NBC sets lineup to fill Leno slot
New and veteran NBC dramas and a comedy produced by Jerry Seinfeld will take over the bulk of the prime-time slots soon to be vacated by Jay Leno.
NBC announced that the freshman drama “Parenthood” (Tuesdays) and the relocated “Law & Order” (Mondays) and “Law & Order: Special Victim Units” (Wednesdays) will fill three of the 10 p.m. weekday slots.
Thursdays will go to the comedy panel series “The Marriage Ref” from Seinfeld. “Dateline NBC” will fill Fridays from 9 to 11 p.m.
The new lineup will debut after NBC’s coverage of the Winter Olympics from Feb. 12-28.
A ‘Genius’ move
Despite scuttling their game show featuring children just days before its announced air date, Fox executives say that “Our Little Genius” could eventually join the network’s lineup.
Fox and the show’s producer took the highly unusual step of scrapping eight episodes over concerns that the young contestants might have received too much information during preliminary coaching sessions about the subject matter that would be covered.
The program showcases children ages 6 to 12 answering increasingly difficult questions in a bid to win thousands of dollars for their families.
Fox had been running on-air promos for the series and had planned to launch it Wednesday night after “American Idol.”
ABC’s GLAAD tidings
For the fourth year running, the ABC television network leads nominees for media awards from the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation.
The network earned eight nominations for the 21st annual GLAAD Media Awards, with “Brothers & Sisters,” “Grey’s Anatomy,” “Private Practice” and newcomer “Modern Family” among its contenders.
The network also received nominations for “All My Children,” “One Life to Live” and a “Good Morning America” interview with Chaz Bono.
Among the other broadcast networks, CBS garnered four nods, the CW and NBC earned two each, and Fox had one.
The awards honor the fair, accurate and inclusive representation of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community and the issues that affect their lives in the media.