My Name Is Earl" looks like it's going to need whatever good karma it's built up so far this season.
NBC's highest-rated new series is making the move to the cutthroat environment of Thursday nights starting in January as the network tries to re-establish the Thursday comedy block that served it so well for years. Its current Tuesday-night mate, "The Office," will also make the move to Thursdays, where they'll try to survive against CBS' powerful "CSI."
The change opens up Tuesday nights for the return of "Scrubs," which will begin its fifth season on Jan. 3. NBC plans to run back-to-back new episodes of the show in January, leading up to the start of the Winter Olympics on Feb. 10. "Joey" and "The Apprentice" will return following the Olympics, with the former possibly becoming a "Scrubs" companion on Tuesdays.
Two other new shows, the comedy "Four Kings" and the drama "Book of Daniel," will also debut in January. NBC is also making a weekly series of its occasional fill-in show "Most Outrageous TV Moments."
"These midseason adjustments allow us to showcase the season's top-rated new comedy in 'Earl' as well as the increasingly popular 'The Office' on Thursdays, along with the new 'Four Kings,' while we also introduce a great new drama series in 'Book of Daniel' on Fridays," NBC Entertainment president Kevin Reilly says. "In so doing, we have the pieces in place to fulfill one of our goals -- to bring back a block of quality comedy to Thursday nights."
"Will & Grace" will now lead off NBC's Thursday, with "Four Kings" -- which was created by the "W&G" team of Max Mutchnick and David Kohan -- at 8:30 p.m. ET. "Earl" and "The Office" will fill the 9 p.m. hour, with "ER" staying put at 10.
"Most Outrageous TV Moments" will take over the 8 p.m. Friday spot, with "Dateline" at 9 and "Book of Daniel" at 10. The latter, about an Episcopal priest (Aidan Quinn) who has visions of -- and conversations with -- Jesus. It will open with a two-hour premiere on Jan. 6 and run as a limited series until the opening of the Olympics.
One other change: With "The Apprentice: Martha Stewart" ending, the 9 p.m. Wednesday hour will be filled by a series of themed "Biggest Loser" specials called "The Biggest Loser: Special Edition."
Here's a look at changes to NBC's schedule, with new shows in bold. Saturday, Sunday and Monday lineups remain intact.
Tuesday, Jan. 3
8 p.m. "Fear Factor" (premieres Dec. 6)
9 p.m. "Scrubs" (back-to-back episodes)
10 p.m. "Law & Order: SVU"
Wednesday, Jan. 4
8 p.m. "E-Ring"
9 p.m. "The Biggest Loser: Special Edition"
10 p.m. "Law & Order"
Thursday, Jan. 5
8 p.m. "Will & Grace"
8:30 p.m. "Four Kings"
9 p.m. "My Name Is Earl"
9:30 p.m. "The Office"
10 p.m. "ER"
Friday, Jan. 6
8 p.m. "Most Outrageous TV Moments"
9 p.m. "Book of Daniel" (two-hour premiere; moves to 10 p.m. Jan. 13)
Source
NBC's highest-rated new series is making the move to the cutthroat environment of Thursday nights starting in January as the network tries to re-establish the Thursday comedy block that served it so well for years. Its current Tuesday-night mate, "The Office," will also make the move to Thursdays, where they'll try to survive against CBS' powerful "CSI."
The change opens up Tuesday nights for the return of "Scrubs," which will begin its fifth season on Jan. 3. NBC plans to run back-to-back new episodes of the show in January, leading up to the start of the Winter Olympics on Feb. 10. "Joey" and "The Apprentice" will return following the Olympics, with the former possibly becoming a "Scrubs" companion on Tuesdays.
Two other new shows, the comedy "Four Kings" and the drama "Book of Daniel," will also debut in January. NBC is also making a weekly series of its occasional fill-in show "Most Outrageous TV Moments."
"These midseason adjustments allow us to showcase the season's top-rated new comedy in 'Earl' as well as the increasingly popular 'The Office' on Thursdays, along with the new 'Four Kings,' while we also introduce a great new drama series in 'Book of Daniel' on Fridays," NBC Entertainment president Kevin Reilly says. "In so doing, we have the pieces in place to fulfill one of our goals -- to bring back a block of quality comedy to Thursday nights."
"Will & Grace" will now lead off NBC's Thursday, with "Four Kings" -- which was created by the "W&G" team of Max Mutchnick and David Kohan -- at 8:30 p.m. ET. "Earl" and "The Office" will fill the 9 p.m. hour, with "ER" staying put at 10.
"Most Outrageous TV Moments" will take over the 8 p.m. Friday spot, with "Dateline" at 9 and "Book of Daniel" at 10. The latter, about an Episcopal priest (Aidan Quinn) who has visions of -- and conversations with -- Jesus. It will open with a two-hour premiere on Jan. 6 and run as a limited series until the opening of the Olympics.
One other change: With "The Apprentice: Martha Stewart" ending, the 9 p.m. Wednesday hour will be filled by a series of themed "Biggest Loser" specials called "The Biggest Loser: Special Edition."
Here's a look at changes to NBC's schedule, with new shows in bold. Saturday, Sunday and Monday lineups remain intact.
Tuesday, Jan. 3
8 p.m. "Fear Factor" (premieres Dec. 6)
9 p.m. "Scrubs" (back-to-back episodes)
10 p.m. "Law & Order: SVU"
Wednesday, Jan. 4
8 p.m. "E-Ring"
9 p.m. "The Biggest Loser: Special Edition"
10 p.m. "Law & Order"
Thursday, Jan. 5
8 p.m. "Will & Grace"
8:30 p.m. "Four Kings"
9 p.m. "My Name Is Earl"
9:30 p.m. "The Office"
10 p.m. "ER"
Friday, Jan. 6
8 p.m. "Most Outrageous TV Moments"
9 p.m. "Book of Daniel" (two-hour premiere; moves to 10 p.m. Jan. 13)
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