NBC Renews ‘Friday Night Lights’
Posted on April 3, 2008
Friday Night Lights has officially been renewed by NBC in their early “in-front” presentation, which details the network’s 2008-09 line-up.
Rumours had been circulating for a while about a potential deal with DirecTV, but the drama is set to return to NBC on Fridays as a midseason replacement after first-run episodes air on DirecTV in October. The third season will consist of thirteen episodes.
Meanwhile, starting from the fall, Chuck and Heroes will air on Mondays followed by new drama My Own Worst Enemy, starring Christian Slater as a father who’s also unknowingly a spy. With Kath & Kim and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit snuggling on Tuesdays, Knight Rider has been scheduled for Wednesdays at 8PM on the same night as renewed Lipstick Jungle.
My Name Is Earl, 30 Rock, and The Office keep their Thursday slots, as an Office untitled spin-off will follow immediately afterwards along with ER. The line-up doesn’t see any mention of Scrubs. Finally, Crusoe and Life will run on Fridays, sandwiching Deal or No Deal.
Fall Launch Planned for ‘Robinson Crusoe’
Posted on February 25, 2008
After the network ordered thirteen episodes with British production firm Power for Robinson Crusoe last fall, NBC yesterday confirmed that it was aiming to launch the show next fall – if not, as a midseason replacement in 2009.
“It’s part MacGyver, part comtemporary morality tale about race and personal discovery, part comedy, and part Castaway meets Survivor,” said NBC co-chairman Ben Silverman. He added that it would be an “adrenaline-charged version” and a modern take on the Daniel Defoe novel, but will remain set in the seventeenth century.
The budget for the project is said to be around $35 million.