The new 2007-08 primetime lineup — with five new dramas and one new comedy as well as a singing competition called "The Singing Bee" — were revealed at the annual presentation to advertisers and media at New York City's Radio City Music Hall.
Among the new shows are "Life," a new drama centering on a wrongfully ccused detective who returns to the force. Damian Lewis ("Band of Brothers") — who appeared on Broadway in Hamlet in 1995 — stars with Adam Arkin (Brooklyn Boy, "Chicago Hope") and Robin Weigert (Noises Off, "Deadwood"). The cast also includes Melissa Sagemiller ("Sleeper Cell") and Sarah Shahi ("Rush Hour 3").
Brooke Shields (Wonderful Town, "Nip/Tuck," "Suddenly Susan") makes her return to network television in "Lipstick Jungle" — a new series based on the novel by Candace Bushnell ("Sex and the City"). The series — billed as a "dramedy" — features Shields as one of three high-powered femmes opposite Kim Raver (Holiday, "24") and Lindsay Price ("Beverly Hills, 90210"). Andrew McCarthy (Fat Pig), David Alan Basche (Snakebit), Matthew Morrison (Hairspray), Scott Cohen (Losing Louie) and David Norona (Jersey Boys) are among the stage men featured in the pilot.
New York-based actors may all breathe a collective sigh of relief as the New York-set series "Law & Order" and its spinoffs will return next season — the shows' fates were an uncertainty of late. The original "Law & Order" will reach its 18th season starting in January 2008 on Sunday nights. "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" will air Tuesdays at 10 PM (ET), and "Law & Order: Criminal Intent" will air its new episodes first on USA, then reair on NBC. (The shows have provided many a stage actor with a paying TV gig over the years.)
"Friday Night Lights" and "Scrubs" will also be returning. The critically acclaimed, but ratings-elusive "Friday Night Lights" was picked up for a new season to air (finally on its name-appropriate evening) Friday nights at 10 PM (ET). The show features Kyle Chandler (Picnic) and Scott Porter (Altar Boyz). "Scrubs" — which was rumored to be picked up by ABC if an NBC return was not announced — will, in fact, stay on the network for a Thursday night comedy line-up that also includes "My Name is Earl," "30 Rock" and "The Office." Zach Braff (Twelfth Night), Judy Reyes (Some Girl(s)), Ken Jenkins (Big River) and John C. McGinley (Talk Radio) appear on the show.
For more information, visit NBC.com.
To view pickups from other networks, visit:
ABC: here.
CBS: here.
FOX: here.
