NBC will shake up its schedule for midseason by giving new nights to "Whitney," "Up All Night," "Rock Center with Brian Williams" and "Harry's Law," the network announced Monday.
Not on the schedule are the struggling Maria Bello detective show "Prime Suspect," the struggling comedy "Community," and the ambitious new drama "Awake." "Community" is expected to return at a later date, but NBC is "considering our options" on "Prime Suspect," a person at the network said. The show is not canceled and will continue to air new episodes for the time being. "Awake" is still expected to air, but is not on the schedule yet, the person said.
Also read: 'Prime Suspect,' 'Community' Missing from NBC's Midseason Schedule
The moves for "Whitney" and "Up All Night" align them with comedies with similar sensibilities to theirs. Both have eked out only modest success in their current timeslots, which they will trade with one another.
"Whitney" will be paired on Wednesday nights with another occasionally bawdy female-centric comedy, "Are you There, Chelsea"?
The Will Arnett-Christina Applegate-Maya Rudolph-starring "Up All Night" moves to Thursdays, where Arnett's wife, Amy Poehler, stars on "Parks and Recreation." The night is also filled with Rudolph's fellow "Saturday Night Live" alums, including Poehler and "30 Rock" stars Tina Fey and Tracy Morgan. Arnett also played a recurring character on "30 Rock," and "Up All Night" creator Emily Spivey is a former writer for "SNL" and "Parks."
"Rock Center," meanwhile, will move from the Mondays at 10 p.m. slot where it has struggled since its Halloween debut to Wednesdays at 9. "Harry's Law" will move from a tough timeslot — Wednesdays at 9 — to Sundays at 8, meaning it will no longer face off with "Modern Family."
NBC has long planned to pair "The Voice," the biggest new show of last season, with the new musical drama "Smash" on Monday nights, and confirmed Monday that the pairing will being Feb. 6.
Other new shows joining the midseason lineup are "The Firm," which premieres Jan. 8 before moving to Jan. 12, and the reality show "Fashion Star," which debuts March 13.
Here's NBC's release detailing the new schedule:
UNIVERSAL CITY, Calif. – NBC today announced its new mid-season 2012 schedule which features the premieres of four new series in “Smash” (February 6), “The Firm” (two-hour premiere January 8, time slot premiere January 12), “Fashion Star” (March 13) and “Are You There, Chelsea?” (January 11). The new lineup also includes the return of “The Voice,” “30 Rock,” “The Celebrity Apprentice” and “Who Do You Think You Are?”
In addition, there are day and time period changes for “Whitney,” “Up All Night,” “Rock Center with Brian Williams” and “Harry’s Law.”
Following are night-by-night details:
Mondays:
Last spring’s hit vocal competition series “The Voice” returns even louder with an hour-long season debut following Super Bowl XLVI on Sunday, February 5 (10-11 p.m. ET, time approximate) and then resumes in its regular day and time on Monday, February 6 (8-10 p.m. ET). Following “The Voice” is the much-anticipated musical drama “Smash” which premieres Monday, February 6 (10-11 p.m. ET).
Tuesdays:
“Fashion Star” – the new reality competition series hosted and executive-produced by Elle Macpherson – will premiere with a two-hour episode on Tuesday, March 13 (9-11 p.m. ET) and resume on Tuesday, March 20 (10-11 p.m. ET). “The Biggest Loser” will open a new edition on Tuesday, January 3 (8-10 p.m. ET) followed by “Parenthood” (10-11 p.m. ET) which continues through its season finale on February 28.
Wednesdays:
The freshman comedy “Whitney” (8-8:30 p.m. ET) moves into a new day and time beginning January 11 followed by the series debut of the new comedy “Are You There, Chelsea?” (8:30-9 p.m. ET) on January 11. “Rock Center with Brian Williams” (9-10 p.m. ET) also joins the Wednesday lineup starting February 8. “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” remains at 10-11 p.m. (ET).
Thursdays:
The new drama “The Firm” moves into the Thursday lineup (10-11 p.m. ET) beginning January 12 following its two-hour premiere the previous Sunday (January 8) from 9-11 p.m. ET. The first-season comedy “Up All Night” will also move to Thursday nights at 9:30 p.m. (ET) on January 12 which is also the night that multiple Emmy Award-winning “30 Rock” returns for its season debut (8-8:30 p.m. ET). “Parks and Recreation” (8:30-9 p.m. ET) and the Emmy-winning “The Office” (9-9:30 p.m. ET) remain in the same time periods.
Fridays:
The returning series “Who Do You Think You Are?” makes its season debut on February 3 (8-9 p.m. ET). “Chuck” will have its two-hour series finale on January 27th (8-10 p.m. ET). “Grimm” (9-10 p.m. ET) and “Dateline NBC” (10-11 p.m. ET) remain in the respective time periods.
Sundays:
“The Celebrity Apprentice” returns on Sunday, February 12 (9-11 p.m. ET). “Dateline NBC” begins on Sundays (7-9 p.m. ET), on January 8. “Harry’s Law” moves to the 8-9 p.m. (ET) time period on March 4 and “Dateline NBC” will return to 7-8 p.m. (ET) on March 4.
The premieres of the new January-March program schedule follow in a grid (all times ET); new series are capitalized.
MONDAYS
8-10 p.m. — “The Voice” (season premiere Sunday, February 5; series resumes February 6)
10-11 p.m. – “SMASH” (beginning February 6)
TUESDAYS
8-10 p.m. — “The Biggest Loser” (beginning January 3)
10-11 p.m. – “Parenthood” (through February 28)
10-11 p.m. – “FASHION STAR” (beginning Tuesday, March 13, 9-11 p.m. ET with two-hour premiere; one-hour broadcasts resume March 20)
WEDNESDAYS
8-8:30 p.m. – “Whitney” (beginning January 11)
8:30-9 p.m. – “ARE YOU THERE, CHELSEA?” (beginning January 11)
9-10 p.m. – “Rock Center with Brian Williams” (beginning February 8)
10-11 p.m. – “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit”
THURSDAYS
8-8:30 p.m. – “30 Rock” (beginning January 12)
8:30-9 p.m. – “Parks and Recreation”
9-9:30 p.m. – “The Office”
9:30-10 p.m. – “Up All Night” (beginning January 12)
10-11 p.m. – “THE FIRM” (two-hour premiere Sunday January 8; Thursday time period premiere January 12)
FRIDAYS
8-9 p.m. – “Who Do You Think You Are?” (beginning February 3)
9-10 p.m. – “Grimm”
10-11 p.m. – “Dateline NBC”
SATURDAYS
8-9 p.m. – “Harry’s Law” (encore broadcasts)
9-10 — “THE FIRM” (encore broadcasts)
10-11 p.m. – “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” (encore broadcasts)
SUNDAYS
7-9 p.m. – “Dateline NBC” (beginning January 8)
8-9 p.m. – “Harry’s Law” (beginning March 4)
9-11 p.m. – “The Celebrity Apprentice” (beginning February 12)