Analysis: NBC's Fall 2013 Schedule

NBC's fall line-up looks relatively strong, courtesy of Sunday Night Football and The Voice, which should make the Peacock network competitive at least until the end of the year. While Monday, Tuesday and Sunday should draw solid ratings, courtesy of the aforementioned series, the other four nights pose a problem. I was surprised with the renewal of the long running Law & Order: SVU. Even with declining ratings, the series must still be profitable. In theory, with a lead-in from demo-friendly hit Revolution, SVU may benefit, but is Revolution really an 8:00pm show? I doubt it and would not be surprised to see ratings drop and possibly hurt the entire Wednesday line-up.

NBC also has much work to do on Thursday, with the low rated Parks and Recreation and Parenthood sandwiching three new comedy series. With tough competition from the CBS, ABC and FOX, NBC may be happy just to make another modest showing on Thursdays. Of course, the star power of Michael J.Fox and Sean Hayes could make NBC a player, but probably not a major one. Friday looks challenging as well, especially with news magazine Dateline leading into the supernatural themed Grimm. However, Grimm's lead-out, Dracula, looks much more compatible and I am anxious to see how well the series is received. Personally, I will be sampling Dracula and Blacklist, with James Spader.

Check out NBC's fall schedule below:


FALL 2013

Monday
8:00 p.m. “The Voice”
10:00 p.m. “THE BLACKLIST”

Tuesday
8:00 p.m. “The Biggest Loser”
9:00 p.m. “The Voice” (new time)
10:00 p.m. “Chicago Fire” (new day)

Wednesday
8:00 p.m. “Revolution” (new day & time)
9:00 p.m. “Law & Order: SVU”
10:00 p.m. “IRONSIDE”

Thursday
8:00 p.m. “Parks and Recreation” (new time)
8:30 p.m. “WELCOME TO THE FAMILY”
9:00 p.m. “SEAN SAVES THE WORLD”
9:30 p.m. “THE MICHAEL J. FOX SHOW”
10:00 p.m. “Parenthood” (new day)

Friday
8:00 p.m. “Dateline”
9:00 p.m. “Grimm”
10:00 p.m. “DRACULA”

Saturday
8:00 p.m. Encore programming

Sunday
7:00 p.m. “Football Night in America”
8:15 p.m. “Sunday Night Football”

New Programs

COMEDY

“The Michael J. Fox Show”
Semi-autobiographical in nature, a husband and father of three (Michael J. Fox) from New York City copes with his family, career and living with Parkinson’s disease.

“Sean Saves the World”
Former “Will & Grace” star Sean Hayes stars as a perfectionist and divorced gay father whose 14-year-old daughter moves in with him full time while dealing temperamental new at boss, throwing his life into upheaval. Linda Lavin “Alice” co-stars.

“Welcome to the Family”
Parents Dan (Mike O’Malley, “Glee”) and Karina (Mary McCormack) find out on the day their daughter (Ella Rae Peck) is graduating from high school with an acceptance to college, she announces she pregnant.

DRAMA

“The Blacklist”
An ex-government agent and now one of the FBI’s Most Wanted Fugitives (James Spader) offers to catch a long-thought-dead terrorist, Ranko Zamani, under the condition that he speaks only to Elizabeth “Liz” Keen (Megan Boone, “Law & Order: Los Angeles”), an FBI profiler.

“Dracula”
It’s the late 19th century and the mysterious Dracula (Jonathan Rhys Meyers) has arrived in London, posing as an American entrepreneur who wants to bring modern science to Victorian society. He is interested in the new technology of electricity, which promises to brighten the night — useful for someone who avoids the sun. But he has another reason for his travels: He hopes to take revenge on those who cursed him with immortality centuries earlier.

“Ironside”
Headlined by Blair Underwood, “Ironside” follows the life of a police detective relegated to a wheel chair after a shooting. The original, with Raymond Burr, aired on NBC from 1967 to 1975.