NBC’s ‘Heroes’ will end long hiatus Sept. 22

NBC will usher in its 2008-09 season with a big, splashy return for “Heroes,” which will end a 9 1/2-month absence from the air in September.

The network is turning over its entire prime-time slate on Sept. 22 to the series, starting with an hour-long clip show to refresh viewers’ memories, leading into a two-hour season premiere.

NBC also is making a few tweaks to the fall schedule it announced last month.

The biggest change is that the new comedy “Kath & Kim” will join the network’s Thursday comedy block on Oct. 9. It had been scheduled for Tuesday nights following “The Biggest Loser,” which will expand to two hours.

That pushes a series of “Saturday Night Live” prime-time election specials from 9:30 to 8:30 p.m. Thursdays in October. The third season of “30 Rock” will hold off until Oct. 30.

Also, the unscripted series “America’s Toughest Jobs” joins the fall lineup, premiering Sept. 12.