Musical Chairs: NBC Reshuffles Nearly Its Entire Schedule

As expected, NBC has reshuffled its fall schedule, only a week after unveiling the new lineup to advertisers in New York.

While rumors were flying last week that NBC would move Aaron Sorkin's new drama Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip away from competition (from relocated Grey's Anatomy), the Peacock moved more than just that, rearranging Kidnapped, Deal or No Deal, Law & Order, and Law & Order: Criminal Intent, in addition to Studio 60. NBC will also be bringing Crossing Jordan back in the fall, rather than mid-season, and will bench the Patricia Arquette supernatural drama Medium until later in the season.

President of NBC Entertainment Kevin Reilly announced the schedule shuffle and issued the following statement:

"We've enjoyed an extremely successful development season and are going to do what it takes to give each new series the strongest launch we can. Now that we've assessed the competitive landscape, we've scheduled our new shows in time periods where we believe they'll succeed and will be supporting them with robust marketing campaigns and the full resources of the network."

In other words, NBC's terrified of Grey's Anatomy.

Among other changes, NBC has relocated Studio 60 away from the busy Thursdays at 9 pm timeslot to a less crowded Mondays at 10 pm, a move which I like very much. Even more so, I really appreciate NBC shifting Tina Fey's new comedy 30 Rock (which I saw the other day and loved) away from Wednesdays at 9 pm opposite Lost to Wednesdays at 8:30 pm, making me an extremely happy boy.

And I'm happy about NBC moving Kidnapped from Tuesdays at 9 pm to Wednesdays at 10 pm. While it was previously against my beloved Veronica Mars, it's now in the same timeslot as ABC's new ensemble drama The Nine, which I didn't really enjoy at all that much. Hmmm. So the edge goes to Kidnapped, though I might just have to give The Nine a second chance.

NBC's REVISED SCHEDULE FOR FALL 2006-07

MONDAY
8-9 pm: Deal or No Deal
9-10 pm: HEROES
10-11 pm: STUDIO 60 ON THE SUNSET STRIP (new day and time)

TUESDAY
8-9 pm: FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS
9-10 pm: Law & Order: Criminal Intent (new day and time)
10-11 pm: Law & Order: Special Victims Unit

WEDNESDAY
8-8:30 pm: 20 GOOD YEARS (new time)
8:30-9 pm: 30 ROCK (new time)
9-10 pm: The Biggest Loser (new time)
10-11 pm: KIDNAPPED (new day and time)

THURSDAY
8-8:30 pm: My Name Is Earl
8:30-9 pm: The Office
9-10 pm: Deal or No Deal (new day and time)
10-11 pm: ER/(THE BLACK DONNELLYS in January 2007)

FRIDAY
8-9 pm: Crossing Jordan (new day and time)
9-10 pm: Las Vegas
10-11 pm: Law & Order (new day)

SATURDAY
8-9 pm: Dateline Saturday
9-11 pm: Drama Series Encores

SUNDAY
7-8 pm: FOOTBALL NIGHT IN AMERICA
8-11 pm: SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL