NBC Looks To Revamp Mid-Season Schedule With New Series

by Wayne Friedman , November 14, 2011

NBC, still looking to reverse its prime-time fortunes, is one of the first out of the gate in looking to revamp its mid-season schedule -- with four new series.

While "Sunday Night Football" has kept the network from completely losing all kinds of rating steam, the network has witnessed 11% lower numbers when it comes to adult 18-49 viewers in the metric that advertisers make their deals on -- Nielsen commercial ratings plus three days of DVR playback (C3).

Some of the series were announced during this past summer's upfront TV presentations, including “Smash,” a one-hour drama about the travails of starting up a new Broadway musical, and "Are You There, Chelsea?," a comedy from late-night E! host Chelsea Handler.

"Smash" will start January 8 and then settle into its Monday 10 p.m. time slot. It will follow high-rated singing competition show "The Voice", which goes on Monday between 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. "The Voice" will get a huge start for its second season following the Super Bowl on February 5th, before its time slot debut the next night.

"Fashion Star," the new reality competition series hosted and executive-produced by Elle Macpherson, will start up on March 13 -- in its time-slot debut March 20, at 10 p.m on Tuesdays -- after "Parenthood" ends its season in late February.

NBC's rookie comedy "Whitney" will move to Wednesdays at 8 p.m., to be followed by "Chelsea" at 8:30 p.m. "Rock Center with Brian Williams" will go in its new time period from 9 p.m. to 10 p.m.

On Thursdays, "30 Rock" will return at 8 p.m., starting January 12. At 9:30 p.m., "Up All Night" moves into its new time period. Then new drama "The Firm" starts up.

On Fridays, NBC's returning reality show, “Who Do You Think You Are?” makes its season debut on February 3 at 8 p.m.

On Sunday, NBC does its usual mid-season shuffling to replace NFL: “The Celebrity Apprentice” comes back at 9 p.m. in February; then “Dateline NBC” begins on Sundays at 7 p.m. on January 8. “Harry’s Law” moves to the 8 p.m. slot on March 4.

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