NBC SPOTLIGHTS NEW FALL SEASON

[caitlen]

NBC SPOTLIGHTS NEW FALL SEASON WITH 'THE NBC PRIMETIME PREVIEW SHOW'
Released by NBC
August 5, 2009

NBC SPOTLIGHTS NEW FALL SEASON WITH 'THE NBC PRIMETIME PREVIEW SHOW'

PROGRAM IS HOSTED BY THE STAR OF NBC'S NEW COMEDY 'COMMUNITY,' JOEL MCHALE AND WILL BE SHOWCASED ACROSS SPECTRUM OF BROADCAST AND ONLINE PLATFORMS FROM AUGUST 8-SEPTEMBER 27

UNIVERSAL CITY, Calif. August 5, 2009 NBC provides broadcast, NBC Universal cable entities and online audiences with an upgraded backstage pass to view the network's new and returning series for Fall as series star Joel McHale from NBC's new comedy "Community" hosts "The NBC Primetime Preview."

The lively 30-minute cavalcade will feature exclusive, behind-the-scenes views to be delivered across a wide gamut of NBC Universal media platforms beginning August 8 through September 27. The program will run an estimated 306 times over broadcast and cable platforms.

The fresh entertainment show also will feature appearances by former late-night king Jay Leno, who launches his new comedy series "The Jay Leno Show" on Monday, September 14 (10-11 p.m. ET). The spotlight of the preview also focuses on new dramas "Trauma" and "Mercy," new comedy "Community," "The Biggest Loser," NBC's Thursday-night comedies, the Emmy Award-winning "30 Rock" (which recently became the first comedy series to record 22 Emmy nomination in a single year), "Heroes," "Southland" and "Sunday Night Football," among others.

The annual Fall program will be offered to NBC's 232 television stations (check local listings) as well as other channel entities such as USA, Syfy, Bravo, UniHD, Chiller, mun2, MSNBC, CNBC, Oxygen, Sleuth, NBC2Go, on-demand and broadband. NBC stations can also run it on their websites while NBC.com will also run it as well. In addition, the program will be screened on selected American Airlines flights (estimated to be shown on approximately 11,000 flights).

NBC's Fall 2009-2010 premiere week begins in earnest on Monday, September 21.

Marking a new era in television, Jay Leno, recently named America's Favorite TV Personality by the 2009 Harris Poll, moves from late night to primetime on September 14 when "The Jay Leno Show" becomes the first-ever entertainment program to be stripped across primetime on broadcast network television. "The Jay Leno Show" promises more comedy in the 10 o'clock hour and will showcase many of the features that have made Leno America's late-night leader for more than a dozen years.

From executive producer Peter Berg (NBC's "Friday Night Lights") comes "Trauma," the first high-octane medical drama series to film exclusively in the field where the real action is. "Trauma" premiering Monday, September 28 (9-10 p.m. ET) -- is an action-packed look at one of the most dangerous medical professions in the world: first responder paramedics. When emergencies occur, the trauma team from San Francisco City Hospital is first on the scene, traveling by land, by sea or by air to reach victims in time. "Trauma" stars Cliff Curtis ("Push"), Derek Luke ("Notorious"), Anastasia Griffith ("Damages"), Aimee Garcia ("George Lopez"), Kevin Rankin ("Friday Night Lights") as edgy EMT Tyler Briggs, and Jamey Sheridan ("Law & Order: Criminal Intent") as mentor Dr. Joe Saviano.

"Mercy," debuting Wednesday, September 23 (8-9 p.m. ET), is a new medical drama about the lives of the people who work at Mercy Hospital seen through the eyes of those who know it best -- its nurses. Nurse Veronica Callahan (Taylor Schilling "Dark Matter") has just returned to Mercy Hospital from a tour in Iraq and knows more about medicine than all of the residents combined. Together with fellow nurses Sonia Jimenez (Jaime Lee Kirchner, "Rescue Me") and Chloe Payne (Michelle Trachtenberg, "Gossip Girl"), they navigate the daily traumas and social landmines of life and love both inside the hospital and out in the real world. The cast also includes James Tupper ("Men in Trees"), Diego Klattenhoff ("Supernatural"), Guillermo Diaz ("Weeds") and James Le Gros as Dr. Harris ("Ally McBeal").

