Fall TV: NBC Sets Premiere Dates, Including Late Start For Chuck's Final Mission

Michael Ausiello

NBC is the fifth and final broadcast network (following The CW, Fox, ABC and CBS) to release its fall TV game plan, and I spy a late start for Chuck‘s 13-episode final season. But outside of that and some early “sneak peeks” at the new comedies Up All Night and Free Agents, it appears to be business as usual for the Peacock network.

And as a reminder, here’s what’s on tap for midseason: 30 Rock: new cycles of Celebrity Apprentice and The Voice; the new comedies Are You There, Vodka? It’s Me, Chelsea, Bent and Best Friends Forever; and the new dramas Awake, Smash and The Firm.

All told, NBC’s game plan looks like this:

Fall 2011 TV Grid: Where Did Your Favorite Shows Land?

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 8
8/7c NFL Kickoff Special 2011
8:30 pm Sunday Night Football

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 11
7 pm Football Night in America

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 13
10 pm Parenthood

Fall TV Preview: TVLine’s Guide to What’s New

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 14
8 pm America’s Got Talent (season finale)
10 pm Up All Night [new series]
10:30 pm Free Agents [new series]

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 19
8 pm The Sing-Off (two hours)
10 pm The Playboy Club [new series]

Fall TV First Impression: The Bare Facts About The Playboy Club

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 20
8 pm The Biggest Loser (two hours)

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21
8 pm Up All Night (regular time period debut)
8:30 pm Free Agents (regular time period debut)
9 pm Harry’s Law
10 pm Law & Order: Special Victims Unit

Law & Order: SVU Scoop: Danny Pino, Kelli Giddish Cop Series Regular Roles

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 22
8 pm Community
8:30 pm Parks and Recreation
9 pm The Office
9:30 pm Whitney [new series]
10 pm Prime Suspect [new series]

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 23
9 pm Dateline NBC

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 21
8 pm Chuck
9 pm Grimm [new series]
10 pm Dateline NBC (regular time period debut)

Chelsea Handler’s Midseason NBC Sitcom Cuts Three Castmembers in Overhaul

NOT RETURNING NEXT SEASON: The Cape, Chase, The Event, Law & Order: Los Angeles, Outsourced , Perfect Couples and, we have to presume, Love Bites

Comments (48)

After Bones now is my other favorite show, Chuck also starting late…
Comment by Niki – July 6, 2011 11:16 AM PDT Reply To This Post
- Same here ! It’s going to be a long wait…
  Comment by claire – July 6, 2011 02:16 PM PDT Reply To This Post
maybe they can use the late start for chuck and grimm to actually promote them during there other shows
Comment by Joe – July 6, 2011 11:18 AM PDT Reply To This Post
- I think that’s kind of the idea…Greenblatt, being an actually competent executive, is doing a longer roll-out, hopefully to prevent the tough, limited-audience piece Grimm from arriving DOA. Actually, now that I think about it, a Halloweenish start for Grimm would already be kind of clever and smart, and the added oomph of the Chuck fanboys coming back from a long wait couldn’t hurt either.
  Comment by John – July 6, 2011 11:24 AM PDT Reply To This Post
What about 30 Rock?
Comment by Nicole – July 6, 2011 11:21 AM PDT Reply To This Post
- Midseason, due to Ms Fey’s pregnancy.
  Comment by Jacob – July 6, 2011 11:22 AM PDT Reply To This Post
- They’re coming back super late this year because of Tina Fey’s new uterus turd.
  Comment by 4F – July 6, 2011 11:24 AM PDT Reply To This Post
October 21?!?! For CHUCK?!?!?!?!?!?! The B*STARDS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Comment by Scott – July 6, 2011 11:25 AM PDT Reply To This Post
- couldn’t agree more. if they would have promoted chuck from the beginning,i don’t think we would have had to worry at the end of every season if it was comming back. chuck is a great show with a great cast that just makes every episode entertaining. hope more people will watch and nbc will have to give them a full year like they deserve………ok, i feel better now……….
  Comment by earl – July 6, 2011 11:36 AM PDT Reply To This Post
  - CHUCK is done after 13. No chance of more.
    Comment by Randy – July 6, 2011 02:40 PM PDT Reply To This Post
    - Chuck fanboys (or fangirls like myself) probably won’t watch Grimm because we’re still reeling from only getting 13 final episodes, and they won’t even consider giving us a full season like we deserve.
      Comment by Becky – August 15, 2011 01:52 PM PDT Reply To This Post
Is 30 Rock a midseason start?
Comment by Sarah – July 6, 2011 11:26 AM PDT Reply To This Post
Chuck’s return date is a little late, but I’ll take it. That means it’ll run a bit longer and reach early 2012. I won’t have to deal with saying goodbye to it just yet!
Comment by Aiden – July 6, 2011 11:33 AM PDT Reply To This Post
Wow. Looking at this, Chuck is the only thing I will be watching on NBC this year.
Comment by Margo – July 6, 2011 11:35 AM PDT Reply To This Post
- Me too. Too bad it’s Chuck’s final season :,(
  Comment by Charah4eva – July 6, 2011 11:50 AM PDT Reply To This Post
- Sounds very smug and limited of you…and you’re not even fully playing the TV snob role here. If you were, you’d appreciate that NBC’s low ratings have allowed it to incubate several great bubble shows, not just Chuck. Community, Parks and Rec, even 30 Rock is still a pretty niche crowd. Your loss I guess.
  Comment by John – July 6, 2011 12:58 PM PDT Reply To This Post
  - Once Chuck is over, unless something amazing comes along, I refuse to watch NBC. It gives awful shows like 30 Rock unlimited renewals, but good shows like Chuck get the ax.
    Comment by Becky – August 15, 2011 01:56 PM PDT Reply To This Post
I guess NBC prob didn’t want to have like 10 episode of chuck b4 December break and only 3 episode after the break. They prob wanted equal amounts of episode before and after the Christmas break thats the only reason i can think of for a late start.
Comment by JJ – July 6, 2011 11:40 AM PDT Reply To This Post
Seems like they are trying to promote GRIMM as much as possible, during new episodes of shows, before airing it during the typical death slot. Seems reasonable for such a buzzy show on many people’s top 10 lists.

