NBC goes further off script as strike drags on

By Nellie Andreeva

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - With its stockpile of fresh episodes for scripted series running low as the Hollywood writers strike nears the end of its fourth week, NBC is adding three hours of reality programming in January. Its weekly schedule will include at least six hours of unscripted fare.

The network's updated version of "American Gladiators" will launch with a two-hour premiere January 6 before moving into its regular Monday 8 p.m. time slot the next day.

"Gladiators," hosted by Hulk Hogan and Laila Ali, will replace promising freshman comedy-drama "Chuck," which recently was picked up for a full season but has only a few more episodes in the can. "Chuck" is scheduled to air original episodes through December 3. No decision has been made when and where the show's remaining couple of new segments will run.

Quiz show "1 vs. 100" will return January 4 and will air in its old Friday 8 p.m. slot, replacing "Deal or No Deal." ("Deal" will continue to run on Wednesdays.) The game show hosted by Bob Saget will kick off its second season with a "battle of the sexes" premiere episode that will feature one woman competing against 100 men and one man versus 100 women and a contestant winning the show's top prize of $1 million for the first time.

It's going to be a short break for "The Biggest Loser," whose current cycle wraps December 18. The weight-loss competition series hosted by Alison Sweeney will return January 1 for a fifth installment featuring couples. The two-hour episodes will continue to air Tuesdays 8 p.m.

"Gladiators" and "1 vs. 100" join "The Celebrity Apprentice," which will premiere January 3 and will run in its original Thursday 9-10 p.m. slot. The 8-9 p.m. hour is expected to feature a mix of NBC's four Thursday comedies.

Reuters/Hollywood Reporter