Upfronts Week, NBC


We have reached Upfronts Week, a time when hope springs eternal and networks unveil their fall schedules, including all their new shows. Each day during Upfronts Week I'll be taking a look at the network schedules and pointing out a few things, in addition to give thoughts on some new shows. Today we kick-off with NBC.

NBC has a couple things going for it. "The Voice" is still one of the best rated reality series, and "This Is Us" remained one of the top rated scripted series in its second year. The network has some stable veterans in "Law & Order: SVU," and its Chicago series, and it still has football. Though not as much football, since NBC (and CBS) lost out on Thursday Night Football. So let's see what they're looking at in 2018-19.

Best Scheduling Move
The Chicago series (Med, Fire and PD) have a solid fanbase and a large, inter-connected story network. NBC has tried moving them to different spots on the schedule, including putting them on consecutive nights. This year, they've given that up and decided to pair all the back-to-back-to-back on Wednesday nights. I think it gives them a solid block, and allows for them to create special crossover events that help solidify the night. And since Wednesdays haven't provided the strongest competition the past two seasons, I think this could help give NBC a leg up on the night.

Most Curious Scheduling Move
NBC drew a lot of praise for saving "Brooklyn Nine-Nine" after it was cancelled by FOX earlier this week. And then they promptly pushed "Nine-Nine" to mid-season. So, I was kind of surprised and bummed. Instead of capitalizing on the wave of good will to boost their Thursday night numbers in the Fall opposite the NFL, they're waiting with it. Now it could make sense to use "Nine-Nine" to replace "The Good Place" in the lineup (another comedy with only 13 episodes), but I still would have liked to see NBC push to restore prestige to its Thursday night comedy lineup by adding "Nine-Nine" to "Superstore," "The Good Place" and "Will & Grace" in the fall.

Most Promising New Show
No matter what, medical shows always seem to be a good bet for ratings. And NBC has wisely picked up the somewhat promising "New Amsterdam," though I feel like it could benefit from a better title, and has dropped it on Tuesday nights at 10 p.m. behind "This Is Us." This is how you make a stand and try to own a night, especially placing a promising show in a time slot where it wouldn't take much to dominate.

Least Promising New Show
NBC only has three new shows airing this fall, and none of them looks awful. However, while I like "New Amsterdam" and I'm excited to see what happens with "Manifest," an incredibly appealing high-concept show that could go either way, I felt nothing but a shoulder shrug for NBC's lone comedy. I mentioned above the potential if the network has placed "Nine-Nine" on Thursday in the fall, but instead they are going with "I Fell Bad." It has a nice pedigree, coming from producer Amy Poehler. But the trailer felt stiff and boring, and I could easily see this show flopping out of the game in a tough time slot opposite CBS comedies, ABC's Shondaland Dramas and Football. But I guess time will tell.

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