NBC fall 2008 preview

Ever since the ends of beloved sitcoms like Seinfeld, Friends, and Frasier, NBC has fallen out of the ratings game and into a consistent 4th place among the major networks. So what does NBC offer this fall to try to break out of their slump? They have four new shows in their fall line-up and three shows coming back for a second season. The schedule is almost completely different from just two years ago. Will it be enough to bring them out of the basement? My guess is no, but only time will tell.

NBC Monday premieres Sept. 8th
8/7c Chuck
9/8c Heroes
10/9c My Own Worst Enemy - New Show

Chuck returns for a second season, Heroes goes for a third run, and My Own Worst Enemy is a new show starring Christian Slater as a schizophrenic former spy. Both Chuck and Heroes are decent shows, and the new show sounds interesting, but the truth is the CBS and ABC Monday line-ups are just much better than these shows.

NBC Tuesday premieres Sept. 9th
8/7c The Biggest Loser
9:30/8:30c Kath & Kim - New Show
10/9c Law & Order: SVU

The weight-loss show The Biggest Loser comes back for a sixth installment. Personally, I don't know who would watch this for an hour and a half, but I guess it remains mildly popular. Kath & Kim is a new comedy starring former SNL cast member Molly Shannon. The diamond in the rough of the NBC line-up is Law & Order: SVU, which will be returning for a 10th season this fall. L & O: SVU brings a bigger intensity than the other versions, mainly because of the emotionally-charged subject matter of the cases. SVU was the only NBC show that consistently won the ratings in its timeslot last season.

NBC Wednesday premieres Sept. 10th
8/7c Knight Rider - New Show
9/8c Deal or No Deal
10/9c Lipstick Jungle

After the success of the Knight Rider made-for-TV movie, NBC has decided to turn out a remake of the series. Deal or No Deal will be on two nights a week this fall. Lipstick Jungle is the show created by Sex and the City's Candace Bushnell. It returns for a second season. Just as before, this line-up seems decent, but there is just better stuff to watch on ABC and CBS.

NBC Thursday premieres Sept. 11th
8/7c My Name is Earl
8:30/7:30c 30 Rock
9/8c The Office
9:30/8:30c SNL specials
10/9c ER

You had better get your DVR out for Thursday nights this fall. I'm as big of a fan as anybody of the NBC comedy Thursday line-up, but with shows like Survivor, CSI:, and Grey's Anatomy airing opposite of them, it just makes it difficult for NBC to gain any traction in the ratings game.

NBC Friday premieres Sept.12th
8/7c Crusoe - New Show
9/8c Deal or No Deal
10/9c Life - New Time

The new show Crusoe is based on a story written by adventurer Robinson Crusoe. Life is the drama about a detective who was wrongly accused of murder and has been let out of prison after finally being cleared. It returns for a second season at a new time.

Saturday Night Live returns for a 34th season at 11:30/10:30c on Sept. 13th.

Sunday Night Football returns Sept. 7th on NBC this fall with a rematch of Superbowl XLI as the Chicago Bears take on the Indianapolis Colts.

Perhaps the bigger news for NBC is coming later this television season, as a spin-off of the award-winning comedy The Office is scheduled to premiere this winter. New episodes of the classic version of Law & Order also premiere later in the season. They are set to play Wednesdays at 10/9c. What does this mean for Lipstick Jungle? I don't know, and frankly don't really care. Will all of this take NBC out of the cellar? Like I said, my guess is no, but only time will tell.

What's On?
Anthony Bourdain takes his show, Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations, to Columbia tonight at 10/9c on the Travel Channel. Tony turned out an amazing show last week when he went to the mysterious country of Laos. Tonight, he offers us a glimpse into a country many of us would deem to dangerous to visit.

Until next time, happy viewing!