The TV Legion Predicts NBC’s 2009-10 Schedule

With upfronts beginning next week, I decided to once again predict what the networks will do with their schedules this fall. Today I take a look at NBC, a troubled network that hasn’t found a hit in years. They’ve given up on the 10 PM hour, which I think is a huge mistake that will claim programming chief Ben Silverman’s job.

Sunday:

• 7/6c-Football Night in America (fall)/Dateline NBC (February)
• 8/7c-Sunday Night Football (fall)/The Marriage Ref (new reality series) (February)
• 9/8c-Sunday Night Football (fall)/Day One (new drama) (February)
• 10/9c-Sunday Night Football (fall)/The Apprentice (February)

When football airs in the fall, Sunday is almost always NBC’s best night. When football season ends, the night becomes a disaster for the network. I think they will try some new things on the night this season. “The Marriage Ref” sounds like it could be a hilarious reality shows (it comes from Jerry Seinfeld and features celebrities commenting on real-life couples who are in the midst of a marital dispute) and I’m guessing it will get a lot of buzz. “Day One” is an event series similar to “Jericho.” “The Apprentice” hasn’t done big numbers for NBC on Sunday but its steady enough that I think it will stay put.

Monday:

• 8/7c-Mercy (new drama)
• 9/8c-Trauma (new drama)
• 10/9c-The Jay Leno Show

I think NBC finally realizes that Monday is not the night for young-skewing sci-fi dramas and will move “Heroes” and “Chuck” to a new night. In their place, I think NBC will take a risk and schedule two medical dramas that are completely different in tone. “Mercy” stars the nurses of a hospital while “Trauma” is more of an action drama.

Tuesday:

• 8/7c-The Biggest Loser
• 9/8c-The Biggest Loser
• 10/9c-The Jay Leno Show

If I were NBC, I would cut “The Biggest Loser” down to an hour because people are going to get tired of it real fast and they’ll lose one of the few 18-49 monsters they have. I don’t expect them to change things though.

Wednesday:

• 8/7c-Heroes (fall/winter-18 episodes)/Chuck (spring, 13 episodes)
• 9/8c-Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
• 10/9c-The Jay Leno Show

“Heroes” and “Chuck” will probably both get shorter seasons and air in the same time slot (Heroes in fall, Chuck after the Winter Olympics). I think Wednesday is probably the best night for the two and I wouldn’t be surprised if ratings for both improve a lot. “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” probably should be a 10 PM show but since NBC stupidly decided to give Leno five hours, it has to move to an earlier time and a new day.

Thursday:

• 8/7c-The Office
• 8:30/7:30c-Community (new comedy)
• 9/8c-30 Rock
• 9:30/8:30c-SNL: Weekend Update Thursday and Parks & Recreation (fall)/100 Questions (new comedy) (spring)
• 10/9c-The Jay Leno Show

With “My Name Is Earl” probably gone (it could be moving to FOX though), I think NBC will move “The Office” up to 8/7c to start the night off with a bang. “Community” is NBC’s hottest comedy so it will probably get the spot after “The Office.” “30 Rock” probably can’t hold viewers on its own but NBC almost has to take a chance to help one of the three comedies I have scheduled for 9:30/8:30c succeed.

Friday:

• 8/7c-Who Do You Think You Are? (new reality series) (fall)/Southland (January)
• 9/8c-Parenthood (new drama) (fall)/Friday Night Lights (January)
• 10/9c-The Jay Leno Show

I honestly have no idea what NBC is going to do with Fridays other than “Friday Night Lights” in January. I couldn’t find any room for “Parenthood” so I threw it on Friday with a celebrity genealogy reality series. “Southland” has dropped so far since its premiere that I think NBC will just use it in midseason.

Midseason Replacements:

• Breakthrough with Tony Robbins (new reality series)
• Law & Order
• Medium
• The Sing Off (new reality series)