p.m.) followed by the final season premiere of "ER."

TV superstar Jerry Seinfeld will return to NBC Thursdays for one night only on October 4 in the season premiere episode of "30 Rock" playing himself. The show's star Tina Fey said her parents now have an excuse to watch the show.

Here are now NBC's fall premiere dates including Chuck's move to Mondays at 8 ('Deal or no Deal' moves to Fridays).

SEPTEMBER 11
"The Biggest Loser" (8-10 p.m.)

SEPTEMBER 17
"Deal or No Deal" (8-9 p.m.)

SEPTEMBER 24
"CHUCK" (8-9 p.m.)
"Heroes" (9-10 p.m.)
"JOURNEYMAN" (10-11 p.m.)

SEPTEMBER 25
"The Singing Bee" (9:30-10 p.m.)
"Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (10-11 p.m.)

SEPTEMBER 26
"Deal or No Deal" (8-9 p.m.)
"BIONIC WOMAN" (9-10 p.m.)
"LIFE" (10-11 p.m.)

SEPTEMBER 27
"My Name Is Earl" (8-9 p.m.)
"The Office" (9-10 p.m.)
"ER" (10-11 p.m.)

SEPTEMBER 28
"Deal or No Deal" (moves to new day, 8-9 p.m.)
"Las Vegas" (9-11 p.m.)

OCTOBER 4
"30 Rock" (8-8:30 p.m.)

OCTOBER 5
"Friday Night Lights" (9-10 p.m.)

OCTOBER 25
"Scrubs" (9:30-10 p.m.)

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NBC Axes Super-Sizing

McDonald's has done it, now it's NBC's turn. Super-sizing is officially dead as the network promises to end its practice of extending Thursday night comedies.

The gimmick began in the 2000-2001 season when then-president (now NBC Universal prexy) Jeff Zucker came up with a "brilliant" idea how to battle "Survivor" on CBS.

Episodes of "Friends" and "Will & Grace" and more recently "My Name Is Earl" and "The Office" were extended with 5-10 minutes of extra footage and a commercial break.

Giving top comedies odd starting and running times may have worked several years ago, but in today's DVR age it has become obsolete and frankly, more than annoying.

In addition to DVR recording, the practice caused problems for measuring accurate TV ratings.

The only extraordinary scheduling move for NBC's Comedy Night next season will be airing 5 hour-long episodes of "The Office."

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Will NBC Move "Heroes"?

One of the burning questions the observers are asking as NBC prepares to unveil their new schedule today is if its hit drama "Heroes" will move to a new night (Thursdays at 10 p.m. is one of the options) or remain where it is and help launch a new show.

NBC has already disclosed the list of new shows which it will be adding to the schedule come fall including dramas "The Bionic Woman," "Journeyman," "Chuck," "Life," and "Lipstick Jungle."

It appears however the network will not be ordering any of the comedy pilots, but rather stick to the four shows that comprise its Thursday's block "Comedy Night Done Right."

If so, this would be the first time in 30 years NBC has not ordered any new comedy pilots. Hollywood press however reports NBC may order "The I.T. Crowd" as a 6-episode midseason replacement.

The network believes the ratings of its hit shows "My Name Is Earl" and "The Office" were hurt by long breaks filled with repeats and is expected to order expanded seasons of 28-30 episodes of both shows.

"Scrubs" will however return for only 18 episodes.

TV networks in the US have always relied heavily on repeats to amortize the high cost of production, but recent abundance of other platforms (Video-on-demand, I-Tunes, etc.) have resulted in lower ratings for both repeats and originals.

As for "Heroes," many industry experts dispute that NBC would move its only hit freshman show as it may help launch any of the three genre shows the network is launching in the fall.

In addition to "Heroes" and the aforementioned comedies, the networks has already greenlighted new seasons for the following returning shows:

"Law & Order," "Law & Order: SVU," "ER," "Medium," "Friday Night Lights," and "Las Vegas."

As part of a special deal with producer Dick Wolf, "Law & Order: Criminal Intent" is moving to USA Network.

NBC has officially canceled "The Black Donnellys," "Andy Barker, P.I." and "Kidnapped."

The fate of all other shows (including "Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip" and "The Apprentice") will be determined once the network presents its new schedule today.

