Writers’ Strike Prompts NBC to Ramp Up Reality Programming

LOS ANGELES, November 30:
As the Writers Guild of America (WGA) strike drags on, NBC has decided to add
three hours of reality programming in January, with the weekly schedule set to
feature at least six hours of unscripted content, led by the updated version of
the classic American Gladiators series.

The refreshed version of American
Gladiators, hosted by Hulk Hogan
and Laila Ali, will launch with a two-hour premiere on January 6 before moving
into its regular Monday 8 p.m. time slot the next day.

The series will replace
freshman comedy-drama Chuck,
which recently was picked up for a full season but has only a few more episodes
in the can. Chuck is scheduled
to air original episodes through December 3. According to The Hollywood
Reporter, no decision has been
made when and where the show's remaining couple of new segments will run.

NBC’s schedule for the new
year will also include other unscripted fare such as 1 vs. 100, which is due to return for a second season on
January 4 in its old Friday 8 p.m. slot, replacing Deal or No Deal, which will continue to run on Wednesdays. 1
vs. 100, hosted by Bob Saget, will
kick off its second season with a "battle of the sexes" premiere
episode that will feature one woman competing against 100 men and one man
versus 100 women and a contestant winning the show's top prize of $1 million
for the first time.

The weight-loss competition
series The Biggest Loser, whose
current cycle wraps up on December 18, will return January 1 for a fifth
installment, featuring couples. The two-hour episodes will continue to air
Tuesdays 8 p.m.

American Gladiators and 1 vs. 100 join The Celebrity Apprentice, which will premiere January 3 and will run in its
original Thursday 9-10 p.m. slot. The 8-9 p.m. hour is expected to feature a
mix of NBC's four Thursday comedies.

—By Irene Lew