NBC Announces Its Fall Schedule

NBC's 2007-08 lineup features the new dramas Journeyman (Mondays, 10 pm/ET), a romantic-mystery from the Emmy Award-winning producers of The West Wing, concerning a San Francisco newspaper reporter ( Kevin McKidd, Rome) who inexplicably begins to travel through time and alter people's lives; and Chuck(Tuesdays, 9 pm/ET), a comedic spy thriller about an unassuming computer geek who is unexpectedly catapulted into a new career as a government agent after spy secrets are mysteriously embedded into his brain.
Also new this fall is the drama Bionic Woman (Wednesdays, 9 pm/ET), a re-imagination of the classic from David Eick ( Battlestar Galactica) and Jason Smilovic ( Kidnapped). Bionic Woman stars Michelle Ryan ( EastEnders) as a young woman who is radically altered and empowered after a car crash. Additionally, Life (Wednesdays, 10 pm/ET) features a complex police detective ( Damian Lewis, Band of Brothers) who's given a second chance on the Force after serving years in prison for a crime he didn't commit.
The new dramedy Lipstick Jungle, from best-selling author Candace Bushnell ( Sex and the City), is set to debut in January 2008 on Sundays (10 pm/ET). Created by Eileen Heisler and DeAnn Heline, ( How I Met Your Mother), the series follows the lives of three high-powered friends ( Brooke Shields, Suddenly Susan, Kim Raver, 24, and Lindsay Price, Beverly Hills, 90210) who are determined to achieve their dreams and to do it on their own terms.
The latest comedy from NBC is The IT Crowd, based on the acclaimed British series that takes a behind-the-scenes peek at the misunderstood geeks ( Joel McHale, The Soup, and Richard Ayoade, The IT Crowd U.K.) who toil in the Information Technology department of a large, impersonal corporation. The IT Crowd is scheduled to join the NBC schedule during the course of the 2007-08 season.
In addition:
" NBC "bulks up" with 30 combined episodes of Heroes and Heroes: Origins, an innovative new spin-off that will introduce a new character each week, one of whom will be chosen by viewers through NBC.com to become a cast regular the following season.
" The network has ordered 30 half hours of the hit series The Office, including five hour-long episodes, and has alsoincreased the season order for My Name Is Earl to 25 episodes.
" Jerry Seinfeld, star of the classic NBC mega-hit Seinfeld, returns to the network to create and star in 20 unique live-action comedy "minisodes" inspired by his experiences creating the upcoming DreamWorks animated feature film Bee Movie, in theaters November 2, 2007. NBC Universal will also have the exclusive U.S. broadcast and cable network rights to the film, which features Seinfeld as the voice of Barry B. Benson, a disillusioned bee. Produced by Seinfeld and DreamWorks, the 20 comedy shorts will give viewers a glimpse at Seinfeld's behind-the-scenes antics during production of the movie. The "minisodes" will run on NBC's prime-time schedule this Fall, as well as on NBC.com, on designated days before and after the release of the film.
" Series renewals include the Peabody Award-winning drama Friday Night Lights, now shifting to Friday nights (10 pm/ET); Scrubs, also a Peabody winner, for a seventh season; and the venerable, Emmy-winning Law & Order, for its historic 18th season.
" NBC's acclaimed Thursday "Comedy Night Done Right" lineup will next year lead off with My Name is Earl at 8 pm/ET, which will be followed by 30 Rock at 8:30 pm, the Peabody Award-winning The Office at 9 pm and Scrubs at 9:30.
" New NBC series Bionic Woman and Life will be re-purposed on SCI FI Channel and USA Network, respectively, shortly after their original telecasts on NBC.
" NBC will kick-start the weekend on Fridays (8 pm/ET) with "Game Night," a rotation of game shows that features 1 vs 100 (hosted by Bob Saget) for eight weeks, followed by six weeks of the new variety competition The Singing Bee in which contestants must accurately sing the lyrics to popular songs - even when the band stops playing.
