David
2008-12-03 21:18:19 UTC
from the hollywood reporter
NBC's 'Office' gets post-Super Bowl spot
by James Hibberd
NBC's hit comedy "The Office" will get the coveted post Super Bowl
spot next year, the network confirmed. While new drama "Kings" will
take over for "ER" on Thursday nights after the medical drama airs its
series finale.
"February and March are going to be exciting months on NBC and the
Super Bowl is just the beginning," said NBC co-chair Ben Silverman.
"The biggest event on television will provide the perfect promotional
platform as we launch some of the most eagerly anticipated new and
returning shows on any schedule."
The announcement was part of a flurry of NBC scheduling decisions made
Wednesday, including:
-- "Celebrity Apprentice" will be expanded to two hours next season,
with episodes airing on Sunday nights beginning March 1.
-- "Kings" will launch with a two-hour premiere March 19. The show
will take over NBC's valuable Thursdays-at-10 p.m. time period after
"ER" has its series finale March 12.
-- "Medium" will return Feb. 2 in its former Monday time period.
"Chuck" will return from hiatus on the same night with a 3-D episode,
and "Heroes" will launch its new volume "Fugitives."
-- A one-hour episode of "The Office" will air after the Super Bowl on
Feb. 1.
-- The schedule also includes the Val Kilmer miniseries "XIII," which
premieres Feb. 8 (description below).
Premieres for additional midseason shows -- The Untitled Amy Poehler
Project and The Philanthropist will be announced at a future
date.
Schedule below.
More to come, refresh for latest.
MONDAYS (beginning February 2)
8-9 p.m. -- Chuck (returns with 3-D episode)
9-10 p.m. -- Heroes (new volume "Fugitives" begins)
10-11 p.m. Medium
WEDNESDAYS
8-9 p.m. -- Knight Rider (season finale February 25)
8-9 p.m. (TBA -- new show begins March 4)
9-10 p.m. Life (beginning February 4)
THURSDAY (March 12)
9-11 p.m. ER Series Finale
THURSDAY
9-11 p.m. KINGS (two-hour series premiere March 19)
10-11 p.m. KINGS (regular day and time beginning March 26)
SUNDAYS (February 8 and 15)
9-11 p.m. -- XIII (original movie event)
SUNDAYS (beginning March 1)
9-11 p.m. -- Celebrity Apprentice (special two-hour episodes)
SUNDAY EVENT SPECIALS
6:15-10:30 p.m. SUPER BOWL XLIII (February 1)
10:30-11:30 p.m. (ET) The Office (February 1; broadcast
simultaneous to all time zones)
9-11 p.m. XIII (February 8 and 15)
XIII description from press release:
XIII is a high-stakes cat-and-mouse thriller starring Val Kilmer
(The Doors), Stephen Dorff (World Trade Center), Stephen McHattie
(Watchmen) and Jessalyn Gilsig (NBCs Heroes). The
adrenaline-charged miniseries begins dramatically as the first female
U.S. president is shot dead by a sniper during her Veterans Day
speech. Three months later, a wounded man is found tattered in a
forest with no memory of his identity. The only clue is a tattoo on
his neck -- XIII. Could his lightning-fast reflexes and killer
instincts betray him as the presidential assassin that the U.S. is
desperately searching for? Submerged in a far-reaching conspiracy,
which threatens to overthrow the entire government, XIIIs identity
becomes the key to unraveling a complex and dangerous secret that will
shock and excite. From the first bullet, this gripping action-thriller
will leave audiences gasping for more. Ted Atherton (Max Payne),
John Bourgeois (Burn Up), Greg Bryk (ReGenesis), Lucinda Davis
(Wargames: The Dead Code), and Caterina Murino (Casino Royale)
also star. XIII is produced by Prodigy Pictures and Cipango.
NBC's 'Office' gets post-Super Bowl spot
by James Hibberd
NBC's hit comedy "The Office" will get the coveted post Super Bowl
spot next year, the network confirmed. While new drama "Kings" will
take over for "ER" on Thursday nights after the medical drama airs its
series finale.
"February and March are going to be exciting months on NBC and the
Super Bowl is just the beginning," said NBC co-chair Ben Silverman.
"The biggest event on television will provide the perfect promotional
platform as we launch some of the most eagerly anticipated new and
returning shows on any schedule."
The announcement was part of a flurry of NBC scheduling decisions made
Wednesday, including:
-- "Celebrity Apprentice" will be expanded to two hours next season,
with episodes airing on Sunday nights beginning March 1.
-- "Kings" will launch with a two-hour premiere March 19. The show
will take over NBC's valuable Thursdays-at-10 p.m. time period after
"ER" has its series finale March 12.
-- "Medium" will return Feb. 2 in its former Monday time period.
"Chuck" will return from hiatus on the same night with a 3-D episode,
and "Heroes" will launch its new volume "Fugitives."
-- A one-hour episode of "The Office" will air after the Super Bowl on
Feb. 1.
-- The schedule also includes the Val Kilmer miniseries "XIII," which
premieres Feb. 8 (description below).
Premieres for additional midseason shows -- The Untitled Amy Poehler
Project and The Philanthropist will be announced at a future
date.
Schedule below.
More to come, refresh for latest.
MONDAYS (beginning February 2)
8-9 p.m. -- Chuck (returns with 3-D episode)
9-10 p.m. -- Heroes (new volume "Fugitives" begins)
10-11 p.m. Medium
WEDNESDAYS
8-9 p.m. -- Knight Rider (season finale February 25)
8-9 p.m. (TBA -- new show begins March 4)
9-10 p.m. Life (beginning February 4)
THURSDAY (March 12)
9-11 p.m. ER Series Finale
THURSDAY
9-11 p.m. KINGS (two-hour series premiere March 19)
10-11 p.m. KINGS (regular day and time beginning March 26)
SUNDAYS (February 8 and 15)
9-11 p.m. -- XIII (original movie event)
SUNDAYS (beginning March 1)
9-11 p.m. -- Celebrity Apprentice (special two-hour episodes)
SUNDAY EVENT SPECIALS
6:15-10:30 p.m. SUPER BOWL XLIII (February 1)
10:30-11:30 p.m. (ET) The Office (February 1; broadcast
simultaneous to all time zones)
9-11 p.m. XIII (February 8 and 15)
XIII description from press release:
XIII is a high-stakes cat-and-mouse thriller starring Val Kilmer
(The Doors), Stephen Dorff (World Trade Center), Stephen McHattie
(Watchmen) and Jessalyn Gilsig (NBCs Heroes). The
adrenaline-charged miniseries begins dramatically as the first female
U.S. president is shot dead by a sniper during her Veterans Day
speech. Three months later, a wounded man is found tattered in a
forest with no memory of his identity. The only clue is a tattoo on
his neck -- XIII. Could his lightning-fast reflexes and killer
instincts betray him as the presidential assassin that the U.S. is
desperately searching for? Submerged in a far-reaching conspiracy,
which threatens to overthrow the entire government, XIIIs identity
becomes the key to unraveling a complex and dangerous secret that will
shock and excite. From the first bullet, this gripping action-thriller
will leave audiences gasping for more. Ted Atherton (Max Payne),
John Bourgeois (Burn Up), Greg Bryk (ReGenesis), Lucinda Davis
(Wargames: The Dead Code), and Caterina Murino (Casino Royale)
also star. XIII is produced by Prodigy Pictures and Cipango.