Nbc Rests Speculation With Its Fall Lineup

The “Seinfeld” era is officially over.

On Monday, less than two days before repeating the final episode of “Seinfeld,” NBC announced that “Frasier” will inherit the coveted 9 p.m. Thursday time slot.

“Frasier” star Kelsey Grammer admitted that he was “eager” for a return to Thursday nights and said that to break the tension in the weeks before the decision he bought himself a Harley-Davidson motorcycle.

In the annual announcement of the fall schedule to advertisers, NBC Entertainment President Warren Littlefield also said that his network will add four new comedies, two new dramas and another hour of “Dateline.”

The other five broadcast networks will announce their schedules later this week.

There were few surprises in the NBC schedule. The network will air four fewer sitcoms (14) than it did last year, and to fill the extra two hours, NBC added one more hour of drama, plus the fifth “Dateline.”

“NewsRadio,” which had been on the bubble, was picked up, although reportedly with some financial concessions. Midseason shows “For Your Love” and “House Rules” were dropped; however, two may resurface. There is speculation that “For Your Love” could wind up on the WB.

There have been many Thursdaynight scenarios bandied about since Jerry Seinfeld announced in December that his series would not return for a 10th season.

Other shows rumored and speculated to move to Thursdays were “Just Shoot Me,” “3rd Rock From the Sun” and “Mad About You.”

The move of “Frasier” back to Thursday would appear to be the most conservative. Unlike in 1993, when an upstart “Seinfeld” moved into the Thursday time period vacated by “Cheers,” NBC has decided to go with its most established show in its most important time period. If it were to follow the “Seinfeld” model, “Just Shoot Me” would have been the way to go.

“Veronica’s Closet” will remain at 9:30 Thursdays, and the only new show added to that night’s schedule is “All My Life,” starring Christina Applegate (“Married … With Children”).

NBC also announced that it was picking up Al Franken’s “Lateline” and a drama called “Providence” as a midseason replacements.

Here is a look at the new series:

Sitcoms

“Conrad Bloom,” from the people who brought you “Caroline in the City,” about a single New York City advertising executive who “is one of the last nice guys left in the Big Apple” and looking for Ms. Right.

“Will & Grace,” in the post-“Ellen” television generation, offers an openly gay man (Will Truman, a successful lawyer) and his female best friend (Grace, an interior designer).

“Encore! Encore!” from the team that produces “Frasier,” stars Nathan Lane as a womanizing opera singer who retires to take over the family-owned winery in the Napa Valley.

“All My Life,” in which Applegate plays Jesse Warner, a single mother who lives with her brother and has problems with the men in her life.

Dramas

“Wind on Water” stars Bo Derek as a mother (believe it or not) whose two sons hit the extreme sports circuit to raise money to save the family cattle ranch from a wealthy neighbor’s designs.

“Trinity,” from “ER’s” John Wells, is the story of a close-knit Irish family living in Manhattan’s Hell’s Kitchen section.

Many of NBC’s cancellations already have been announced. NBC’S FALL SCHEDULE: Sunday: Various programs, “Dateline NBC,” “NBC Sunday Night Movie.” Monday: “Suddenly Susan,” “Conrad Bloom,” “Caroline in the City,” “Will & Grace,” “Dateline NBC.” Tuesday: “Mad About You,” “Encore! Encore!,” “Just Shoot Me,” “Working,” “Dateline NBC.” Wednesday: “Dateline NBC,” “3rd Rock From the Sun,” “NewsRadio,” “Law & Order.” Thursday: “Friends,” “All My Life,” “Frasier,” “Veronica’s Closet,” “ER.” Friday: “Trinity,” “Dateline NBC,” “Homicide: Life on the Street.” Saturday: “Wind on Water,” “The Pretender,” “Profiler.”