NBC will try to awaken the ghosts of past dominance on Thursday night by making it a “family night” of television bolstered by the additions of Sean Hayes and Michael J. Fox.
NBC on Sunday became the first of the major broadcasters to announce its plans for next season, and its executives said they had ordered a staggering 17 new series. Only six of them are on fall’s schedule, however, with another six to join in midseason when NBC hopes to get a burst of attention from its telecast of the Winter Olympics.
The struggling network is also taking a risk by moving two of its young and promising dramas to new nights: “Revolution” will switch from Monday to Wednesday, and “Chicago Fire” from Wednesday to Tuesday.
After an encouraging start to the current season last fall behind Sunday Night Football and “The Voice,” the bottom fell out in midwinter when those two shows went away. NBC had some historically bad ratings, even falling behind the Spanish-speaking Univision in the February sweeps. Its executives were not made available to speak about the plans on Sunday.
Thursday used to be “must-see TV” on NBC in the 1990s but its decline symbolized the network’s troubles. NBC’s new emphasis for Thursday will be on broader-based, family comedies instead of shows like “The Office” which was a hit with critics but not the audience.
NBC will seek a turnaround with “Sean Saves the World,” starring Hayes as a divorced gay dad who juggles work with raising a teenage daughter. Fox’s show mirrors his life — he plays a character getting back to work after being diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease. The third new Thursday comedy is “Welcome to the Family,” about a white high school graduate impregnated by her Latino boyfriend.
Amy Poehler’s “Parks and Recreation” will be back to open NBC’s Thursday schedule. The network announced that the quirky “Community” had been renewed, but it hasn’t found a spot on the schedule yet.
The drama “Parenthood” will air Thursday at 10 p.m.
NBC has canceled several of its shows, including the newsmagazine “Rock Center,” the Matthew Perry comedy “Go On” and the quickly forgotten comedies “The New Normal,” ”Up All Night,” ”Guys With Kids,” ”1600 Penn” and “Whitney.”
The network said no decision has been made on the future of the low-rated serial killer drama “Hannibal” or the durable Donald Trump game “Celebrity Apprentice.”
New fall dramas include “The Blacklist,” which stars James Spader as fugitive who volunteers to help the FBI catch a terrorist; and “Ironside,” with Blair Underwood as a New York City detective who uses a wheelchair.
NBC said two new comedies will replace “The Biggest Loser” on Tuesdays in midseason. And when football goes away, the network will try two new dramas on Sunday nights: “Believe,” a J.J. Abrams series about a girl coming to grips with superpowers, and “Crisis,” about a bus full of children of Washington elite who are kidnapped.
Bob Greenblatt, president of NBC Entertainment, said in a statement that “this is the most robust and highest-testing slate of new shows we have had in years.”
Still, odds are in television that more new shows fail rather than succeed, and the newly ordered programs that don’t yet have a spot on NBC’s schedule will surely replace some of the failures.
Here are NBC’s other new shows:
—”About a Boy,” based on the Nick Hornby novel of the same name, is a comedy about single man who bonds with the 11-year-old son of a woman — played by Minnie Driver — who moves in next door. It is scheduled to air Tuesday nights in midseason.
—”The Family Guide,” a sitcom about a divorced family, is already looking for a new lead: actress Parker Posey dropped out in the past few days. NBC has time to recast it, since the show is scheduled for Tuesdays in midseason.
—”Undateable,” from “Scrubs” producer Bill Lawrence, another comedy in a long line of “Friends”-inspired shows about young people and romantic entanglements.
—”Chicago PD,” a companion to “Chicago Fire,” by veteran producer Dick Wolf. A drama about the rivalry between uniformed cops and the intelligence unit.
—”Crossbones,” with John Malkovich as the 18th Century pirate Blackbeard. On the schedule for Fridays in midseason.
—”Dracula,” a drama beginning in the fall about the iconic character. It airs Friday in the fall, replaced by “Crossbones” in midseason.
—”The Night Shift,” a medical drama focused on the overnight crew in a San Antonio hospital.
—”The Million Second Quiz,” a trivia game show that unfolds over 12 consecutive days.
—”Food Fighters,” a cooking game hosted by Adam Richman that has professional chefs trying to outdo amateurs offering a much-beloved family recipe.
—”American Dream Builders,” a home renovation show hosted by Nate Berkus.
Gene Hackman Died Of Heart Disease; Hantavirus Claimed His Wife’s Life About One Week Prior
Actor Gene Hackman died of heart disease a full week after his wife died from hantavirus in their New Mexico hillside home, likely unaware that she was dead because he was in the advanced stages of Alzheimer's disease, authorities revealed Friday. Both deaths were ruled to be from natural causes, chief medical examiner Dr. Heather Jarrell said alongside state fire and health officials at a news conference. "Mr. Hackman showed evidence of advanced Alzheimer's disease," Jarrell said. "He was in a very poor state of health. He had significant heart disease, and I think ultimately that's what resulted in his death." Authorities didn't suspect foul play after the bodies of Hackman, 95, and Betsy Arakawa, 65, were discovered Feb 26. Immediate tests for carbon monoxide poisoning were negative. Investigators found that the last known communication and activity from Arakawa was Feb. 11 when she visited a pharmacy, pet store and grocery before returning to their gated neighborhood that afternoon, Santa Fe County Sheriff Adan Mendoza said Friday. Hackman's pacemaker last showed signs of activity a week later and that he had an abnormal heart rhythm Feb. 18, the day he likely died, Jarrell said. Although there was no reliable way to determine the date and time when both died, all signs point to their deaths coming a week apart, Jarrell said. "It's quite possible he was not aware she was deceased," Jarrell said. Dr. Michael Baden, a former New York City medical examiner, said he believes Hackman was severely impaired due to Alzheimer's disease and unable to deal with his wife's death in the last week of his life. "You are talking about very severe Alzheimer's disease that normal people would be in a nursing home or have a nurse, but she was taking care... Read More