Word has been swirling about possible replacements for Matt Lauer after it was revealed that he may leave The Today Show after his contract expires in December 2012. No surprise there following the departure of Meredith Vieira earlier this year, but who might be next in line to replace Lauer during the morning NBC telecast? Reread the title. That’s right. The American Idol host himself is reportedly in talks with NBC as a possible replacement should Lauer opt out. Reports of the Seacrest-NBC meetings were first reported by The Wall Street Journal.

We should note that these meetings are preliminary in nature and may or may not be followed through, but one wonders if Seacrest has room for one more hosting gig or if he’ll be planning on leaving one gig for another after 2012.

Lauer has been a staple on The Today Show, filling the co-anchor chair since 1997; but with the likes of Katie Couric and Vieira stepping away from the table, is Lauer far behind?

Seacrest currently hosts and produces a number of specials and news programs on E! (an NBCUniversal network), as well as radio countdown show American Top 40 and of course American Idol. Seacrest has been in talks to enhance his affiliation with NBCUniversal and this move might be the enhancement many are looking for. Spokespeople for Seacrest, NBC, Lauer and the Today Show have been keeping quiet so far.

So what do you think? Would you like to see Ryan Seacrest at the head table of NBC’s morning show or do you want to see another replacement for Lauer? Should Lauer even leave? Sound off below!

This week on NBC’s The Sing-Off, judges Sara Bareilles, Shawn Stockman, and Ben Folds made a tough decision and eliminated one of the last remaining collegiate groups, Vocal Point, from the competition. After delivering memorable performances week after week, such as “I’ll Be Missing You,” Vocal Point knew they had to keep their charisma and jovial attitude on stage while working to build upon the judge’s critiques and come back strong every week! Unfortunately, in a crop of five highly talented groups, Vocal Point found themselves eliminated after being in the bottom two wit Afro Blue. Earlier today, YakkityYaks had the pleasure to participate in an exclusive call with McKay Crocket, Jake Hunsaker, and Tyler Sterling from Vocal Point. Read on to find out the story behind the group’s inspiration, thoughts on the competition, and more!

__________________________________

The Yak: Hi guys, how’s it going? It’s kind of a party on the line today with you three.
McKay, Jake & Tyler, Vocal Point: Haha, ya. We’re pretty much a party all the time.

The Yak: So, I gotta ask, how was it with you guys being a collegiate group on the show compared to groups who formed before The Sing Off for the purposes of the show?
McKay, Vocal Point: I think it was…one of the fun things was how different and diverse everyone was. Each group brought unique and different elements of musicality and entertainment to the show. It was fun to see groups like Pentatonix and Delilah who formed just before the show. That’s what makes this show so great, unique and different from all other singing shows. You never know what you’ll get. We really enjoyed the diversity.

The Yak:What made you want to go on The Sing Off? Did you watch the first 2 seasons or what led you there?
Tyler, Vocal Point: We watched the last couple seasons. We’ve always been big fans of The Sing Off. Every season there has been a connection with BYU in some way. On the first season there were a couple students on Noteworthy and on the second season there were a couple of alum on Backbeats. This year we had the opportunity to represent BYU as a group. To have the opportunity was something that was really cool, and we never really expected it to become a reality.

The Yak:I know the type of camaraderie that develops in collegiate a cappella groups. Do you think that played a part in your role on the show this year or do you think that it didn’t have much to do with anything because of the layout of the show?
Jake, Vocal Point: I think our camaraderie and our friendships is what helped us to get into the top 5. Obviously when Ben was gone, we had to rely on our friendship to lift each other up in a hard time. During the rest of the season as we were taken out of our confort zone with new genres and challenges, we relied heavily on our friendship, talents and ability to help us get through school, arrange and choreograph all at once.
Tyler, Vocal Point: On top of what Jake was saying, on top of that, our unified faith was something that kept us close knit, especially during the hard times with Ben’s father passing. It was our faith that strengthened us during the hard times of the show.

The Yak:Were you able to communicate with Ben during his absence or did you have to come together as a “new” group to make decisions on how your progress on the show would go?
McKay, Vocal Point: I think that this experience on the show and Ben’s dad passing at the same time put things into perspective in terms of priorities and what’s of importance for him. The real priority was his family and we allowed him to spend the last precious moments with his dad before he passed away. We wanted to make sure we were still there so he could come bak to a fun and enjoyable time on the show. We’re glad that he could still experience that after going through something so difficult.

