NBC makes changes

0 Comments | Deseret News (Salt Lake City), May 15, 2007 | by Scott D. Pierce Deseret Morning News

NBC'S 2007-08 schedule includes a bunch of new shows, a bunch of old shows, a bunch more episodes, a bunch of expected news and a bunch of surprises, including the return of Jerry Seinfeld (sort of).

Oh, and Monday's presentation almost inadvertently included what amounted to an announcement that "Law & Order" co-star Fred Thompson would be leaving the show to run for president.

At the very least, network executives certainly ramped up the conjecture on that subject.

"It's pretty clear that Fred is going to be leaving the cast of the show, no matter what," NBC Entertainment president Kevin Reilly said, although there was some equivocating.

"If Fred has decided to run for office, it's pretty clear you can't be an actor and -- well, never mind," added NBC Universal West Coast president Mark Graboff.

"I think he's going to decide sooner rather than later," said Reilly, adding, "It's highly likely that Fred will not be back in the show."

"Friday Night Lights" fans can heave a sigh of relief -- that show was renewed (and moved to Fridays). "Heroes" fans can let out a cheer, because that show will "bulk up," according to NBC Entertainment president Kevin Thompson, with 24 regular episodes and six episodes of "Heroes: Origins."

"Origins" will feature a different new character with super- powers in each episode, and fans will vote on which of the six will join the original "Heroes" series for the 2008-2009 season. Reilly said "Origins" episodes "won't be peppered throughout" the "Heroes" season -- it's possible the main series could take a six-week break for "Origins," but "most likely" "Origins" will air in the spring of 2008 after the end of the "Heroes" season.

NBC also announced 30 episodes of "The Office" and 25 of "My Name Is Earl."

"Law & Order," which was in danger of cancellation, isn't on the fall schedule but will return for its 18th season on Sundays at 7 p.m. in January. Meanwhile, "Law & Order: Criminal Intent" is moving to the NBC-owned cable network USA with original episodes (although repeats of those episodes will air at some point on NBC).

Seinfeld will create and star in 20 "minisodes" -- live-action shorts "inspired by his experiences creating the upcoming ... animated feature film 'Bee Movie,' which opens in November. The shorts will run on the network as well as NBC.com "on designated days before and after the release of the film."

(Sounds like commercials for a movie, doesn't it?)

NEW SHOWS this fall are:

Journeyman (Mondays, 9 p.m.) is what NBC calls a "romantic mystery drama" about a newspaper reporter (Kevin McKidd) "who inexplicably begins to travel through time and change people's lives."

Chuck (Tuesdays, 8 p.m.), from the creator of "The O.C.," is a comedic spy thriller about a computer geek (Zachary Levi) who becomes the government's top secret agent.

Bionic Woman (Wednesdays, 8 p.m.) is a reworking of the '70s series about a woman (Michelle Ryan) who nearly dies in an accident and is "rebuilt" with cutting-edge technology.

Life (Wednesdays, 9 p.m.) is a drama about a police detective (Damian Lewis) who returns to the force after spending years in prison for a crime he didn't commit.

After kicking off the season with eight weeks of the game show "1 vs. 100" on Fridays at 7 p.m., The Singing Bee, a variety- competition show that challenges contestants to accurately sing the lyrics to popular songs, will move into the time slot for six weeks.

MIDSEASON SHOWS include The It Crowd, a translation of the British sitcom about techies (Joel McHale and Richard Ayoade) who toil in a large, impersonal corporation, and World Moves, a dance competition executive produced by "American Idol" judge Randy Jackson.

IN JANUARY, after the NFL season ends, NBC's Sunday schedule will be "Dateline" at 6 p.m.; "Law & Order" at 7 p.m.; "Medium" at 8 p.m.; and Lipstick Jungle -- based on the novel by "Sex and the City" author Candace Bushnell about three high-powered, female friends (Kim Raver, Brooke Shields and Lindsay Price) -- at 9 p.m.

CANCELED SHOWS include "Andy Barker, P.I., " "The Black Donnellys," "Crossing Jordan," "Grease: You're the One That I Want," "Identity," "Raines," "Real Wedding Crashers," "Studio 60 On the Sunset Strip," "Thank God You're Here" and "Twenty Good Years."

According to Reilly, "The Apprentice" isn't canceled "yet," but there's no deal to bring it back right now.

E-mail: pierce@desnews.com