NBC Reshuffles Fall Lineup

BURBANK, May 27: NBC has
unveiled the fall premiere dates for its new and returning series, including a
three-hour launch for the hit drama Heroes and the Thursday-night debut of the freshman comedy Kath & Kim.

America’s Toughest Jobs, which was previously slated to launch in summer
2009, will now debut with a two-hour episode on September 12 at 8 p.m.,
returning the following week from 8-9 p.m. for five weeks before settling into
an hour-long slot at 9 p.m. beginning October 24.

On September 22, Heroes
returns with a prime-time
premiere, kicking off at 8 p.m. with a special hour-long compilation show,
followed by an all-new two-hour episode.

Law & Order:
Special Victims Unit will launch
into its tenth season on September 23 at 10 p.m., while the freshman drama Knight
Rider debuts the following evening
at 8 p.m., followed by the return of Lipstick Jungle. Deal or No Deal will air with new episodes on Wednesdays, after America’s
Got Talent finishes its run.

The fourth season of My
Name is Earl returns to NBC’s
Thursday-night comedy block on September 25, followed by the one-hour season
premiere of The Office, while ER
kicks off its final season at 10
p.m. The new comedy Kath & Kim,
starring Molly Shannon and Selma Blair, joins the Thursday-night lineup on
October 9 at 9:30 p.m. Three consecutive weekly Saturday Night Live special election editions will air at 8:30 p.m. on
October 9, 16 and 23, with the Emmy Award-winning 30 Rock returning October 30.

The sophomore drama Chuck returns on September 29 at 9 p.m., and will be
followed by the series premiere of My Own Worst Enemy, starring Christian Slater, at 10 p.m. Life returns October 3 at 10 p.m., while Crusoe, a new series based on Daniel Defoe’s novel, will
debut with a special two-hour premiere on October 17 at 8 p.m. Meanwhile, The
Biggest Loser: Families will
launch with a new expanded two-hour edition on Tuesdays, after America’s Got
Talent concludes its run.

—By Kristin
Brzoznowski