The Yak:Very cool. Now, were you guys able to use songs that you were more familiar with from previous shows on campus or did the theme nights make you come up with new arrangements each time?
Tyler, Vocal Point: With the exception of “Footloose” and “Jump, Jive n’ Wail,” everything else was completely new and we arranged while we were there. Luckily for us, a couple weeks we were able to pull from our repertoire. It was a cool opportunity for us to expand our horizon and explore new genres that Vocal Point had never done before. We actually hope to explore them more in the future. Even Bobby Brown and the Elvis medley are just a couple examples of things we had never done before.

The Yak:Was there a particular critique from the judges that stuck with you as a group?
McKay, Vocal Point: I remember…it’s kind of ironic, it was after we got eliminated. We were walking to our car and Shawn Stockman pulled up in his car and parked in the parking lot to chat with us for a minute. He complimented us on our performance that night. As he was talking, he said something to the effect of “Don’t you dare stop doing what you’re doing. You have a lot of people who love what you do and connect with you guys. Let this be a beginning for who you are and what you guys do.” In a way, it is the beginning for Vocal Point and it’s opening many eyes to who we are and the music that we sing. Not only is it a universal message, but for that we were really grateful for the judges and the fans who have supported and shared the journey with us.

The Yak:How has that support translated onto the BYU campus?
Tyler, Vocal Point: It’s gone really really well. We’ve gotten some support from teachers, felow students and local community members. People just walk up to us and thank us for things we were able to accomplish on the show and the music and stories we could share. It’s been a great opportunity to share what we believe and bring some sunshine and happiness to people’s lives. We’ve been able to see the fruits of our labors and it’s been cool to see the purpose of Vocal Point accomplished in an efficient way.

The Yak:Any memorable performances for you that struck a chord with you? “I’ll Be Missing You” really hit me emotionally, by the way.
Tyler, Vocal Point: From an emotional standpoint, definitely “I’ll Be Missing You.” From someone like me who hasn’t actually lost a family member, to have Ben’s father pass away while we were there, we all felt a piece of us missing because of the love we all feel from our family members. That song is really a message of hope and it talks about how we’ll get to see people again. Ben will see his dad again some day and it was a great opportunity to share those emotions through music.
McKay, Vocal Point: For me, there are moments in each performance that were really unique.”Jump, Jive n’ Wail” really showed America who we are and “Every Little Step” showed how much we love to perform and attempt to dance. {laughs} The Elvis medley was really fun and showed the calm, sweet side and the energetic side as well. I dont’ know. This is a really hard question. I’ll have to sum it up and say the overall experience was the highlight. To be able to do what we love on such a scale with the people we did it with is a dream come true.

The Yak:You guys def show it’s something you love. It wasn’t hidden to the viewers. Before I let you go, I wanna ask you guys a side question. This week is Anti-Bullying Week and our site is working on increasing awareness. Is there anything you want to say that we could put out there from Vocal Point?
McKay, Vocal Point: I know it’s been in the media a lot lately and I appreciate the campaigns that stick up for causes like this. With Vocal Point sharing happiness and joy, that kinda stuff [bullying] doesn’t bring that into lives. So anyone who is willing to stand up for something they believe is very noteworthy. We appreciate that and wish those involved the best with helping that continue to grow. It is a problem and we hope that it can be solved quickly.

The Yak:It was a pleasure talking to you guys. Thanks for sharing your story with us.
McKay, Jake & Tyler, Vocal Point:Thank you very much, we appreciate it! Have a good one.

To keep up with Vocal Point, be sure to follow them on Twitter and Facebook.

Early this week, NBC was the first of the major networks to release their plans for midseason. When primetime television makes a triumphant (?) return after the holiday season, NBC has shaken up their current lineup in hopes of (continuing?) their revival as a rival network for CBS, ABC, and Fox. With shows on the move, critically acclaimed Community benched, and the return of one of TV’s mega-music competitions, NBC hopes they can pick up some momentum in 2012. Some of these decisions is making a lot of people question NBC’s decision making ability, however.

Up All Night is getting a move to the Thursday night comedy block, while Whitney has been shifted to lead off the Wednesday night lineup. Whitney will be paired with the Chelsea Handler inspired comedy, Are You There, Chelsea? Also on the move is Harry’s Law over to Sunday nights. NBC will look forward to premiering Fashion Star once Parenthood’s run is complete in February.

