Broadcast Upfront Week: NBC

2010 NBC Upfront:

NBC's 2010-2011 primetime line-up includes five new comedies, seven new dramas and one alternative series along with several returning shows. NBC is also scheduling its primetime shows thematically, earmarking Mondays as an all-dramas night; Wednesdays filled with crime dramas; Thursdays packed with comedies; and unscripted programming combined with scripted shows on Tuesdays and Fridays. NBC's official upfront presentation is scheduled for this afternoon.

New NBC dramas include:

The Event: cospiracy thriller follows Sean Walker (Jason Ritter) an ordinary guy investigating the disappearance of his fiance, Leila (Sarah Roemer) thereby exposing the biggest cover-up in US history. The series also stars Blair Underwood as the newly-elected US President Martinez; Laura Innes as Sophia, the leader of a mysterious group of detainees; and Scott Patterson as Sean's shadowy father-in-law. From Universal Media Studios and Steve Stark Productions.

Undercovers: Action spy drama about a married couple who formerly were CIA spies as they come out of retirement. From Bonanza Productions Inc. in association with Bad Robot Productions and Warner Bros. Television. J.J. Abrams and Josh Reims wrote the pilot while Abrams is also directing and serving as executive producer along with Reims and Bryan Burk.
The Cape - One-hour series headlined by David Lyons who plays Vince Faraday, an honest cop working on a corrupt police force who is framed for a series of murders and is presumed dead. Vince goes into hiding, leaving his wife and son behind. Produced by Universal Media Studios and BermanBraun.

Chase: -and-mouse hunt as a team of US marshals track down America's most dangerous fugitives. Kelli Giddish stars as US Marshal Annie Frost, a deputy from Texas who heads the team in search of the violent criminals. From Bonanza Productions Inc. in association with Jerry Bruckheimer Television and Warner Bros. Television.
Outlaw - Jimmy Smits plays Cyrus Garza, a US Supreme Court justice who suddenly quits his position to return to private practice in defense of the "little guy." From Universal Media Studios along with Conaco productions.

Law & Order: Los Angeles: New procedural crime drama similar to the original Law and Order series though set in the streets of Los Angeles. Produced by Wolf Films in association with Universal Media Studios.


NBC's new comedies:

Perfect Couples: Half-hour comedy about three couples looking for the ideal relationship. Produced by Universal Media Studios.

Outsourced: Culture clash comedy about an American company who outsources its call center to India. Todd Dempsy (Ben Rappaport) is the company's manager who is transferred to India to run the operation. From Universal Media Studios.

The Paul Reiser Show: Single-camera comedy that stars Paul Reiser as himself. The plot is about Paul's quiet life with his wife and kids after his hit TV series went off the air and how he feels it's time to try something new and meaningful. Bonanza Productions Inc. produces in association with Nuance Productions and Warner Bros. Television.

Friends With Benefits: Half-hour comedy about a group of 20-something singles as they navigate the difficult task of dating. The story centers on Ben and Sara who turn to each other for moral and physical support while they each wait for their perfect mates. From 20th Century Fox Television, Imagine Television and Big Kid Pictures.

Love Bites: Hour-long romantic comedy anthology series relating three loosely connected modern-day stories of love, sex, marriage and dating. This series is the first US commission from Working Title Television.

New NBC alternative series:

School Pride: From Cheryl Hines and Denise Cramsey, serving as executive producers, this series documents stories of communities coming together to renovate their aging and broken public schools. Produced by Horizon Alternative Television.

NBC Fall 2010 Primetime Schedule

Monday: Chuck, The Event, Chase
Tuesday: The Biggest Loser, Parenthood
Wednesday: Undercovers, Law & Order: SVU, Law & Order: Los Angeles
Thursday: Community, 30 Rock, The Office, Outsourced, Love Bites
Friday: School Pride, Who Do You Think You Are?, Dateline NBC, Outlaw
Saturday: Undercovers (encore), Chase (encore), Law & Order: SVU (encore)
Sunday: Football Night In America, NBC Sunday Night Football
Sunday (starting March 2011): Dateline NBC, Minute To Win It, The Celebrity Apprentice

New NBC shows debuting midseason are: The Cape, Friends With Benefits, Perfect Couples, Harry's Law, The Paul Reiser Show and America's Next Great Restaurant (with Bobby Flay).

Returning midseason shows include Parks & Rec, a new version of The Apprentice and The Marriage Ref.

What's not included on NBC's schedule besides Law & Order? Medical dramas Mercy and Trauma and the serialized program Heroes.