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NBC Picks Up "Lipstick Jungle," "Scrubs"

NBC has added the drama "Lipstick Jungle" based on the best-selling novel by Candace Bushnell to its fall slate, while its comedy "Scrubs" has been renewed for a 7th season of 18 episodes.

Bushnell's previous book was turned into the HBO hit "Sex and the City." "Lipstick Jungle" will cover similar territory, depicting the lives of a group of successful professional women in New York, also starring Lindsay Price and Kim Raver.

Yesterday the network announced that it has greenlighted the second season of the critically-acclaimed but low-rated "Friday Night Lights" and given 13-episode orders to new dramas "The Bionic Woman," "Journeyman," "Chuck" and "Life."

It is not clear if 'Jungle' will air in the fall or as a midseason replacement.

Meanwhile the network has agreed to do a 7th season of "Scrubs" (ABC has again expressed interest in the series should NBC give it a pass,) but due to a high production cost (including Zach Braff's salary) it ordered only 18 episodes.

Meanwhile, an agreement with the producers of "The Office" was made to bring back the 18-49 hit for a new season of 24 episodes, 4 of which will be hour-long specials.

Earlier there was speculation "The Office" would be turned into a 1-hour show. The extra episodes will compensate lack in the "Scrubs" episode order.

This means all Thursday night comedies have been renewed for the 2007-2008 season and the night will remain intact.

Meanwhile New York Times reports that in addition to the already rumored "Crossing Jordan" NBC will also axe "Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip" and "The Black Donnellys." NBC has yet to confirm that.

"E.R.," "Heroes," "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit," "Las Vegas," "Medium" and the game show "Deal or No Deal" will be returning.

The jury is still out on the other two "Law & Orders" and "The Apprentice."

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"My Name Is Earl" Season Finale Spoilers

NBC's hit comedy "My Name Is Earl" ends its sophomore year tomorrow night at 8 p.m. with Earl's shocking testimony at Joy's trial of the century. Then at 8:30 you can join stars Jaime Pressly (Joy Turner) and Ethan Suplee (Randy Hickey) and executive producer Greg Garcia at a live blogging event.

In "The Trial," Joy (Jaime Pressly) puts her future in the hands of law as her trial finally arrives.

Although he now has it all - a GED, a job, a new apartment, as well as a new, unlikely love interest, Earl commits the ultimate good deed to help Joy, but ends up sacrificing everything.

It all comes down to this trial and Earl's shocking testimony. Giovanni Ribisi, Christine Taylor, Marlee Matlin and Dog the Bounty Hunter guest star.

Finally, if you're a fan of this great comedy, you'll be happy to know you can already post your questions to the show stars Pressley and Suplee and the producer Garcia. Just head over to http://blog.nbc.com/earl/

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"The Office" May Move to 9 p.m.

Variety reports NBC is considering moving its hottest comedy "The Office" into the 9 p.m. timeslot on Thursday nights to face "Grey's Anatomy" and C.S.I. next season. Meanwhile, E! online speculates the network may extend the show to full hour.

Whether or not the rumors about format extension are true, the Peacock network is seriously pondering a move for "The Office" which has consistently delivered the highest 18-49 audience in the comedy line-up at 8:30 p.m. throughout the season.

Currently, the network does very well with the first two comedies of its "Comedy Night Done Right" (including "My Name Is Earl",) but "Scrubs" and "30 Rock" at 9 p.m. have succumbed to competitive pressure.

Recent promos for "Scrubs" seem to indicate NBC is considering ending the show quietly. If so, ABC which produces the laugher may pick it up for its fall schedule, although the cost of production has skyrocketed.

As for moving "The Office", the scenario is more likely if NBC finds a suitable new comedy that would be worthy of the 8:30 slot. If "The Office" remains a half-hour comedy, it could be followed by either the already renewed "30 Rock" or another new comedy.

Back in the days of NBC's winning "Must See TV," the 8:30 slot was frequently home to sitcom underdogs ("Coupling," "Inside Schwartz," etc.) which one by one failed to find an audience despite airing after the blockbuster "Friends."

Currently, the only comedy stronger than "The Office" in the 18-49 demo is the #1 comedy on television "Two an a Half Men" on CBS Mondays.

The move might cause even more DVR use at 9 p.m. on Thursdays, when many people are forced to record either "CSI" or "Grey's Anatomy."

The risky move may also be the first step in NBC's attempt to make its Thursday night comedy line-up a must-see choice again.

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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.

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