NBC upgrades new comedy to plum Thursday slot

By James Hibberd and Nellie Andreeva

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - NBC has tweaked its Thursday lineup, adding the rookie show "Kath & Kim" to its comedy block in the plum 9:30 p.m. slot following "The Office."

The mother-daughter comedy, starring Molly Shannon and Selma Blair, will debut October 9, replacing a previously announced series of election-themed "Saturday Night Live" specials. It was originally scheduled to air Tuesdays following "The Biggest Loser."

The network also has opted to stick to a traditional rollout, launching the bulk of its fall lineup during premiere week, beginning September 22, and to put on the new reality competition series "America's Toughest Jobs" earlier than planned.

There had been speculation that NBC might use its August 8-24 Summer Olympics coverage as a springboard for an early fall rollout. Instead, the network will hold off, saving originals for the regular season and avoiding going head-to-head with Fox, which already has slotted several high-profile season premieres for the week of August 25.

The first Monday of NBC's season will be a full night of "Heroes," a clips show leading to a two-hour season premiere.

Also slated to launch during premiere week are "Law & Order: SVU" on September 23, new drama "Knight Rider" and "Lipstick Jungle" on September 24 and comedies "My Name Is Earl" and "The Office" -- which will return with one-hour premieres -- as well as "ER" on September 25.

Sophomore comedy-drama "Chuck" and new drama "My Own Worst Enemy," starring Christian Slater, will join "Heroes" on September 29, while "Life" will return for a second season October 3.

"The Biggest Loser," meanwhile, will expand to two hours from 90 minutes, and the three "SNL" specials will now air in "30 Rock's" 8:30 p.m. berth on October 9, 16 and 23. "30 Rock" will be the last NBC series to launch its new season October 30.

"Toughest Jobs," which had been slated to run in summer 2009, will premiere September 12 and run Friday nights at 8 p.m. until the slot's regular occupant, adventure series "Crusoe," launches with a two-hour premiere October 17. "Jobs" will then slide to the 9 p.m. hour, replacing "Deal or No Deal."

Reuters/Hollywood Reporter