NBC Announces Fall Lineup

NBC has announced the shows it will air next season in what the industry refers to as the "upfronts." The NBC upfronts contained some knowns - Heroes would be back, and some surprises - Heroes: Orgins will introduced new Heroes universe categories. Some shows were bounced, like Crossing Jordan, while others received a second chance, like Friday Night Lights (well, if you consider Friday nights, the time slot, a second chance...). Here is a quick look at the big picture at the peacock.

Monday will feature Deal Or No Deal; Heroes, and a new show called Journeyman. Episodes of Heroes, as we know it, will be interspersed with episodes of Heroes: Origins, featuring back story for previously unheard of heroes. In the end, the audience will be able to choose the character they want to join the a-team. Journeyman is about a guy who can go back in time and save lives. Sounds like Voyager or Quantum Leap.

Tuesday will include weight-loss series, The Biggest Loser. I heard Caroline Rhea is no longer the host. This will be followed by Chuck, a new show about a computer geek who does some spy stuff. Wrapping up the night is favorite L&O: SVU.

Wednesday brings back another Deal Or No Deal, which will be followed by a new version of the Bionic Woman and a series called Life. Life is about an ex-cop who is also an ex-con and somehow got back on the job.

Thursday will be the only night breaking NBC's new rule about 'no scripted shows at 8.' It will look familiar to people: Earl; 30 Rock; The Office; Scrubs; ER . None of these show was a huge ratings-winner last (this) season, in fact, NBC chalked up some of its lowest Thursdays in 20 years. But, the comedies all have good followings with that key young demographic and are buzzy, and ER, well, beats me why it's still on, but anyhow, it is. NBC has reportedly ordered 30 as opposed to 22 episodes of The Office and 25 of Earl.

On Fridays, all those Friday Night Lights fans will be wondering if they should have been more careful - or at least specific - about what they wished for. Following the game show 1 vs. 100 and later, a talent show called Singing Bee (new), and the new Tom Selleck-ized Las Vegas, Friday Night Lights does in fact live on. But someone should throw a flag on that time slot.

Saturday will give us the usual cheesy news magazine in the form of Dateline. Wonder if they'll catch any predators, and then re-run dramas - or as NBC calls it they'll be airing encores.

Sunday will be taken up by football until the end of the football season, and then we'll get Dateline at 7PM; Law & Order; Medium (did you predict it would return...) and Lipstick Jungle. Lipstick Jungle is about women in high power careers trying to do the whole 'have a life, too' thing that women with careers always seem to be doing - the more high powered, the more they try, and apparently, the more interested we're supposed to be. Kim Raver (24) , Lindsey Price and Brooke Shields star.

NBC has also picked up The IT Crowd, a sitcom about IT people which will sit on the sidelines, like most IT people did in high school gym class when it came time to pick teams. Crossing Jordan has not been renewed, nor has Raines, or Studio 60 On The Sunset Strip. Criminal Intent will air first-run episodes on the USA Network.

Will these changes be able to help the peacock rise, phoenix like, from the ratings ashes in which it currently mucks around? Is there enough freshness, excitement and attention-grabbers on the 070-8 lineup to help NBC retain its once dominant position in primetime? I'm thinking no. But that's just me.