NBC Confirms Leno Move, Unveils Development Slate

LOS ANGELES: NBC this weekend confirmed its plans to move The Jay Leno Show to 11:35 p.m., while also showcasing a slate of pilots that are in development as the network looks for options to fill the talk-show host’s 10 p.m. slot.

NBC has been under pressure by affiliate stations over the low ratings for Leno at 10 p.m., the slot that serves as a lead in to local stations’ 11 p.m. newscasts. The network has not yet announced what its plans are for The Tonight Show with Conan O’Brien, which currently airs at 11:35 p.m. Michael Fiorile, the chairman of the NBC Affiliate Board, praised the network’s decision to move Leno. "This is a great move for the affiliates, the network and, most importantly, the viewers. Speaking on behalf of the board I thank the network for keeping the lines of communication so open, and for being so responsive to the needs of the affiliates. We admire their willingness to innovate, and their willingness to change course when it didn’t work for us. We were delighted to collaborate on the launch of the 10:00 p.m. show, and we look forward to continuing to work with Jeff Zucker and the entire network leadership team as we set a new direction, build on our long history together, and contribute to the impressive legacy of NBC."

The network’s 2010/2011 development slate includes a U.S. version of the long-running British series Prime Suspect, produced by Universal Media Studios and ITV with Hank Steinberg (Without a Trace) and Erwin Stoff (The Blind Side) as executive producers. House’s David Shore and actor Steve Carell are putting a new spin on The Rockford Files, the successful NBC series from the 1970s. The pilot is from Universal Media Studios and Carousel Productions. The Event is a thriller from Universal Media Studios featuring multiple points of view concerning a man who battles against mysterious circumstances that envelope a larger conspiracy. J.J. Abrams is executive producing Undercovers, about a husband and wife couple that come out of retirement when they are reactivated as CIA agents, with Bryan Burk and Josh Reims. Jerry Bruckheimer is behind Chase, a new action-procedural drama following U.S. Marshals that track down the nation’s most notorious criminals. David E. Kelly and Warner Bros. Television are behind Kindreds, in which a curmudgeonly ex-patent lawyer and his group of misfit associates come together to form an unconventional kind of law practice. Love Bites is an hour-long romantic comedy produced by Universal Media Studios and Working Title Films. And the comedy slate include a series with Adam Carolla, from Universal Media Studios and BermanBraun.

Other weekend announcements from NBC include that Jerry Seinfeld’s The Marriage Ref will be sneak previewed on February 28 following the closing ceremony of the Winter Olympics. Jeff Gaspin, the chairman of NBC Universal Television Entertainment, noted: "Utilizing the Winter Olympics as a platform for introducing this show provides an extraordinary opportunity. In addition, Howie Mandel has been tapped to replace David Hasselhoff as a judge on America’s Got Talent.