Things begin to get interesting in January as NBC premieres its mid-season schedule. Included in its four new series are: the highly regarded [and for good reason – the pilot is delightful] Smash [pictured above]; The Firm – sequel series to the Tom Cruise movie adaptation of John Grisham’s novel of the same name; Are You There, Chelsea? – the sitcom based on the memoir by Chelsea Handler, and Fashion Star – a reality series set [surprise!] in the world of fashion.
The schedule also sees new timeslots for Whitney, Up All Night, Rock Center with Brian Williams and Harry’s Laws. Other returning series include: The Voice, 30 Rock, The Celebrity Apprentice and Who Do You Think You Are?
There’s no mention of the parallel worlds/procedural/family drama Awake, which has one of the best pilots of the 2011-2012 season. Color me very disappointed.
Follow the jump for night by night details.
Mondays:
Last spring’s hit vocal competition series “The Voice” returns even louder with an hour-long season debut following Super Bowl XLVI on Sunday, February 5 (10-11 p.m. ET, time approximate) and then resumes in its regular day and time on Monday, February 6 (8-10 p.m. ET). Following “The Voice” is the much-anticipated musical drama “Smash” which premieres Monday, February 6 (10-11 p.m. ET).
Tuesdays:
“Fashion Star” – the new reality competition series hosted and executive-produced by Elle Macpherson – will premiere with a two-hour episode on Tuesday, March 13 (9-11 p.m. ET) and resume on Tuesday, March 20 (10-11 p.m. ET). “The Biggest Loser” will open a new edition on Tuesday, January 3 (8-10 p.m. ET) followed by “Parenthood” (10-11 p.m. ET) which continues through its season finale on February 28.
Wednesdays:
The freshman comedy “Whitney” (8-8:30 p.m. ET) moves into a new day and time beginning January 11 followed by the series debut of the new comedy “Are You There, Chelsea?” (8:30-9 p.m. ET) on January 11. “Rock Center with Brian Williams” (9-10 p.m. ET) also joins the Wednesday lineup starting February 8. “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” remains at 10-11 p.m. (ET).
Thursdays:
The new drama “The Firm” moves into the Thursday lineup (10-11 p.m. ET) beginning January 12 following its two-hour premiere the previous Sunday (January 8) from 9-11 p.m. ET. The first-season comedy “Up All Night” will also move to Thursday nights at 9:30 p.m. (ET) on January 12 which is also the night that multiple Emmy Award-winning “30 Rock” returns for its season debut (8-8:30 p.m. ET). “Parks and Recreation” (8:30-9 p.m. ET) and the Emmy-winning “The Office” (9-9:30 p.m. ET) remain in the same time periods.
Fridays:
The returning series “Who Do You Think You Are?” makes its season debut on February 3 (8-9 p.m. ET). “Chuck” will have its two-hour series finale on January 27th (8-10 p.m. ET). “Grimm” (9-10 p.m. ET) and “Dateline NBC” (10-11 p.m. ET) remain in the respective time periods.
Sundays:
“The Celebrity Apprentice” returns on Sunday, February 12 (9-11 p.m. ET). “Dateline NBC” begins on Sundays (7-9 p.m. ET), on January 8. “Harry’s Law” moves to the 8-9 p.m. (ET) time period on March 4 and “Dateline NBC” will return to 7-8 p.m. (ET) on March 4.
Complete schedule [new series in all caps]:
MONDAYS
8-10 p.m. — “The Voice” (season premiere Sunday, February 5; series resumes February 6)
10-11 p.m. – “SMASH” (beginning February 6)
TUESDAYS
8-10 p.m. — “The Biggest Loser” (beginning January 3)
10-11 p.m. – “Parenthood” (through February 28)
10-11 p.m. – “FASHION STAR” (beginning Tuesday, March 13, 9-11 p.m. ET with two-hour premiere; one-hour broadcasts resume March 20)
WEDNESDAYS
8-8:30 p.m. – “Whitney” (beginning January 11)
8:30-9 p.m. – “ARE YOU THERE, CHELSEA?” (beginning January 11)
9-10 p.m. – “Rock Center with Brian Williams” (beginning February 8)
10-11 p.m. – “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit”
THURSDAYS
8-8:30 p.m. – “30 Rock” (beginning January 12)
8:30-9 p.m. – “Parks and Recreation”
9-9:30 p.m. – “The Office”
9:30-10 p.m. – “Up All Night” (beginning January 12)
10-11 p.m. – “THE FIRM” (two-hour premiere Sunday January 8; Thursday time period premiere January 12)
FRIDAYS
8-9 p.m. – “Who Do You Think You Are?” (beginning February 3)
9-10 p.m. – “Grimm”
10-11 p.m. – “Dateline NBC”
SATURDAYS
8-9 p.m. – “Harry’s Law” (encore broadcasts)
9-10 — “THE FIRM” (encore broadcasts)
10-11 p.m. – “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” (encore broadcasts)
SUNDAYS
7-9 p.m. – “Dateline NBC” (beginning January 8)
8-9 p.m. – “Harry’s Law” (beginning March 4)
9-11 p.m. – “The Celebrity Apprentice” (beginning February 12)
Photos credits: Smash – Mark Seliger, Are You There, Chelsea – Adam Rose, and Fashion Star – John Russo/courtesy of NBC