"Community" a new comedy from Dan Harmon ("The Sarah Silverman Program") and Emmy Award-winning directors Joe and Anthony Russo ("Arrested Development") comes "Community" is a smart series about a band of misfits who attend Greendale Community College. At the center of the group is Jeff Winger (Joel McHale, "The Soup"), a fast-talkin' lawyer whose degree has been revoked. To win the affection of a fellow classmate, Winger forms a study group who eventually learn more about themselves than their course work. "Community" launches on Thursday, September 17 (9:30-10 p.m. ET) and then moves to Thursdays (8-8:30 p.m. ET) on October 8.

Also among the series stars who comprise the group are comedy legend Chevy Chase ("Chuck") as Pierce, a man whose life experience has brought him infinite wisdom; Gillian Jacobs ("The Book of Daniel") as Britta, the 28-year-old dropout with something to prove; Yvette Nicole Brown ("Rules of Engagement") as Shirley, a sassy middle-aged divorcee; Danny Pudi ("Greek") as Abed, the slightly off-center, yet lovable, classmate; Alison Brie ("Mad Men") as Annie, a high-strung perfectionist; and Donald Glover ("30 Rock") as Troy, a former high school football star trying to find his way.

In addition to the new series, the special will focus on other returning series as well, particularly "Chuck" and the Emmy-winning "The Office" (recently nominated for nine Emmys).

"The NBC Primetime Preview" is produced by the NBC Marketing Group.

www.nbc.com

[Ladyheather]

I just love Soup, but Joel in a comedy series....hmm? Not sure it will work. Seen him in other stuff. Just not sure this one will work. Probably not his fault.

Hope for the best.

[maherjunkie]

Another listing of what to expect. What should we think of the Cougar trend? I'm not sure if I am supposed to be offended or not. When men seek out women for possible sex, aren't they just called men?

www.buffalonews.com/entertainment/story/769363.html

Pergament: The best and worst of fall TV
By Alan Pergament
News TV Critic
Updated: August 21, 2009, 10:26 PM / 3 comments
Since I returned from Hollywood and the TV critics’ annual national press tour, I’ve been asked many questions about the coming fall TV season. The best way to answer is through a Best and Worst Column.

• Best New Drama: “The Good Wife,” the CBS series in which Julianna Margulies (“ER”) plays the wife of a disgraced politician, was my favorite even before ABC Entertainment President Stephen McPherson told me at a party it was his favorite show on a rival network. It is smart, well-written and has an excellent cast that includes Buffalo native Christine Baranski. My favorite Fox show is the action drama “Human Target,” which doesn’t arrive until midseason. The CW’s best-looking new series, “Life Unexpected,” also arrives in midseason.

• Best New Comedy: ABC has been using early critical buzz to promote “Modern Family” all over the place this summer. And the pilot about three different families who are all related is as funny as advertised. On the other hand, the unfunny promos for NBC’s “Community,” set in a community college, lack context. If it were a pass-fail course, “Community” would barely pass overall. However, the characters give the show potential.

• Worst New Show: “Brothers,” the new Fox comedy in which Michael Strahan plays an NFL star who trades barbs with his paralyzed brother (played by Darryl “Chill” Mitchell), is painful to watch. It is loaded with repetitive jokes about Alzheimer’s, being disabled and dental issues. If it lasts three weeks, it will be a shocker.

• Worst Husband: Bill Lawrence, the creator of the ABC comedy, “Cougar Town,” told critics about one of his wife’s (actress Christa Miller) most embarrassing moments that made it into the script as she sat a few seats away from him.

• Best Slap: In the “Good Wife,” Margulies’ character gives her hubby, played by Chris Noth, a good one for all the political wives who have been humiliated. According to Margulies, it took three takes. “And Chris Noth is so great,” she said. “He’s like, ‘oh, please, I’ve been hit so many times’ ... The third time was perfect. And I left a red welt, so we couldn’t shoot again.”

