NBC is expected to unveil a fall lineup Monday that returns Monday nights intact, makes Friday an all-drama night and keeps Saturday as a night of theatrical movies and encores of the three Law & Order franchises. The schedule also is expected to include only two regularly scheduled installments of Dateline NBC.
The informed speculation late last week favored a Tuesday night lineup that would start with the new sitcom starring Saturday Night Live’s Tracy Morgan, followed perhaps by Good Morning, Miami or the Whoopi Goldberg comedy; Frasier, which is entering its final season; and, at 9:30 p.m., the new John Larroquette-Christine Baranski comedy Happy Family. Under this scenario, Dateline NBC would cap the night at 10.
The speculation about Wednesday favors Miss Match, starring Alicia Silverstone as a divorce lawyer and matchmaker, at 8 p.m., followed by The West Wing and Law & Order.
The only change expected on Thursdays is at 9:30 p.m., where the comedy heat is expected to be turned up with Coupling, the remake of the British hit.
The scenarios for Friday suggest that either Ed or Miss Match might start the night, followed by either Boomtown or Ed, followed by king of the 10 p.m. to 11 p.m., Law & Order: SVU.
Sundays seem likely to start with Dateline at 7, followed by American Dreams at 8 p.m. and Law & Order: Criminal Intent at 9. The question is what goes at 10. The speculation late last week focused on newcomers EDNY and the Rob Lowe drama Lyon’s Den, which also might get a midseason spin in the West Wing time slot on Wednesday.