Disaster averted: NBC's "Day One" reduced in scope

By Nellie Andreeva

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - The order for NBC's ambitious disaster series "Day One" has been reduced to the two-hour pilot plus two episodes.

The show, chronicling life on Earth after a global catastrophe, now will air as a four-hour miniseries following NBC's coverage of the Winter Olympics.

NBC's scripted chief Angela Bromstad repeatedly has said that the network brass was envisioning "Day One" as "a big event." But after examining the promo budget associated with launching a 13-episode midseason series, NBC executives opted to run the drama as a miniseries, with creator Jesse Alexander said to be on board with the decision.

The network still is leaving the door open for "Day One" to continue as a series after the four-hour spring run, citing the success of "Battlestar Galactica" on sibling cable channel Syfy, which also originated as a miniseries.

The news comes on the heels of ABC's decision to launch another sci-fi-themed midseason series, the Warner Bros. TV-produced "V," with a four-hour limited run in November.

"Day One" stars Julie Gonzalo, David Lyons, Carly Pope, Adam Campbell, Thekla Reuten, Derek Mio, Addison Timlin and Catherine Dent.

It is one of two new series this season dealing with the aftermath of a global disaster, along with ABC's promising fall drama "FlashForward."

It isn't clear whether "Day One" will keep its original 9 p.m. Monday slot.

(Editing by DGoodman at Reuters)