NBC fall schedule revealed: Heroes returns, comedy nearly extinct

[brooklynite]

entertainment Weekly:

There’s not much funny about NBC’s new fall schedule.

After struggling to launch new comedy hits for years, the broadcaster will relegate sitcoms to only one hour per week next season—and that hour is on Fridays, an evening that’s traditionally the lowest-rated weekday for networks. One comedy is the returning series Undateable (which will have all-live episodes for its third season), and the second is new couples sitcom People Are Talking, starring Mark-Paul Gosselaar (see NBC’s fall schedule below; check out the new trailers here). In fact, according to TV historian Tim Brooks, this is the first time since 1978 that NBC has only programmed one hour of comedy in the fall.

The marginalization of half-hour programming by the network that once pioneered Must See TV marks a dramatic departure that also sees NBC doubling down on new and returning dramas. The move also reflects how other broadcasters have had difficultly launching new sitcoms this season as well, a fact that probably makes it tougher for NBC executives to envision their own success with the format.

Some other big headlines from NBC’s upfront release: New thriller Blindspot, about a woman (Jaimie Alexander) who wakes in Times Square covered with mysterious tattoos, will get the coveted post-Voice slot on Mondays. The revival of Heroes (titled Heroes Reborn), which includes the return of fan favorites Jack Coleman (HRG) and Masi Oka (Hiro), will debut on Thursdays to help bolster The Blacklist—which is staying in a tough slot despite losing ground on the evening this year.

[CBGLuthier]

1. I really like Masi Oka

He and Zachary Quinto were the breakout stars of that show.

[Bucky]

2. How sure are we that Mark-Paul Gosselaar isn't a typo?

Also, I'm 51 years old and I'm not ready to see Zack with gray hair and a beard. Please make it stop.

[Chan790]

3. The only fall show I'll be watching on NBC off that schedule is The Blacklist...

and that's starting to flag for me a bit. I was hoping they would/were building towards a resolution of certain narrative origins but it seems that every year will be Red vs. new global-reach secretive group that is *really, we promise* actually behind Liz's childhood fire and Red's turning on the US government.

I feel like there will be no resolution or progress and just rabbit holes into rabbit holes into rabbit holes. It's kind of too bad because I think they've assembled one of the best ensemble casts on TV. They just work really well together.