NBC's 'Office' gets post-Super Bowl spot
NBC's hit comedy "The Office" will get the coveted post Super Bowl spot next year, while new drama "Kings" will take over for "ER" on Thursday nights after the long-running medical drama airs its series finale.
The post-Bowl slot is considered the most valuable piece of programming real estate on television, exposing a series to tens of millions of viewers. NBC will air a special one-hour episode of its Emmy-winning comedy after the game concludes Feb. 1.
"'The Office' is a perfect fit for after the Super Bowl," said NBC's scheduling chief Mitch Metcalf. "It’s going to be a hilariously funny hour, and I think people will be in the mood to laugh after the big game."
With NBC's ratings severely depressed this fall, the Super Bowl telecast presents a valuable opportunity to bring viewers back to the network. NBC had the choice of several options for the post-Bowl spot, including launching "Kings," re-launching the new "volume" of "Heroes," or premiering the new edition of "Celebrity Apprentice."
"You just don’t want something that’s too heavy and some of the best performances after the Super Bowl have been comedies," Metcalf said. "This could bring a whole new audience to the show."
NBC also announced it will expand "The Apprentice" to two hours, with episodes airing on Sunday nights beginning March 1 at 9 p.m. The network is increasing both the number of produced hours and the time period block, with additional footage used from the boardroom scenes and challenges.
"The boardroom footage we normally we leave on cutting room floor has always been gold," Metcalf said.
"The Apprentice" did not perform well during its last run on Sunday nights, however. Last season, NBC shifted the show to Thursdays and aired a celebrity version, which revitalized the show. So will viewers watch twice as much of Donald Trump on the tougher of the two nights?
"The show has really found its groove with the last cycle," Metcalf said. "And this one is shaping up to be even better. The last Sunday outing was some time ago. Sunday is ripe for a big loud reality show in the later hours."
New drama "Kings," which retells the story of King David in modern times, will launch with a two-hour premiere March 19. “Kings” will take over NBC's valuable Thursdays-at-10 p.m. time period after "ER" has its series finale March 12.
"'Kings' is something we’re really proud of," Metcalf said. "We’ve seen several episodes. Sometimes a show after a great pilot disappoints; this is just the opposite. The characters get even stronger as we get into the series."
Also: The psychic drama "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." The miniseries "XIII," starring Val Kilmer (full description below), will premiere Feb. 8. "Knight Rider" will have an early season (and possibly series) finale on Feb. 25.
Not yet announced are premieres dates for the untitled Amy Poehler comedy and “The Philanthropist.” Metcalf said there's a chance "The Philanthropist" will not be ready until next fall.
"Were going to take a look at 'The Philanthropist,' it’s a great script, the cast has come together and they've started shooting it," he said. "We’re going to wait until episodes are cut. The one thing we’ve all learned is scheduling shows blindly is a tough thing to do. We're going to our time with this. It could be on in the spring, it could be on in the fall."
NBC's February and March premiere dates below. To see the network's January premieres, go here.
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 (NBC’s “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, XIII’s 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.
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