Later in the fall, NBC plans to introduce the unscripted series, World Moves, a talent competition from executive producer Randy Jackson ( American Idol) that features dance teams from around the world auditioning for their shot to come to Los Angeles for a global championship and an international touring contract.
After Sunday Night Football concludes its season in January 2008, the network will unveil a new regular lineup. After the return of Dateline NBC (7 pm/ET) the 18th season of Law & Order (8 pm/ET) will premiere, followed by the fourth season debut of Medium (9 pm/ET) and the premiere of the sexy new dramedy Lipstick Jungle (10 pm/ET).
NBC Prime-time Schedule for Fall 2007-08
Monday
8-9 pm Deal or No Deal
9-10 pm Heroes
10-11 pm Journeyman
Tuesday
8-9 pm The Biggest Loser
9-10 pm Chuck
10-11 pm Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
Wednesday
8-9 pm Deal or No Deal
9-10 pm Bionic Woman
10-11 pm Life
Thursday
8-8:30 pm My Name Is Earl
8:30-9 pm 30 Rock
9-9:30 pm The Office
9:30-10 pm Scrubs
10-11 pm ER
Friday
8-9 pm 1 vs 100/ The Singing Bee
9-10 pm Las Vegas
10-11 pm Friday Night Lights
Saturday
8-9 pm Dateline NBC
9-11 pm Drama Series Encores
Sunday (Fall 2007)
7-8 pm Football Night in America
8-11 pm NBC Sunday Night Football
Sunday (January 2008)
7-8 pm Dateline NBC
8-9 pm Law & Order
9-10 pm Medium
10-11 pm Lipstick Jungle
2007-08 New Series Descriptions
New Dramas
Journeyman - From Emmy Award-winning writer-producer Kevin Falls ( The West Wing) and Emmy Award-winning director-producer Alex Graves ( The West Wing), Journeyman is a romantic mystery-drama about Dan Vasser ( Kevin McKidd, Rome), a San Francisco newspaper reporter and family man who inexplicably begins to travel through time and change people's lives. Along the way, he also must deal with the difficulties and strife at work and home brought on by his sudden disappearances. However, his freewheeling travels through the decades reunite him with his long-lost fiancé Livia ( Moon Bloodgood, Day Break), which complicates his present-day life with wife Katie ( Gretchen Egolf, Martial Law) and their son. Reed Diamond ( Homicide: Life on the Street) and Charles Henry Wyson ( The Curious Case of Benjamin Button) also star.
Chuck - From executive producer Josh Schwartz ( The O.C.) and executive producer-director McG ( Charlie's Angels, We Are Marshall) comes a one-hour, comedic spy thriller about Chuck Bartowski ( Zachary Levi, Less Than Perfect), a computer geek who is catapulted into a new career as the government's most vital secret agent. When Chuck opens an e-mail subliminally encoded with government secrets, he unwittingly downloads an entire server of sensitive data into his brain. Now the fate of the world lies in the unlikely hands of a guy who works at Buy More. Instead of fighting computer viruses, he must fight assassins and international terrorists. With the government's most precious secrets in Chuck's head, Major John Casey ( Adam Baldwin, My Bodyguard) of the NSA assumes the responsibility of protecting him. His partner is the CIA's top agent (and Chuck's first date in years) Sarah Walker (Yvonne Strzechowski, Gone). They'll keep him safe by trading in his pocket protector for a bulletproof vest. Also starring are Joshua Gomez ( Without a Trace) as Chuck's best buddy Morgan and Sarah Lancaster ( What About Brian) as Chuck's ever-supportive sister Ellie.
