NBC Thursday Night Comedy Block Official, Plus Schedule Shakeup

As we reported this past weekend, NBC has made the move to schedule a full three hour comedy block on Thursdays starting early next year. After The Apprentice winds up this year, NBC will fill the 10pm Thursday slot with more of it’s comic magic. Beginning January 20th, NBC hit comedies will return with fresh new episodes for the midseason launch. And with that, a welcomed return for new favorite Parks & Recreation and an open door for a new comedy Perfect Couples. And that’s not the only scheduling change NBC is making midseason. (Check below for the full midseason schedule below.)

Law & Order: SVU will reclaim it’s 10pm spot on Wednesdays starting January 5, with a special 2 hour episode. Where does that leave Law & Order: Los Angeles? Well, the new series will return on Tuesdays at 10pm on February 8th, which then shifts Parenthood to Mondays at 10pm EST, starting March 7. And….ok, I’ll let you catch your breath. That leaves Chase, another freshman drama, to get a switch. Chase will then pick up where SVU left off on Wednesdays at 9pm EST starting January 12.

And there’s still more. New dramas will hit the NBC airwaves mid season (preview videos yet to be released by NBC). The Cape on January 9, Harry’s Law on January 17, and America’s Next Great Restaurant on March 16. Also returning to the lineup will be The Biggest Loser: Couples, Lisa Kudrow’s Who Do You Think You Are, Celebrity Apprentice, The Marriage Ref, and Minute to Win It. So what do you think about this huge schedule shake-up? Looking forward to a 3-hour comedy night? Sound off below and join our FORUMS discussion!

NBC’s new midseason schedule (times EST)

Mondays
8-9 p.m. Chuck
9-10 p.m.  The Cape (2-hour premiere on Sunday, Jan. 9; new episodes start in its regular time period on Monday Jan. 17)
10-11 p.m. Harry’s Law (Jan. 17)
9-10 p.m. The Event (returns on Feb. 28 with a 2-hour special and resumes in its regular time slot starting March 7)
10-11 p.m. Parenthood (beginning March 7)

Tuesdays
8-10 p.m. The Biggest Loser: Couples (Jan. 4)
10-11 p.m. Parenthood (Jan. 4 before a mini-hiatus)
10-11 p.m. Law & Order: Los Angeles (Feb. 8 )

Wednesdays
8-9 p.m. Minute to Win It (Jan. 5)
9-10 p.m. Chase (Jan. 12)
10-11 p.m. Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (Jan. 5)
9-10 p.m. America’s Next Great Restaurant (March 16)

Thursdays (Jan. 20)
8-8:30 p.m. Community
8:30-9 p.m. Perfect Couples
9-9:30 p.m. The Office
9:30-10 p.m. Parks and Recreation
10-10:30 p.m. 30 Rock
10:30-11 p.m. Outsourced

Fridays
8-9 p.m. Who Do You Think You Are? (Jan. 21)
9-11 p.m. Dateline NBC (Jan. 7)

Sundays
7-8 p.m. Dateline NBC
8-9 p.m. The Marriage Ref (March 6)
9-11 p.m. The Celebrity Apprentice (March 6)