NBC schedule shakeup: "Life" gets paroled

Law and order to the rescue!

NBC is the first network to shake up its fall lineup, rebranding Wednesdays as a crime night.

A new midweek drama block will consist of "Knight Rider" and "Life," as well as the return of midseason replacement "Law & Order" to its traditional time period. The new Wednesday lineup debuts Nov. 5 and will mark the 19th season premiere for "L&O."

"Lipstick Jungle," which has been under-performing on Wednesdays at 10 p.m., is shifting to Friday nights starting Oct. 31 -- effectively swapping places with "Life."

Also, NBC is moving the premiere of Ryan Seacrest's reality series "Momma's Boys." The program will premiere after the finale of "Biggest Loser" on Dec. 16, then will move to Mondays at 9 p.m., taking over the "Heroes" time period during the action drama's winter hiatus.

The shakeup represents a real second-chance (third chance?) for "Life." It's rare for a drama to get banished to airless Friday nights, then climb back out to midweek.

As previously noted, NBC plugging a leak with "Life" makes sense as CBS crime procedurals are among the few genres holding their water during this difficult season. Also as previously noted, the Wednesdays at 9 p.m. slot is weak, and "there's room for a new drama here to rule the mob." "Life" was earning about a 2.7 rating after "Heroes," then fell sharply when moved to Fridays at 10 p.m.

Though "Life" will have a tough time against CBS' "Criminal Minds," the show now has hope once again for a pickup should it perform competitively (and the bar for what's "competitive" has been lowering faster than a limbo stick this season).

From the release:

"These moves will play to the shows' mutual strengths and will help us to reinforce our lineup," said NBC co-chairs Ben Silverman and Marc Graboff.  "A Wednesday night with wall-to-wall satisfying mysteries and great dramas -- paced by the return of the original 'Law & Order' to its home on Wednesdays – will provide creative continuity that night.  Fridays will feature escapist drama with 'Lipstick Jungle' joining 'Crusoe.'  Additionally, this strategy for 'Momma's Boys' offers the show a more favorable launch platform."

Comments

[Bruce]

They have amess on their hands in almost every time period. This will do little to dig them out.

[Ron]

Long as Chuck is ok. I know it's been struggling in the ratings, but it's shown increase of ratings every outing.

[Ron]

Long as Chuck is ok. I know it's been struggling in the ratings, but it's shown increase of ratings every outing.

[Thoughtless4U]

I think it is great news. This great show wasn't performing well on Friday nights and I definitely think it deserves a far better chance on Wednesday night.

[Jack]

I wish more networks would shake their line-up a bit. There are way to many shows which conflict with another good one, which causes a big dip in ratings for good shows, which may lead to them being canned, which would suck.

[trina]

I LOVE Lipstick Jungle. Actually I am kind of glad it's moving because I have no life and Friday night TV sucks. As it is right now, LJ is on opposite Dirty Sexy Money so I end up DVRing it. Whoo hoo I can watch it in real time for a change.

[Sue]

I love LIFE!!!! It is one of my favorite shows I watch it online, and I really hope it does well on Wed. I would hate to see it get canceled.

[Fellzor]

Life is one of my FAVORITE shows on NBC, it would really be upsetting if it were canceled. It will hopefully do better on Wednesday. In most cases I'm seeing is people don't know it exists, not that they don't like it and Friday doesn't seem to be the best day for a show that isn't too popular yet to be on.

[Jay]

LIFE = PWNAGE

EXCELLENT SHOW! I HOPE THEY STAY ON FOR AWHILE! :D

[Stacey]

Life shows what so many of us watch television for. Good crime drama, but it has shown us so much more. The zen quotes, the fantastic underlying conspiracy plot, tidbits of continuing romance with several of the characters. Some of these things have disappeared from television on other networks because executives don't think they belong on current tv programs. I personally think that those are the things that make television worth watching, and should be emphasized and not phased out.