Bionic Woman - Struggling as a bartender and surrogate mom to her teenage sister, Jaime Sommers ( Michelle Ryan, EastEnders) didn't think life could get much harder. But when a devastating car accident leaves her at death's door, Jaime's only hope for survival is a cutting-edge, top-secret technology that comes at a hefty price. With a whole new existence and a debt to repay, Jaime must figure out how to use her extraordinary abilities for good, while weighing the personal sacrifices she will have to make. Ultimately, it's Jaime's journey of self-discovery and inner strength that will help her embrace her new life as the Bionic Woman. Also starring are: Mae Whitman ( State of Grace) as Becca, Jaime's younger sister; Miguel Ferrer ( Crossing Jordan) as Jonas, the man who employs Jaime's boyfriend; Chris Bowers ( Rescue Me) as Will, Jaime's boyfriend, who performs the operation; Will Yun Lee ( Witchblade) as Jae, the specialized operations leader; and Molly Price ( Third Watch), as Ruth, Jonas' second-in-command.
Life - From Rand Ravich and Far Shariat, the executive producers of the feature film The Astronaut's Wife, and David Semel, who directed the pilot of NBC's Heroes, Life is a new drama about a detective who is given a second chance. Damian Lewis ( Band of Brothers) stars as complex, offbeat Detective Charlie Crews, who returns to the Force after years in prison, thanks to close friend and attorney Constance Griffiths ( Melissa Sagemiller, Sleeper Cell), after serving time for a crime he didn't commit. The cast also includes Sarah Shahi ( Rush Hour 3) as Charlie's skeptical, demanding partner, Robin Weigert (HBO's Deadwood) as their hard-hitting lieutenant, and Adam Arkin ( Chicago Hope) as former cellmate Ted Early.
Lipstick Jungle - Based on the best-selling novel by Candace Bushnell ( Sex and the City, this fun dramedy follows three high-powered friends as they weather the ups and downs of lives lived at the top of their game. Nico ( Kim Raver, 24), editor-in-chief of a hot fashion magazine, wants to replace her boss as CEO. Movie exec Wendy ( Brooke Shields, Suddenly Susan) finds even her most earnest efforts may not be enough to balance career and family. And free-spirited designer Victory ( Lindsay Price, Beverly Hills, 90210) longs to make her dreams come true, and maybe find Mr. Right along the way. Armed with humor and strength, these three modern New York women support one another through the triumphs and tears that are all part of making it big in the Big Apple. Written by executive producers Eileen Heisler and DeAnn Heline, ( How I Met Your Mother, Three Sisters) and based on the book by Bushnell.
New Comedy Series
The IT Crowd - Ever wonder what's up with those quirky techies who come to fix the office computer when no one's around? The IT Crowd is an offbeat series, based on the critically acclaimed British comedy, that offers a humorous behind-the-scenes peek at the people who truly keep the office humming. Roy ( Joel McHale, The Soup) and Moss (Richard Ayoade, The IT Crowd U.K.) are the misunderstood masters of their high-tech domain, but they lack the people skills to befriend anyone but each other. Their company's head is Denholm (http:/ / www. tvguide. com/ celebrities/ rocky-carroll/ 172598">Rocky Carroll, Chicago Hope), who wants the IT department to stay segregated and forever banished to the basement.
New Alternative Series
The Singing Bee - The Singing Bee is a variety-competition show that challenges contestants to accurately sing the lyrics to popular songs - even when the band stops playing. In this karaoke showdown, there's no middle ground for partially correct answers - contestants must be perfect or they're out. Family-friendly, broad in appeal and conducive to playing (and singing) along at home, The Singing Bee features popular, recognizable music that inspires hilarious wrong answers and amazing performances by those rare contestants who somehow manage to get every word right.
World Moves - From executive producer Randy Jackson ( American Idol) and the creators of the World Hip Hop Championship comes one of the most visual and captivating performing competitions ever to hit TV. Thousands of dance teams from around the world will audition for their shot to come to Los Angeles for a global championship and an international touring contract. The live television event features young teams of five to seven members demonstrating their athleticism, creativity and innovative choreography in a presentation that highlights both the competition and the personal drama unfolding within each team. Viewers from across the globe will vote via the Internet, by text message or by phone to eliminate one team each week. Ultimately, it's not just about winning a competition; World Moves involves stories that change lives and bring the world together.
POLL: Which of NBC's new dramas are you most excited for? Vote here.