NBC Announces Midseason Plans, Slates Dates for "Parenthood" and "The Marriage Ref"
NBC today unveiled its midseason plans, announcing launch dates for drama series Parenthood and reality series The Marriage Ref, as well as return dates for The Celebrity Apprentice and The Biggest Loser.Drama series Parenthood will launch on Monday, March 1st at 9 pm ET/PT while the Jerry Seinfeld-produced reality series The Marriage Ref will join the schedule on Sunday, March 14th at 8 pm ET/PT.
Returning reality series The Celebrity Apprentice and The Biggest Loser kick off respectively on Sunday, March 14th at 9 pm ET/PT and Tuesday, January 5th from 8-10 pm ET/PT.
And Chuck, of course returns with a two-hour third season premiere on January 10th at 9 pm ET/PT, before moving into its regular timeslot the following evening (January 11th) at 8 pm ET/PT.
Interestingly, no mention was made of sci-fi "miniseries" Day One, which saw its commitment reduced from an initial thirteen episodes to a head-scratching four hours (which NBC indicated would be aired as two two-hours), comedy 100 Questions, or of NBC's fourth season run of Friday Night Lights, which will likely be held until the summer.
The full press release from NBC (and the network's full midseason schedule) can be found below.
"Parenthood" Debuts Monday, March 1 (9-10 p.m. ET) While "The Marriage Ref" Premieres on Sunday, March 14 (8-9 p.m. ET)
"The Celebrity Apprentice" Premieres Sunday, March 14 (9-11 p.m. ET) and "The Biggest Loser" Begins a New Season on Tuesday, January 5 (8-10 p.m. ET)
UNIVERSAL CITY, Calif. – December 14, 2009 --- NBC revealed its mid-season and post-Winter Olympics schedule today as the new drama "Parenthood" debuts Monday, March 1 (9-10 p.m. ET) while "The Marriage Ref," a hilarious comedy panel series from Jerry Seinfeld about marriage, premieres on Sundays (8-9 p.m. ET) beginning March 14.
In addition, "The Celebrity Apprentice" returns in its third installment with an all-star lineup of celebrity candidates on Sunday, March 14 (9-11 p.m. ET). Likewise, the ninth edition of the popular "The Biggest Loser" kicks off on Tuesday, January 5 (8-10 p.m. ET) with 11 family teams of two ready to transform their bodies, their health and ultimately their lives. Other January programming includes "The 67th Annual Golden Globe Awards" hosted by Ricky Gervais on Sunday, January 17 (8-11 p.m. ET) and "The AT&T U.S. Figure Skating Championships" on Saturday and Sunday, January 23-24 (9-11 p.m. ET).
"Parenthood," from Oscar winners Ron Howard and Brian Grazer along with fellow executive producers Jason Katims ("Friday Night Lights") and David Nevins, is inspired by the box-office hit of the same name and features a star-studded cast. The series assumes the Monday (9-10 p.m. ET) time slot beginning March 1 following the season finale of "Heroes" on Monday, February 8 and NBC Universal's exclusive coverage of the Winter Olympics from February 12-28. "Chuck," as previously announced, will return with a two-hour premiere on Sunday, January 10 (9-11 p.m. ET) before moving to its regular day and time Monday, January 11 (8-9 p.m. ET).
The new mid-season additions to NBC's program schedule grid follows (all times ET).
MONDAYS
8-9 p.m. -- "Chuck" (begins January 11; two back-to-back season premiere episodes on January 10 from 9-11 p.m.)
9-10 p.m. -- "Parenthood" (premieres March 1)
10-11 p.m. –"The Jay Leno Show"
TUESDAYS
8-10 p.m. – "The Biggest Loser" (new season premieres on January 5)
10-11 p.m. – "The Jay Leno Show"
WEDNESDAYS
8-9 p.m. – "Mercy"
9-10 p.m. – "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit"
10-11 p.m. – "The Jay Leno Show"
THURSDAYS
8-8:30 p.m. – "Community"
8:30-9 p.m. – "Parks and Recreation"
9-9:30 p.m. – "The Office"
9:30-10 p.m. – "30 Rock"
10-11 p.m. – "The Jay Leno Show"
FRIDAYS
8-9 p.m. -- "Law & Order"
9-10 p.m. -- "Dateline NBC"
10-11 p.m. – "The Jay Leno Show"
SATURDAYS
8-11 p.m. -- Encore Dramas
SUNDAYS
7-9 p.m. -- "Dateline NBC" (through March 7, then moves to 7-8 p.m. beginning March 14)
8-9 p.m. – "The Marriage Ref" (debuts March 14)
9-11 p.m. -- "The Celebrity Apprentice" (premieres Sunday, March 14)
Other special programming includes (all times ET):
SUNDAY, JANUARY 17
7-8 p.m. – "The 67th Annual Golden Globe Red-Carpet Show"
8-11 p.m. – "The 67th Annual Golden Globe Awards"
SATURDAY, JANUARY 23
9-11 p.m. – "The AT&T U.S. Figure Skating Championships"
SUNDAY, JANUARY 24
9-11 p.m. -- "The AT&T U.S. Figure Skating Championships"