I can’t even fathom that it’s Chuck’s last season. Where are the tissues? :’c
Comment by Michael – July 6, 2011 11:43 AM PDT Reply To This Post
- Really? I haven’t heard *any* good buzz about Grimm, let alone being on any expert’s top 10.
  Comment by lauren – July 6, 2011 01:19 PM PDT Reply To This Post
- I don’t know dumping Grimm on Fridays opposite Fringe who will likely be a similiar demo looks to me that Grimm isn’t all that good. Friday night is the death slot especially when you are counter programing your scifi/fantasy show opposite another scifi fantasy show.
  
  Grimm got a lot of buzz when NBC commissioned a pilot, but has fizzled since. Personally, I didn’t even know it got picked up until nearly a month after the upfronts and I actually followed the upfronts.
  Comment by Rob – July 6, 2011 04:33 PM PDT Reply To This Post
- Grimm is going opposite two of my top favorite shows – Supernatural and Fringe! It won’t survive on that slot! And I was really hoping they’d change Grimm’s timeslot. Too late now I guess :/
  Comment by Girish – July 7, 2011 01:09 AM PDT Reply To This Post
Loving the late start for Chuck. I’m going to be in Europe for 4 months starting in December with limited access to TV and Chuck; this has me only having to account for 7 episodes versus the entire season.

I am that much of a loser that I care about Chuck while living abroad.
Comment by Marc – July 6, 2011 11:54 AM PDT Reply To This Post
- @Marc – Not a loser at all but maybe (I mean this in the best way possible) a nerd for all things Chuck. I was actually the same way when I traveled around Europe last Fall. I was counting the number of episodes I would miss and need to catch up on
  Comment by Dee – July 6, 2011 12:27 PM PDT Reply To This Post
- lol no it’s okay I have a similar thought. I’m so obsessed with Chuck but I’m actually kind of glad that it’s starting later so I can actually focus on my first 2 months of college rather than obsess over the newest [and last =*(] season!
  Comment by tiavro – July 6, 2011 04:17 PM PDT Reply To This Post
I guess Chuck will air into Winter 2012.
Comment by Sivat – July 6, 2011 12:03 PM PDT Reply To This Post
He called the cw a network, lol.
Comment by Joe – July 6, 2011 12:12 PM PDT Reply To This Post
Seriously, why isn’t WB looking at moving the show to it’s CW network, or NBC looking to move “Chuck” to it’s subsidiary, USA network? If “Burn Notice”, another spy show, can continue on, essentially telling the same story over and over (like the majority of procedural shows), I don’t see why “Chuck” couldn’t thrive for another 2 seasons minimum.

Have you all seen the new shows the USA network has introduced? “Suits” and “Fairly Legal” are essentially the same thing! I know that if I were in charge of programming for the CW or USA network, I would want “Chuck” on my schedule, especially considering it’s established fan base!
Comment by DN – July 6, 2011 12:14 PM PDT Reply To This Post
- I think NBC and Warner have done well by Chuck and we should be grateful we had it this long & will get a real series finale. Zack and Yvonne are destined for bigger things and better job security.
  Comment by lauren – July 6, 2011 01:14 PM PDT Reply To This Post
Bless them clickable links; I’m looking forward to Up All Night. Chuck had a terrific season, I’m playing they’ll bring back gals from the C.A.T. Squad, oh my lord that was funny.
Comment by Shiny – July 6, 2011 12:42 PM PDT Reply To This Post
I guess I’m watching everything.

