May 12, 2003
NBC to Add 3 Comedies, 3 Dramas for Fall
By Cynthia Littleton and Nellie Andreeva
Reuters/Hollywood Reporter
Mon May 12, 1:48 AM ET
LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - With NBC's bubble shows, "Ed," "Boomtown" and "Good Morning, Miami," all snagging last-minute full-season pickups, NBC will introduce six new series this fall, sources said -- three comedies and three dramas.
The network has given 13-episode orders to the untitled Tracy Morgan and Whoopi Goldberg (news) comedies, and adaptation of the BBC ensemble comedy "Coupling," an untitled Las Vegas drama starring James Caan (news), an ensemble legal drama with Rob Lowe (news), and the dramedy "Miss/Match" toplined by Alicia Silverstone (news).
NBC is said to be going for changes on six nights, up from three last year. Staying intact is this season's Sunday lineup of "Dateline," "American Dreams," "Law & Order: Criminal Intent" and "Boomtown," sources said.
On Monday, "Fear Factor" continues as the anchor at 8 p.m., followed by the untitled Las Vegas drama while "Third Watch" is said to be moving to 10 p.m. from its current 9 p.m. slot.
On Tuesday, the Goldberg and Morgan comedies are expected to lead into "Frasier" at 9 p.m. and "Good Morning, Miami," which is moving from Thursday 9:30 p.m. to Tuesday 9:30 p.m., though sources said another scenario under consideration would have "Miami" Tuesday at 8:30 p.m.
Larry Wilmore, the Emmy-winning writer-producer who inked a deal at NBC Studios following his much-publicized exit from Fox's "The Bernie Mac (news) Show," has been tapped to serve as showrunner/executive producer of the Goldberg comedy alongside Kris Turner, another "Bernie Mac" alum, and series co-creator Terry Turner (no relation).
As for the pickup of "Miami," sources said NBC opted to pick up the show regardless of whether producers can persuade Heather Locklear (news) to join the cast, something NBC was pushing for late last week. The former "Spin City (news - Y! TV)" actress met with the show's producers Friday and is expected to make a decision in the next few days. But one "Miami" cast member who won't be returning for Season 2 is Suzanne Pleshette (news), sources said.
On Wednesday, Lowe's new legal drama will land at 8 p.m., making it the lead-in to his old colleagues at "The West Wing (news - web sites)," which is believed to be staying put at 9 p.m. along with "Law & Order" at 10 p.m.
The only new addition to the Thursday lineup is understood to be "Coupling" in the 9:30 p.m. berth behind "Will & Grace (news - Y! TV)."
On Friday, the buzz-worthy dramedy "Miss/Match" would lead off at 8 p.m., followed by "Ed" and 10 p.m. dynamo "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit."
In a surprising move, NBC is said to be keeping Saturday as a movie night but in a scaled-down 8-10 p.m. slot while the Jill Hennessy (news) starrer "Crossing Jordan" would move to the 10 p.m. berth in its third season. However, there was speculation that "Crossing Jordan" might be held back for midseason in part because Hennessy is pregnant.
NBC's other midseason orders were still hazy on Sunday. Sources said the Christine Baranski (news)-John Larroquette starrer "Happy Family" was still a contender, along with drama "Homeland Security."
Freshman series that didn't make the cut for a second season include the comedies "In-Laws," "Hidden Hills," "A.U.S.A." and drama "Mister Sterling."
Reuters/Hollywood Reporter
