The industry watchers with the crystal balls seem to have gotten it right. NBC today announced its post-strike lineup, and things are going just as expected.
The biggest news is that Heroes, Chuck and Life will sit the rest of the season out, as was expected for the serialized drama and two newcomers. Heroes' Hayden Panettiere, who plays indestructible cheerleader Claire on the show (but you knew that already), also alerted fans yesterday that the show wouldn't be back this season.
Chuck, starring Zachary Levi as an accidental spy, and Life, starring Damian Lewis as a cop freed from a wrongful imprisonment, were previously announced to be picked up for full seasons--nine more episodes than the initial order of 13--back in November. Now it appears they're guaranteed a second season after a strike-shortened premiere season. NBC did not announce how many episodes it had ordered of each program.
NBC's current season will be carried on by its slate of successful comedies. My Name is Earl will return with a one-hour episode on April 3. The Office, 30 Rock, and Scrubs will all return with new episodes a week later on April 10.
On a more serious note, a quartet of the network's dramas will also be returning with new episodes in April. ER returns April 10, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit will be back on April 15, and Law & Order resumes April 23. Additionally, Medium will continue its run of original episodes.
The rest of NBC's slate is still to be determined and will be announced at a later date.
For more on the writers' strike, check out TV.com's Strike Source, featuring up-to-date statuses on shows, the latest information, and more.
Comments (26)
what about friday night lights?? i hope to god they are keeping it!
So sad without Heroes.
OMG! No more Life til September?!?! Nooooooooo! If they've finished 13 episodes then they should air them! They've only aired 11! I can't wait til Sept! Argh... BUT! Good to know that it's coming back.
I'm so excited for Heroes, THe Office, and Scrubs. Especially since this is the last season of Scrubs and putting it on hold like this has not made it any easier.
I've not really watched the majority of renewed shows above but i love Chuck and am so glad it's being renewed for a second season, just pity we have to wait.
I'm just incredibly happy about Scrubs. Now Bill Lawrence and co. can end it they way they want to.
Thank god, this strike has been a long run. I'm glad The Office is coming back. Too bad that Heroes has to wait, untill next season. But, still, it's great that the strike is over, and we get new episodes from our favourite shows! Thanks!
I'm just glad some shows are returning. It's a bummer that we won't get to see new eps of some till fall but it could in fact be a lot worse. I mean just think what it would be like if no shows returned till fall, now that would be terrible.
Ahh...No Chuck til fall??!!! :( Well, at least it's coming back, not sure what I'd do without it... I heard Bionic Woman isn't coming back at all, which kinda stinks b/c it was a pretty good show.
The Office is back! Yay!
bummer for heroes but er episode are good
Whether we personally like every decision that NBC says it is making in this release, it seems as though they have a good handle on it. With FOX killing everyone with those 'crappy' reality shows, you have to tred lightly and carry some big hits with you before you go walking up to the schedule board.
Wow. Well hopefully they can fix the pacing and organization problems that plagued half of season 2 of Heroes so season 3 is on par, or better, than the storytelling of season 1. Also, find a way to keep Kristen Bell, so I can keep from changing the channel. If they can take the time and effort to do one or BOTH of those things, I'm more than happy to wait till next fall for a proper season 3. I'm also happy SVU and The Michael Cutter/Billy Chenowith Action Hour will have new episodes this season. SVU's been decent apart from the lack of Richard Belzer episodes, and regular Law & Order hasn't been this good in at least three or four years. This also gives me a chance to catch up on (the show) Life, which I meant to watch but never got around to it.moreless
Yay, more ER around. Now let's hope it'll have more viewers
Too bad there won't be any new Chuck episodes until the fall...
I just hope NBC reruns LIFE and CHUCK so they can recapture the audiance for both these great shows.
No Chuck until fall? Ugh. It's going to be a long summer.
NOOO, CHUUUUCKKKK, not to mention HEROESSSSS, oh why. Now I dub Monday as the worst day ever, well at least there would be TSCC, which is going on pretty well. To bad I can't watch Earl since I haven't watch much of it, even though I like it a lot
Great news about The Office, 30 Rock, and L & O:SVU. April doesn't seem that far off.
heheeeeeeeeee, The Office and Scrubs... can't be happier this morning! Especially right after Jericho season 2 started :3 :3 :3
No Heroes til fall is bad :( at least Earl is coming back.
No news on <i>Bionic Woman</i> and <i>Life</i>?I'm happy to know SVU is returning though.
A month and a half till the Office!
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
The only show i wnted back isnt coming back until FAll. Thats gonna kill me. I can't live with out Heroes. :(
Well that sucks I was really looking forward to more Chuck and, even more so, Heroes this season, buy oh well I guess I don't have any control over it.
Awwww. The 8-9 month hiatus for Chuck is going to kill me.