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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Monday, December 10, 2007

New shows on NBC in '08 despite strikes

By Mike Hughes
Gannett News Service

With a patchwork collection of reality shows, games, specials and strays, NBC is making an unusual claim:

Despite the writers' strike, the network says, there will be "significantly more hours of original programming" in early 2008 than at that time in 2007.

Those may not be the programs people are longing for, though.

It will be a lineup temporarily shorn of "Heroes," "The Office" and more; almost half the weekday hours will be reality or quiz shows.

NBC had previously announced several midseason moves. In a plan announced last week, it has shifted some of those plans, while adding "Medium," "The Baby Borrowers" and Sunday specials.

The plan, by day:

  • Mondays (starting Jan. 7): "American Gladiators" at 7 p.m.; "Deal or No Deal" at 8; "Medium" returns at 9.

    Also, "The Baby Borrowers," based on a British show in which teens, for three weeks, set up homes and care for children, takes the 7 p.m. slot beginning Feb. 18.

  • Tuesdays (starting Jan. 1): A new round of "The Biggest Loser," 7 to 9 p.m.; "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (reruns or new), 9.

  • Wednesdays (starting Jan. 9): Another "Deal or No Deal," 7 p.m.; "Law & Order: Criminal Intent" (reruns of episodes that aired this fall on the USA Network), 8 p.m.; "Law & Order" returns at 9.

  • Thursdays (starting Jan. 3): Reruns and a few new episodes of "My Name is Earl," "The Office," "30 Rock" and "Scrubs," all in the 7 p.m. time slot; "The Celebrity Apprentice" debuts, 8 p.m.; "ER" (new or reruns) until "Lipstick Jungle" debuts Feb. 7.

  • Fridays (starting Jan. 4): "1 vs. 100" returns, 7 p.m.; new or rerun "Friday Night Lights" at 8 and "Las Vegas" at 9.

  • Saturdays: Nothing specific. This has been a night of reruns.

  • Sundays: Varied. Jan. 6 has a two-hour "Deal or No Deal" and the two-hour debut of "American Gladiators"; both move to Monday.

    Others set: "The 65th Annual Golden Globes," 7 to 10 p.m. Jan. 13; "The Guinness Book of World Records — Live," 8 to 10 p.m. Jan. 27, and the "Top 100 Most Outrageous Moments" on Feb. 10.