NBC delays "Apprentice" to avoid clash

By Nellie Andreeva

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - NBC is taking the premiere of "Celebrity Apprentice" out of the cross hairs of the last original episode of ABC's "Grey's Anatomy" . . . or so it seems.

NBC said Wednesday that it will push the launch of "Apprentice" to January 10 from January 3, expanding "Deal or No Deal" to two hours January 3.

The move follows ABC's announcement last week that its last original episode of "Grey's" would air January 3, leading into the premiere of the new drama "Cashmere Mafia."

But ABC said late Wednesday it would move the premiere of "Cashmere" to January 6 from January 3, where it will air after the last original episode of "Desperate Housewives."

There is speculation that ABC also is mulling moving the original "Grey's" from January 3, the night of the Iowa caucuses, possibly to January 10, where it again might go against the premiere of "Apprentice."

Even without a first-run "Grey's," "Apprentice" is facing an uphill battle in the Thursday 9 p.m. slot, where ABC is launching the abbreviated new season of "Lost" on January 31.

On January 6, "Cashmere" will replace an original "Brothers & Sisters," which now will air January 15.

In other NBC scheduling news, the network will expand Thursday night's finale of its modestly rated weeklong reality series "Clash of the Choirs" to two hours.

Reuters/Hollywood Reporter