Fall Lineup Frenzy 2006 Part I: NBC - Page 3

Wednesday

8-9 p.m.: The Biggest Loser
9-9:30 p.m.: 20 Good Years
9:30-10 p.m.: 30 Rock
10-11 p.m.: Law & Order

From NBC's Press Release:

"20 GOOD YEARS" — This high-energy comedy follows two New Yorkers who have finally realized that life doesn't last forever. Mismatched buddies John Mason (Emmy Award winner John Lithgow, "3rd Rock from the Sun"), an impulsive, thrice-divorced surgeon who has been forced into retirement — and Jeffrey Pyne (Jeffrey Tambor, "Arrested Development"), a widower judge who agonizes over every situation — are polar opposites in every way. The one thing the duo can agree on is that they only have about 20 good years left and both men vow to live each day as if it were their last — with no regrets. "20 Good Years" also stars Heather Burns ("Bewitched") as John's pregnant daughter Stella, and Jake Sandvig ("The Story of Us") as Hugh, Jeffrey's un-motivated son. The executive producers are Tom Werner ("Roseanne"), Eric Gold (the upcoming "Outsourced") Jimmy Miller ("Kicking & Screaming") and Marsh McCall ("Modern Men"). Marsh McCall and Michael Leeson ("The Cosby Show") are the writers; Terry Hughes ("Friends") directed the pilot. "20 Good Years" is produced by Warner Bros.Television.

"30 ROCK" — Emmy Award winner Tina Fey (NBC's "Saturday Night Live," "Mean Girls") writes, executive-produces and stars in this workplace comedy that takes viewers behind the scenes of a frenetic television variety show. Single Liz Lemon (Fey) is living every comedy writer's dream. She's head writer on a demanding, live TV program in New York City whose life is jolted when a brash new network president (Alec Baldwin, "The Aviator," "The Cooler") interferes with her show and bullies Liz into convincing Tracy Jordan (Tracy Morgan, "Saturday Night Live," "The Longest Yard"), a wild and unpredictable movie star, to join the cast. Now Liz must manage the unmanageable so that the show — and her dream — can go on. Also starring are Rachel Dratch ("Saturday Night Live") as Jenne DeCarlo, Scott Adsit ("Kicking and Screaming") as Pete Hornberger and Jack MacBrayer ("Arrested Development") as Kenneth. "30 Rock" is executive-produced by Lorne Michaels, Fey, JoAnn Alfano, Marci Klein and David Miner, and is produced by Broadway Video Television and NBC Universal Television Studio.

My Thoughts: Talk about counter-programming. NBC decides to put both of its new fall comedies up against ABC's Lost. It seems like a pretty big gamble, even if both shows are airing before Law & Order. I'm actually kind of surprised that NBC didn't put these two shows on Thursdays to complement My Name Is Earl and The Office.

Nonetheless, these new shows have some promise. The combination of Jeffrey Tambor and John Lithgow sounds like comedy gold. Both of these men are capable of being very funny. I sincerely hope that 20 Good Years will at least be half as good as it could be. Tina Fey proved that she could do non-SNL stuff by writing Mean Girls. However, 30 Rock will be a real test of her talent. It's good that she's surrounded by people like Alec Baldwin and SNL alums Tracy Morgan and Rachel Dratch but at the same time, this show seems a lot like the comedic twin of Studio 60 On The Sunset Strip. On a side note, am I the only one who thinks it's a little strange that both comedies have a number in their name?

Article Author: Sterfish

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