NBC Goes First as Broadcast Networks Head Back Into Upfronts
05.15.2021
NBC picked up three new dramas for fall and pushed the introduction of two new comedies to midseason with its 2021-22 TV season schedule, network executives said Friday.
"Our program strategy for NBC is singularly focused on driving growth by capturing audiences with can't-miss event television and keeping them on the network with immersive scripted series," said Frances Berwick, chairman, entertainment networks, NBCUniversal Television and Streaming, in a statement. We are leaning into pieces of the legacy that work, but not being precious about experimenting with things that can benefit from a change."
"NBC is the flagship network in our portfolio and we wanted to treat it as such, shining a light on some of our most beloved shows and introducing a broad range of dynamic new programming," said Susan Rovner, chairman, entertainment content, NBCUniversal Television and Streaming, also in a statement.
As previously announced, both drama This Is Us and comedy Brooklyn Nine-Nine, which the network picked up after Fox canceled it, will conclude after this season. This Is Us will air in its original time period, Tuesdays at 9 p.m., in what NBC promises will be a largely uninterrupted run starting in midseason. Brooklyn Nine-Nine will air its final season premiere with a Summer Olympics boost and then return in midseason to close out its last season.
The network is reducing The Voice's run to just once a year instead of twice, with Ariana Grande joining the judges' panel of Kelly Clarkson, John Legend and Blake Shelton on Mondays this fall.
The Voice will be followed by new drama Ordinary Joe, starring James Wolk as Joe Kimbreau. The series follows Joe through three parallel lives to see how things differ depending on different choices.
Tuesdays will feature the second night of The Voice, followed by second new drama La Brea, in which a giant sinkhole opens up in the middle of Los Angeles and pulls people and buildings into a heretofore unknown primeval world. Tuesdays will close out with medical series New Amsterdam.
Wednesdays remain focused on Chicago-based first responders with Chicago Med at 8 p.m. ET/PT, Chicago Fire at 9 p.m. ET/PT and Chicago PD at 10 p.m. ET/PT.
Similarly, Thursdays are Law & Order night with the latest addition to the franchise, Law & Order: For the Defense at 8 p.m., followed by the 23rd season of Law & Order: SVU at 9 p.m. and the sophomore season of Law & Order: Organized Crime, starring Christopher Meloni.
Fridays remain the home of The Blacklist, starring James Spader, at 8 p.m. followed by two hours of Dateline NBC.
Finally, Sunday Night Football, primetime's most-watched show for a decade, remains NBC's crown jewel to close out the weekend with 20 regular season games scheduled in 2021-22.
This holiday season, NBC will bring back its live musical tradition with Annie Live! scheduled as well as two animated specials-Trolls Holidays in Harmony and Jimmy Fallon's Five More Sleeps 'Til Christmas.
NBC will kick off midseason with the Super Bowl. Following that, midseason is for comedy with the network planning to debut American Auto, a workplace comedy starring Ana Gasteyer and Jon Barinholtz, and Grand Crew, about a group of friends who hang out in a wine bar. Renee Zellweger makes her broadcast primetime debut in limited series and true-crime drama The Thing About Pam from Blumhouse Television.
With The Voice moving to just once a year, NBC is adding new reality and competition series, including American Song Contest, a U.S. version of the Eurovision song contest, as well as America's Got Talent spin-off AGT: Extreme. It's also premiering The Wheel from the U.K.; That's My Jam, a reality series from Jimmy Fallon; and real-life first responder series LA Fire and Rescue from Law & Order executive producer Dick Wolf.
Besides the Super Bowl, NBC has both the Summer and Winter Olympics in 2021-22 due to last summer's delay of the Games because of the pandemic.
Returning shows for 2021-22 include The Blacklist, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Chicago Fire, Chicago Med, Chicago P.D., Dateline NBC, Kenan, Law & Order: Organized Crime, Law & Order: SVU, Mr. Mayor, NBC Sunday Night Football, New Amsterdam, This Is Us, The Voice, The Wall, Transplant, Weakest Link and Young Rock.
Decisions have yet to be made on Debris, Ellen's Game of Games, Good Girls, Manifest and Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist.
As part of NBC's rolling pilot process this year, the following projects have been picked up to pilot with decisions yet to be made on final series greenlights: Dangerous Moms, Getaway, Hungry, Night Court, Someone Out There and the Untitled Nick Wootton/Jake Coburn Project.
With NBC's 52-week scheduling strategy, these pilots could be possibilities for later in the 2021-22 season or could roll over to 2022-23.
NBC FALL 2021-22 SCHEDULE
(New programs in UPPER CASE; all times ET/PT)
MONDAY
8-10 P.M. - The Voice
10-11 P.M. - ORDINARY JOE
TUESDAY
8-9 P.M. - The Voice
9-10 P.M. - LA BREA
10-11 P.M.  - New Amsterdam
WEDNESDAY
8-9 P.M. - Chicago Med
9-10 P.M. - Chicago Fire 10-11 P.M. - Chicago P.D.
THURSDAY
8-9 P.M.  - LAW & ORDER: FOR THE DEFENSE
9-10 P.M.  - Law & Order: SVU
10-11 P.M. - Law & Order: Organized Crime
FRIDAY
8-9 P.M. - The Blacklist
9-11 P.M - Dateline NBC
SATURDAY
8-9 P.M. - Drama Encores
9-10 P.M. - Dateline Weekend Mystery
10-11 P.M. - SNL Vintage
SUNDAY
7-8:20 P.M. - Football Night in America
8:20-11 P.M. - NBC Sunday Night Football