US television network NBC has announced its new-look schedule for the coming year, with a clear shift in focus toward new drama series’.
DC Comics’ Constantine is set to head up a Friday night double-bill with Grimm, whilst Katherine Heigl returns to the network in the White House-centric thriller, State of Affairs. Other new drama additions include a reboot of Heroes, with Heroes: Reborn, and NBC’s next crowning jewel, Blacklist which has been given the highly coveted post-Super Bowl slot.
Whilst the general overview suggests that they have decided to go more on the side of drama in favour of their usual comedy-packed line up, that isn’t to say that comedy will become entirely absent; Marry Me joins the roster to compete with Fox’s New Girl on Tuesday nights, and Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt is slated to debut mid-season. But as is always the case in network season announcements, there are also notable cuts to the programming schedule.
Family drama Parenthood has been commissioned for one final, 13-episode season, whilst Parks & Recreation has also been given the chop. The mockumentary-style comedy starring Golden Globe co-host Amy Poehler, recently finished its sixth season and was granted a seventh back in March. But over the weekend, NBC announced that series seven would be the show’s last; it is unknown how many episodes will be ordered or indeed when the final season will begin.
Many will argue that the shift to drama was highly predictable, especially when NBC’s rich drama history is taken into consideration versus recent television trends. With an alumni that boasts dramas such as ER and Law & Order, NBC are clearly up to the task, and it’s a wise move financially to cash in on the population’s recent obsession with drama series, with titles such as Breaking Bad, Game of Thrones and NBC’s own Hannibal becoming firm fan favourites.
Nevertheless, these changes now signal the end of NBC’s 30 year tradition of programming two hours of comedy on a Thursday night, potentially ushering in a new era for American prime time viewing.
