Dramas, Seinfeld-produced comedy show to fill post-Leno prime-time slots

more images

more images

NBC announces post-Leno prime-time lineup

LOS ANGELES — New and veteran NBC dramas and a comedy produced by Jerry Seinfeld will take over the bulk of the prime-time slots soon to be vacated by Jay Leno.

NBC announced Thursday that the freshman drama “Parenthood” and the relocated “Law & Order” and “Law & Order: Special Victim Units” will fill three slots. Another will go to the comedy panel series “The Marriage Ref” from Seinfeld.

“Dateline NBC” will fill another 10 p.m. EST slot.

The new lineup will debut after NBC’s coverage of the Winter Olympics from Feb. 12-28.

Still in flux was NBC’s effort to make way for Leno’s return to late-night TV by bumping Conan O’Brien and “Tonight” to midnight, a plan O’Brien has rejected. The network was in talks with both hosts.

His show will go into a previously scheduled week of repeats on Jan. 25, NBC said Thursday.

For now, though, dramas can claim to be winners in the schedule shake up, reclaiming most of the slots lost when NBC decided to experiment with Leno’s show as a cheaper alternative.

“Law & Order” will return after the Games on Monday, March 1, with a two-hour episode airing at 9 p.m. EST. The show, in its 20th season, will begin airing regularly at 10 p.m. the following week.

“Parenthood,” with an ensemble cast including Lauren Graham and Peter Krause, will debut 10 p.m. EST Tuesday, March 2.

The “Special Victims Unit” member of the “Law & Order” family will air in the final prime-time slot on Wednesdays, starting March 3.

The other new 10 p.m. show, “The Marriage Ref” with comedian Tom Papa, will air Thursdays beginning March 4 after a Feb. 28 sneak peek following the closing ceremony of the Olympics. “Dateline NBC” will air 9-11 p.m. EST Fridays starting March 5.

Also bowing after the Olympics are “Who Do You Think You Are?” — a look at the family history of celebrities, 8 p.m. EST Friday, March 5, and “Minute to Win It,” a game show with TV food personality Guy Fieri, 8 p.m. EST Sunday, March 14.

On the Net:

www.nbc.com