• Worst Promotional Idea: Before a session for the Jenna Elfman comedy, “Accidentally on Purpose,” about another cougar who gets pregnant, CBS offered critics condoms with the show’s name on them, and also Skittles. As one astute Toronto critic noted, the critics were more interested in the candy.

• Best Medical Show: There are three news ones that deal with medicine — CBS’ “Three Rivers,” NBC’s “Trauma,” and NBC’s “Mercy”—as the networks search for the next “ER.” None of them is very good or original. But Taylor Schilling, who plays the beautiful, feisty lead nurse back from a tour in Iraq in “Mercy,” may help it overcome its cliches.

• Worst Trend: If you believe TV has influenced the coarseness in society, then this season will add to the ammunition. The content in “Cougar Town,” “Accidentally on Purpose” and other shows is getting closer to looser cable standards. The CW’s promotional campaign is loaded with double entendres. Unapologetic network executives say they need to go there to compete.

• Best Trend: The networks are actually embracing older actors. Kelsey Grammer, Patricia Heaton, Baranski, Ed O’Neill and Chevy Chase are all cast in new series.

• Best Interview: Jay Leno, whose new 10 p. m. weeknight show on NBC is the big unknown this season, got his best reviews in years for his news conference performance.

• Worst Interview: Wanda Sykes, a very funny lady who gets her own Fox late-night talk show on Saturday nights in November, had little details to offer in a lifeless session.

• Worst Dropout: Donald Faison, the “Scrubs” star who headlines WNED-TV’s national TV program about young adult literacy, “Your Life, Your Money,” had to leave shortly before a PBS session because of a family illness. It was a bad break for Channel 17 because Faison is a quote machine, as I found out over breakfast hours before he had to leave.

• Best News: David Shore, creator of “House,” is working on a new version of “The Rockford Files” that could make it on NBC in a year.

• Best Educator: In explaining why musical acts like U2 won’t be a big deal on his show, Leno said they generally are good to excite the studio audience, but they don’t help ratings because viewers can see them perform in so many other places.

• Funniest Line: It was unintentional and came from NBC executive Angela Bromstad, when speaking about the departure of former head of programming Ben Silverman after two failed years. “This has always been Ben’s plan to transition back to entrepreneurial roots.” Critics took it to mean that Silverman planned to fail and then leave.

• Best Overheard Line: I was waiting to interview one of NBC’s top executives, Jeff Gaspin, at a party when Chevy Chase began talking to him. After Gaspin welcomed Chase back to NBC in “Community,” Chase remarked that it was not like he ever left. “Except for those five weeks on Fox,” he added. He was talking about the infamous Fox late-night flop, “The Chevy Chase Show.”

• Best Hidden Accent: Every year, critics are startled to see foreign actors like Hugh Laurie (“House”) and Jonny Lee Miller (“Eli Stone”) talk in their native tongues in interview sessions. This year, it was Joe Fiennes, younger brother of Ralph, who stars in ABC’s most intriguing new series, “Flash Forward.”

• Best Casting Surprise: Seth MacFarlane, the creator of several animated hits including “Family Guy,” popped up as a FBI agent in “Flash Forward,” which had critics buzzing in the big conference room where the pilot was screened. He is a friend of one of the show’s producers.

• Best Looking “Cougar”: Courteney Cox Arquette, the old “Friend,” is 41 going on 31 as she returns to network TV in “Cougar Town.” The aforementioned Bill Lawrence tried to attack the disconnect between looking at Cox and having her be the face of some fortysomething women who dread looking in the mirror. When a critic asked Cox who was her “stand-in” for the scenes in which her character saw her flabby arms, Lawrence said Cox did all her own scenes.

• Worst Guess: Nobody was prepared to predict how Leno’s 10 p. m. show will do on the record. Privately, the consensus is it won’t do that well, but it doesn’t cost that much to produce and NBC will declare it a success no matter what ratings it gets. Of course, when it comes to prime-time TV success, there are annually surprise hits like “Seinfeld,” “CSI” and “Grey’s Anatomy” that illustrate that nobody really knows what is going to succeed.

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