Saturday
8-9 p.m.: Dateline Saturday
9-11 p.m.: Drama Series Encores
My Thoughts: If there is a lost cause on network television, it is Saturday night. They don't even try anymore. However, I will say that it might be wise for NBC to put encores of Studio 60 On The Sunset Strip and either Heroes or Kidnapped in the encore slots.
Sunday
7-8 p.m.: Football Night In America
8-11 p.m.: Sunday Night Football
From NBC's Press Release:
SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL — The National Football League returns to NBC in this spectacular primetime showcase as Al Michaels will call "NBC Sunday Night Football" games with John Madden, the most honored analyst in television history with 15 Emmy Awards. Coverage also includes sideline and feature reporter Andrea Kremer. NBC's 2006 NFL schedule kicks off on Thursday, September 7, with the Super Bowl champion Pittsburgh Steelers hosting the Miami Dolphins. NBC's inaugural Sunday "Football Night in America" game on September 10 features the first meeting of sibling quarterbacks as Eli Manning's New York Giants host Peyton Manning and the Indianapolis Colts. This season, the league will also implement for the first time in history primetime "flexible scheduling" for NBC's primetime Sunday games in Weeks 10-15 and in Week 17.
"FOOTBALL NIGHT IN AMERICA" — Bob Costas, an 18-time Emmy Award winner, hosts NBC's studio show alongside co-host Cris Collinsworth, a six-time Emmy winner. They are joined by analyst Jerome Bettis, one of the most popular players in recent NFL history, and Sterling Sharpe, considered one of the most opinionated analysts with the NFL Network and ESPN. Peter King, who covers the NFL for Sports Illustrated and is considered one of the country's foremost NFL reporters, serves as a reporter for the studio show.
My Thoughts: This is going to make things interesting on Sunday. ABC pretty much had Sunday on lock. With football, NBC could give ABC some real competition. However, the biggest loser in this will most certainly be FOX. Football Night In America airs at the perfect time since many of FOX's and CBS's afternoon games will either be ending or already over with. Many of the same viewers who might have stuck around to catch The Simpsons or Family Guy will tune into NBC for more football.
Overall: Apart from the fact that Scrubs isn't coming back until midseason again, things are actually looking pretty good at NBC. I'm surprised at how many of NBC's new shows interested me. Combine that with the return of NFL football and you have quite a lot of promise. I'm not sure if it will be enough to topple the juggernaut that is CBS (or American Idol-heavy FOX), but they will certainly make a run for it.
Article comments
1 - -E
I have to admit, Medium and Scrubs are the only shows that sound the least bit like I'll watch them, and I won't even watch Medium regularly. Scrubs, I will definitely watch, but why oh why is it a midseason replacement AGAIN? I don't want to have to wait for new scrubby goodness.
2 - Brent
As far as an actual "Law & Order" show doing better on Friday nights, remember what happened to "Law & Order: Trial By Jury" in that same time slot opposite a new show called "Numb3rs".
3 - Brent
As far as an actual "Law & Order" show doing better on Friday nights, remember what happened to "Law & Order: Trial By Jury" in that same time slot opposite a new show called "Numb3rs".
4 - Eric Berlin
Great job Sterfish, where's Apprentice, isn't the LA edition slated for this fall ?
5 - Tan The Man
Need the Scrubs.
6 - Sterfish
Thanks, EB. In regards to the LA version of The Apprentice, it'll be premiering in January. It will air on Sundays after the NFL season is over. Also, like Scrubs, Crossing Jordan will be coming back at an undetermined midseason time.
7 - Eric Berlin
Ah, thanks! God help me, I still can't get enough of that damned show.
The competition sucks me in -- this weekend I got pulled into a whole bloody marathon of Top Chef... sigh.
8 - Joanna
...'really missing the Apprentice and To Catch a Predator!...