If Chuck was on Thursdays at 10, and 30 Rock replaces Whitney midseason, Thursday would be the ‘Old NBC’ day.
Comment by Sourabh – July 6, 2011 12:43 PM PDT Reply To This Post
You were scooped on the CHUCK start date over a month ago by ChuckGasmic http://chuckgasmic.blogspot.com/2011/06/chuck-season-5-schedule-shocker.html
Comment by Randy – July 6, 2011 12:48 PM PDT Reply To This Post
- Who cares?
  Comment by lauren – July 6, 2011 01:12 PM PDT Reply To This Post
  - I do.
    Comment by Randy – July 6, 2011 02:39 PM PDT Reply To This Post
- This wasn’t titled as a scoop idjit! And Chuck having a late start was already reported on tvline too a month ago!
  Comment by Girish – July 7, 2011 01:14 AM PDT Reply To This Post
I can’t wait for Parenthood – so glad it’s starting nice and early. Same with the Thursday comedies – I can’t wait to get back to Pawnee, Indiana and Greendale Community College.
Comment by Nicole – July 6, 2011 12:59 PM PDT Reply To This Post
- I am guessing that Parenthood will follow the final performance show of America’s got Talent since the finale is the next day… Hopefully will do great things for Parenthoods ratings..
  Comment by mandy – July 6, 2011 01:05 PM PDT Reply To This Post
Out of all the shows listed on NBC CHUCK is the only one that I will watch. The previews I have seen of their new line up don’t even make me want to check them out. I might give Grimm a try for one show. It will have to get me hooked the first show or I won’t be tuning back in. I like so many others wish NBC would have promoted CHUCK and I don’t really think CHUCK would be ending after 13 episodes. I just can’t imagine not being able to get my weekly CHUCK fix. I guess if we have huge ratings CHUCK will get more episodes, anyway that it what the new NBC president said. If several of these new shows bomb, like I think they will, that might add more episodes too.
Comment by chuckrocks – July 6, 2011 01:37 PM PDT Reply To This Post
- I’m pretty sure the NBC prez was tongue in cheek about ordering more Chuck episodes, because he said it’d need to get like 10 million viewers each week. Chuck has like never gotten that many, and certainly won’t on a Friday. Just giving you warning to avoid heartbreak
  Comment by Esta – July 6, 2011 06:48 PM PDT Reply To This Post
30 Rock will wait until midseason after Tina Fey returns from maternity leave. Always dying for PARENTHOOD new season and hopefully it could do better than the first two seasons. PRIME SUSPECT may break the curse occupied by ER and guess will have to play the waiting game for CHUCK final season beginning October 21st.
Comment by Kevin – July 6, 2011 02:20 PM PDT Reply To This Post
Chuck is pretty much the only thing that anyone will be watchinh. Its the only good show! I mean smallville is gone. One Tree Hill is having their last season, and now chuck. What the heck will people watch after its gone?
Comment by anna – July 6, 2011 03:28 PM PDT Reply To This Post
why did they move chuck to friday night? They are going to kill the final season
Comment by ben – July 6, 2011 05:58 PM PDT Reply To This Post
They put Harry’s Law opposite Criminal Minds. That’s not going to be pretty or end well.
Comment by athi – July 6, 2011 06:05 PM PDT Reply To This Post
$50 says that NBC released their fall premieres last (even after the CW – geez) so that they could scope out the competition first.

Sigh, they’ve really fallen a long way. Well, at least they have the best hour of TV on Thursdays from 8 – 9 pm – GO COMMUNITY and PARKS & REC!!!
Comment by ScrubsGuy – July 6, 2011 06:55 PM PDT Reply To This Post
- CW had a lot of balls and released their schedule before ever any other network! lol And their schedule and shows are pretty good I must say! (And I’m NOT talking about GG, OTH and reality shows)
  Prime Suspect, Community and maybe Grimm are the only shows I’ll be watching on NBC!
  Comment by G – July 7, 2011 01:22 AM PDT Reply To This Post
Chuck, Community, and 30 Rock are all I’ll be watching. (Though I may give Playboy Club/Grimm a chance if they don’t fall on their feet after the first few episodes)
Comment by Tim – July 7, 2011 06:32 AM PDT Reply To This Post
Love Bites is the perfect summer series! Fingers crossed they might actually film a few more for next summer…
Comment by Seanti – July 7, 2011 01:17 PM PDT Reply To This Post
I am soooo disappointed that Outsourced was cancelled! I liked that show and thought it was pretty funny! Boo on the network for cancelling it! It was the only thing that I watched on that channel!
Comment by Krystal – August 18, 2011 08:06 PM PDT Reply To This Post

Fall TV: NBC Sets Premiere Dates, Including Late Start For Chuck's Final Mission

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