NBC sked doesn't pull any punches
Foremost, NBC has taken on ABC with similarly themed programming in key timeslots. Both will offer reality-into-action combos from 7-9 p.m. Sunday and a two-hour Tuesday comedy block.
NBC reportedly even sought to convey through informal channels to officials at ABC -- which announced its schedule several days earlier -- that the web had decided to slot Steven Spielberg's "seaQuest DSV" at 8 p.m. Sunday, but that didn't deter ABC from pursuing a similar audience profile that hour with "Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman."
The Peacock network will introduce 11 new programs (the same as ABC) totaling 8 1/2 hours. Included is a four-spoked Friday "Mystery Movie" wheel supplied by Sony Pictures Entertainment (one each from Columbia and TriStar) and Viacom; it will air following the new Lorimar/Lee Rich Co. drama "Against the Grain," about a small-town football coach, as reported.
The lineup includes seven new comedies, two dramas, another news hour and the third movie slot -- a traditional means of counterprogramming for a struggling network, as well as an older-skewing alternative to ABC and CBS Friday fare. The "Mystery Movie" will include "Perry Mason" and Kenny Rogers telefilms, both from Viacom, as well as TriStar's "Staying Afloat" (starring Larry Hagman) and Columbia's previously reported revival of "Hart to Hart."
Only unchanged night will be Monday, with "Fresh Prince of Bel-Air" and "Blossom" leading into the movie slot.
NBC took the plunge Tuesday with a comedy block that includes "Saved By the Bell: The College Years" (NBC Prods.), the just-acquired Lorimar series "Getting By,""The John Larroquette Show" (Witt-Thomas) and "The Second Half," Castle Rock's comedy starring John Mendoza.
Flattering as it sounds to be chosen to take on "Roseanne," TV's top-rated comedy, Witt-Thomas supposedly wasn't thrilled.
NBC Entertainment prez Warren Littlefield said the network "wanted to lay claim now" to the Tuesday comedy franchise -- especially with ABC's lineup weaker and "Roseanne" possibly in its last season there. He acknowledged NBC considered a similar approach Monday, targeting CBS, but opted not to make the move in the fourth quarter because of "Monday Night Football."
One of the more puzzling moves may be Thursday, where, as reported, NBC will ask sophomore TriStar sitcom "Mad About You" to start off the night (against "The Simpsons") leading into the expected configuration of Par's "Wings" and "Frasier" bookending "Seinfeld." Twentieth TV's "L.A. Law" stays at 10 p.m.
With "Mad" relocating from Saturday, "Nurses" moves back to follow its Disney/Witt-Thomas-Harris compatriot "Empty Nest," while new sitcoms "Mommies" (Paramount) and Valerie Bertinelli vehicle "Cafe Americain" (Lorimar) start the night. Lorimar's "Sisters" stays at 10 p.m. (as a femme alternative to ABC's "The Commish" and CBS' expected scheduling of "Walker, Texas Ranger" there).
"I Witness Video" will now lead off Sunday into "seaQuest," the underwater action series from Amblin Entertainment and Universal TV. That will put three one-hour dramas in the 8 o'clock hour, with ABC and NBC dividing up younger viewers vs. older-skewing CBS incumbent "Murder, She Wrote."
Wednesday will now be composed of "Unsolved Mysteries," the news magazine and Universal's "Law & Order."
Though NBC News adds a second magazine, only two fall series were slotted from NBC Prods., "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air" and "Saved by the Bell."
NBC hasn't done its own shows any great time period favors, putting its new news mag opposite "Home Improvement," while "Saved by the Bell" is against "Full House," a champ among kids, teens and young women.
As with ABC, Lorimar is the network's largest single outside supplier, with four series, followed by Par and Disney with a trio each.
Disney is also expected to get a midseason pickup on "The Bowmans," which stars comic John Caponera, and the same is anticipated for the NBC Prods.' Gene Wilder sitcom "The Eligible Dentist."
Par has a six-episode order on its action hour "Viper" and Spelling TV has a good chance with its ensemble hour "Winnetka Road." TriStar may also get an order on Michael Moore's news show spoof as a series of specials.
As reported, the Peacock passed on Disney's Henry Winkler show, but the studio has been getting feelers from the other webs.
Existing shows that didn't make the cut include "Reasonable Doubts,""Almost Home,""Secret Service" and "Homicide: Life on the Street," though that last show may be barely hanging on.
NBC will air "Great Escapes" serials "Tradewinds" and "Lake Success" in succession Fridays starting Aug. 27 and through October, with the mystery movie to premiere Oct. 22. Web will formally present lineup to advertisers today in New York. A complete breakdown of the schedule follows (new shows in bold-face):
MONDAY
"Fresh Prince of Bel-Air," 8; "Blossom," 8:30; Movie, 9.
TUESDAY
"Saved by the Bell: The College Years," 8; "Getting By," 8:30; "The John Larroquette Show," 9; "The Second Half," 9:30; "Dateline NBC," 10.
WEDNESDAY
"Unsolved Mysteries," 8; "Prime Story," 9; "Law & Order," 10.
THURSDAY
"Mad About You," 8; "Wings," 8:30; "Seinfeld," 9; "Frasier," 9:30; "L.A. Law, " 10.
FRIDAY
"Against the Grain," 8; Mystery Movie, 9.
SATURDAY
"Mommies," 8; "Cafe Americain," 8:30; "Empty Nest," 9; "Nurses," 9:30; "Sisters," 10.
SUNDAY
"I Witness Video," 7; "seaQuest DSV," 8; Movie.
