If you follow showrunner Dan Harmon on Twitter, you were probably sensing from his pessimism that something wicked this way comes. And it that wicked thing has cometh: Community is not a part of NBC’s midseason lineup.
I’m going to give you 5-10 minutes to compose yourself because I’m sure you’re doing exactly what I’m just did: having a mental breakdown like that time Abed found out Cougar Town was moved to midseason. Six seasons and a movie. Six seasons and a movie. It seems that Community ended up with an accidental meta reference on its hands because while the series does not appear on NBC’s midseason schedule, NBC confirms that it is not cancelled — yet.
Its sour ratings are puttering along above 3 million viewers — which to be fair in tandem with both Rock Center With Brian Williams and Parks and Recreation ratings these days — which is probably why the flailing network decided to bench the series for the time being. Let’s just be thankful we won’t have to go another half a season without Parks, and while I’m dangling positives in front of your nose like frazzled sitter with a shiny baby rattle, 30 Rock will be back come midseason! Yay! Right? Please cheer up.
Also missing from the new schedule is Prime Suspect, though I doubt anyone has real tears in their eyes over that (I’m not talking about myself…the person crying right now is just…a friend…and I’m cutting onions…and it’s pretty humid in here…okay I’m not crying this is just for affect but I’m still pretty sad about Community).
Up All Night and Whitney also trade spaces in the new lineup and Chelsea Handler’s comedy Are You There Vodka? finds a home on Wednesday nights. Check out the full press release and schedule below:
UNIVERSAL CITY, Calif. – November __, 2011 – NBC today announced its new mid-season 2012 schedule which features the premieres of four new series in “Smash” (February 6), “The Firm” (two-hour premiere January 8, time slot premiere January 12), “Fashion Star” (March 13) and “Are You There, Chelsea?” (January 11). The new lineup also includes the return of “The Voice,” “30 Rock,” “The Celebrity Apprentice” and “Who Do You Think You Are?”
In addition, there are day and time period changes for “Whitney,” “Up All Night,” “Rock Center with Brian Williams” and “Harry’s Law.”
Following are night-by-night details:
Mondays:
Last spring’s hit vocal competition series “The Voice” returns even louder with an hour-long season debut following Super Bowl XLVI on Sunday, February 5 (10-11 p.m. ET, time approximate) and then resumes in its regular day and time on Monday, February 6 (8-10 p.m. ET). Following “The Voice” is the much-anticipated musical drama “Smash” which premieres Monday, February 6 (10-11 p.m. ET).
Tuesdays:
“Fashion Star” – the new reality competition series hosted and executive-produced by Elle Macpherson – will premiere with a two-hour episode on Tuesday, March 13 (9-11 p.m. ET) and resume on Tuesday, March 20 (10-11 p.m. ET). “The Biggest Loser” will open a new edition on Tuesday, January 3 (8-10 p.m. ET) followed by “Parenthood” (10-11 p.m. ET) which continues through its season finale on February 28.
Wednesdays:
The freshman comedy “Whitney” (8-8:30 p.m. ET) moves into a new day and time beginning January 11 followed by the series debut of the new comedy “Are You There, Chelsea?” (8:30-9 p.m. ET) on January 11. “Rock Center with Brian Williams” (9-10 p.m. ET) also joins the Wednesday lineup starting February 8. “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” remains at 10-11 p.m. (ET).
Thursdays:
The new drama “The Firm” moves into the Thursday lineup (10-11 p.m. ET) beginning January 12 following its two-hour premiere the previous Sunday (January 8) from 9-11 p.m. ET. The first-season comedy “Up All Night” will also move to Thursday nights at 9:30 p.m. (ET) on January 12 which is also the night that multiple Emmy Award-winning “30 Rock” returns for its season debut (8-8:30 p.m. ET). “Parks and Recreation” (8:30-9 p.m. ET) and the Emmy-winning “The Office” (9-9:30 p.m. ET) remain in the same time periods.
Fridays:
The returning series “Who Do You Think You Are?” makes its season debut on February 3 (8-9 p.m. ET). “Chuck” will have its two-hour series finale on January 27th (8-10 p.m. ET). “Grimm” (9-10 p.m. ET) and “Dateline NBC” (10-11 p.m. ET) remain in the respective time periods.
Sundays:
“The Celebrity Apprentice” returns on Sunday, February 12 (9-11 p.m. ET). “Dateline NBC” begins on Sundays (7-9 p.m. ET), on January 8. “Harry’s Law” moves to the 8-9 p.m. (ET) time period on March 4 and “Dateline NBC” will return to 7-8 p.m. (ET) on March 4.
The premieres of the new January-March program schedule follow in a grid (all times ET); new series are capitalized.
MONDAYS
8-10 p.m. — “The Voice” (season premiere Sunday, February 5; series resumes February 6)
10-11 p.m. – “SMASH” (beginning February 6)
TUESDAYS
8-10 p.m. — “The Biggest Loser” (beginning January 3)
10-11 p.m. – “Parenthood” (through February 28)
10-11 p.m. – “FASHION STAR” (beginning Tuesday, March 13, 9-11 p.m. ET with two-hour premiere; one-hour broadcasts resume March 20)
WEDNESDAYS
8-8:30 p.m. – “Whitney” (beginning January 11)
8:30-9 p.m. – “ARE YOU THERE, CHELSEA?” (beginning January 11)
9-10 p.m. – “Rock Center with Brian Williams” (beginning February 8)
10-11 p.m. – “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit”
THURSDAYS
8-8:30 p.m. – “30 Rock” (beginning January 12)
8:30-9 p.m. – “Parks and Recreation”
9-9:30 p.m. – “The Office”
9:30-10 p.m. – “Up All Night” (beginning January 12)
10-11 p.m. – “THE FIRM” (two-hour premiere Sunday January 8; Thursday time period premiere January 12)
FRIDAYS
8-9 p.m. – “Who Do You Think You Are?” (beginning February 3)
9-10 p.m. – “Grimm”
10-11 p.m. – “Dateline NBC”
SATURDAYS
8-9 p.m. – “Harry’s Law” (encore broadcasts)
9-10 — “THE FIRM” (encore broadcasts)
10-11 p.m. – “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” (encore broadcasts)
SUNDAYS
7-9 p.m. – “Dateline NBC” (beginning January 8)
8-9 p.m. – “Harry’s Law” (beginning March 4)
9-11 p.m. – “The Celebrity Apprentice” (beginning February 12)
Source: Alan Sepinwall, Reuters
