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NBC
2001-2002 Primetime Schedule
Written
By Rick Ellis, May 14th, 2001
NBC
announced their new 2001-2002 primetime schedule on Monday, and
the watchword seems to be "business as usual." Wednesday
and Friday have no changes at all, with the only change on Thursdays
at 8:30. NBC is dropping its long-time Sunday block of theatrical
movies and miniseries, replacing it with two new dramas. On Mondays,
"Third Watch" moves up an hour, and "Three Sisters"
changes its time period on Tuesdays.
Several
shows that were rumored to be on the schedule ultimately didn't
make the final cut. Those include "Second to None" (executive-produced
by Paula Marshall, Betsy Thomas and Paul Reiser), a comedy about
two divorcees who optimistically approach love;
"Bliss," featuring stand-up comedian Debi Gutierrez as
a Latina teacher who tries to balance a career with a husband and
kids; "Watching the Detectives" (formerly "Spy Girl"),
starring Jennie Garth and the untitled sitcom starring Sisqo. That
series was set to costar Bob Newhart in an "Odd Couple"
like pairing, but Newhart bailed after the pilot was filmed, which
may have sealed the fate of the show.
New Comedies
Emeril
Scrubs
Inside Schwartz
New Dramas
Crossing Jordan
Law
And Order: Criminal Intent
UC: Undercover
Midseason
Series
What
Are You Thinking?
Leap Of Faith
Midseason
Pilot
Julia Louis-Dreyfus
Project
*New
programs in CAPS
MONDAY
8-9 p.m. "Weakest Link"
9-10 p.m. "Third Watch" (new time)
10-11 p.m. "CROSSING
JORDAN"
TUESDAY
8-8:30 p.m. "EMERIL"
8:30-9 p.m. "Three Sisters" (new time)
9-9:30 p.m. "Frasier"
9:30-10 p.m. "SCRUBS"
10-11 p.m. "Dateline NBC"
WEDNESDAY
8-9 p.m. "Ed"
9-10 p.m. "The West Wing"
10-11 p.m. "Law & Order"
THURSDAY
8-8:30 p.m. "Friends"
8:30-9 p.m. "INSIDE
SCHWARTZ"
9-9:30 p.m. "Will & Grace"
9:30-10 p.m. "Just Shoot Me"
10-11 p.m. "ER"
FRIDAY
8-9 p.m. "Providence"
9-10 p.m. "Dateline NBC"
10-11 p.m. "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit"
SATURDAY
8-11 p.m. "NBC Saturday Night Movie"
SUNDAY
7-8 p.m. "Dateline NBC"
8-9 p.m. "Weakest Link" (additional day/time)
9-10 p.m. "LAW
& ORDER: CRIMINAL INTENT"
10-11 p.m. "UC:
UNDERCOVER"
NBC'S NIGHT-BY-NIGHT PRIMETIME STRATEGY
MONDAY
The
midseason hit "Weakest Link" gave NBC its greatest Monday 8-9 p.m.
success since the winning combination of "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air"
and "Blossom." The series improved its time period by 77 percent
in adults 18-49 and is TV's most upscale reality series. Incumbent
"Third Watch" has earned praise for its recent storyline direction
and heads into year three as the No. 1 drama in its time period,
having won the 10-11 p.m. hour after the conclusion of Monday Night
Football. "Crossing Jordan" brings Jill Hennessy back to NBC in
a crime mystery series that capitalizes on her profile as a bona
fide TV star, in a time period where no competing series has found
success.
TUESDAY
Already
a proven ratings grabber on cable and an icon to cooks everywhere,
Emeril Lagasse is a larger-than-life star whose appeal is validated
in research and in pop culture. His show kicks off an NBC lineup
that viewers look to for sophisticated, smart comedy. It is followed
by "Three Sisters," which was a solid time period winner during
its freshman season. "Frasier" – winner of a record five consecutive
Emmy Awards as Outstanding Comedy Series – remains the top-rated
series on Tuesday and returns to anchor the night. Recently renewed
for three more seasons, "Frasier" this year gave NBC its widest
margin of victory ever among adults 18-49 in the Tuesday 9-9:30
p.m. half hour. The new comedy "Scrubs" scored impressively with
test groups and should take advantage of its strong lead-in. "Dateline
NBC," which will celebrate its tenth anniversary in March 2002,
returns to its flagship Tuesday 10 p.m. time period. "Dateline"
stands strong as the No. 1 newsmagazine franchise in key demographics
and the most upscale primetime news series.
WEDNESDAY
NBC's
winning "Must See TV" drama night remains intact with People's Choice
Award winner "Ed" kicking off the night. The critically acclaimed
drama/comedy is the season's most upscale freshman series and gave
NBC double-digit ratings growth in the 8 p.m. hour versus last season.
Emmy Award, Peabody Award and Golden Globe winner "The West Wing"
(Outstanding Drama Series) returns at 9 p.m. as the most upscale
series on television, with year-to-year growth of 38 percent in
adults 18-49. The venerable drama "Law & Order" – about to enter
its twelfth season – is coming off another record-setting season
and continued ratings growth.
THURSDAY
Television's
No. 1 comedy and No. 1 drama – critically acclaimed smash hits "Friends"
and "ER" – bookend NBC's signature night, which is unchanged except
for the addition of "Inside Schwartz" in the 8:30-9 p.m. time period.
Emmy winner "Will & Grace" (Outstanding Comedy Series) and "Just
Shoot Me" give heft to the 9-10 p.m. hour. The former is television's
top-rated comedy in upscale demographics; "Just Shoot Me" – just
renewed for two more seasons – improved the time period by 13 percent
and delivered a younger-skewing audience leading into "ER." These
smart, upscale series provide the perfect launch pad for "Inside
Schwartz," featuring a cast and concept that should appeal to NBC
viewers.
FRIDAY
The
top-rated schedule of "Providence," "Dateline NBC" and "Law & Order:
Special Victims Unit" closes out the work week. Audience-pleaser
"Providence" continues to impress, by dominating its time period
in upscale demographics, and "Law & Order: SVU" soared in its second
season, becoming the No. 1 Friday series and NBC's most dominant
Friday 10 p.m. series since "Miami Vice."
SATURDAY
With
fewer movie nights on network television in the 2001-02 season,
NBC is poised to take advantage of the reduced competition by offering
a variety of acclaimed feature films and box-office hits. Consolidating
all the network's strongest titles on one night, along with adding
program material that reveals the interesting stories behind the
movies, will increase the strength of Saturdays.
SUNDAY
"Dateline
NBC" leads off a revamped Sunday night, followed by a new installment
of "Weakest Link." With made-for-television movies experiencing
ratings erosion, the time is right to try alternative programs in
what was once a movie showcase. Since "Law & Order"-branded series
continue to dominate their time periods and have experienced growth,
there's every expectation that "Criminal Intent's" new take on crime
drama will do the same. "UC: Undercover" provides a slick action
hour unlike any series currently on network TV and is a fresh alternative
to movies on CBS and an aging drama on ABC.
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