For a complete look at the schedule, look below and be sure to let us know what you think.

[new shows in red, time slot changes italicized]

MONDAY (all times EST)
8pm The Voice
10pm SMASH

TUESDAY
8pm The Biggest Loser
10pm Parenthood (until Feb. 28)
10pm FASHION STAR (premieres March 13)

WEDNESDAY
8pm Whitney
8:30pm ARE YOU THERE, CHELSEA?
9pm Rock Center with Brian Williams
10pm Law & Order: SVU

THURSDAY
8pm 30 Rock
8:30pm Parks and Recreation
9pm The Office
9:30pm Up All Night
10 THE FIRM (2-Hour premiere Jan. 8 9pm, time-slot premiere Jan. 12)

FRIDAY
8pm Chuck (2-Hour Series finale Jan. 27)
8pm Who Do You Think You Are? (season premiere Feb. 3)
9pm Grimm
10pm Dateline NBC

SATURDAY
“Encore programming”

SUNDAY
7pm Dateline
8pm Harry’s Law (beginning Mar. 4)
9pm The Celebrity Apprentice (season premiere Feb. 12)

In a move many predicted, The Playboy Club on NBC was the first fall show to bite the dust. After just 3 low rated episodes, NBC has decided to pull the plug on its controversial 1960′s period piece. Until Rock Center with Brian Williams takes the Monday night slot on Oct. 31, the 10pm hour will be filled with Prime Suspect reruns, as NBC hopes to boost the popularity of at least one new drama.

Last night’s final episode only gathered just over 3 million viewers.

In more positive news at the Peacock, NBC has announced full season pickups for Up All Night, starring Will Arnett and Christina Applegate and Whitney starring Whitney Cummings, the brain behind 2 Broke Girls. The latter pickup is causing a stir in the TV world, as many fans didn’t expect this show to last a full season. Looks like NBC has some faith…or will this become another Outsourced?

We’re just hours away from some of the most anticipated premieres of the Fall season and the inclusion of The Sing-Off to the primetime schedule this early into the season has many fans excited. Not only has the show added more talent to the stage, but the show has brought artist Sara Bareilles as the latest judge to join Ben Folds and Shawn Stockman on the panel. Last week, the Yak had the opportunity to participate in a conference call with Bareilles and Folds and we picked up their thoughts on the upcoming season, as well as with each other and fellow judge Stockman. Read on below for all the details and don’t forget to watch the premiere of The Sing-Off TONIGHT on NBC at 8/7c! We even got wind of who Ben credits the musical era of Reality TV to!

Meet the A Capella Groups here!
__________________________________________

On What Turned Them On To The Show’s Premise
Joining the show was an easy decision for Sara. With an a capella background and having performed on the season 2 finale, Sara admits that “It was a no-brainer for me. It’s a special show with lots of heart.” The decision wasn’t so easy for Ben. He initially told his management no because he didn’t know much about the show. What convinced him was that the show was a capella in nature and that was unique and could be very musical.

On Their Thoughts on Pentatonix
Both Sara and Ben are excited to see what they and the other groups bring to the competition. This is especially unique in that 3 are from Dallas area and 2 connected with the group members via internet.

On Connecting With The Judges
“As much as you can when working with a couple of a**holes {laughs}. I can’t say enough good things about Ben and Shawn. They made it really comfortable to join up with them in the panel. There was natural chemistry that started from Day 1.” Sara has known Ben for a while now and has no qualms on talking to either of them regarding what they’re seeing. She believes that conflict between judges takes away from what the show should be about. “It’s been nice to have solidarity behind the panel and focus on the music.”

On The Show’s Success
Ben attributes the show’s success to the amount of talent. “The singers are really talented and dedicated.” Ben thinks it makes people feel good about people working well together. “You can watch TV and see people not getting together well. The show doesn’t have to be artfully put together. As soon as they walk on stage and sing together, it’s not just a lot of work, it’s really a lot of art and craft. It counters to what we’re told about our culture now – that everything is dumbed down, all reality shows, etc. I like to see some a** kicking myself, but to see the harmony this show provides for a couple hours is cool.”

On Comparing The Different Kinds of Diverse Groups This Season

Ben claims that there is more of a range this year. He says you must take personal preference aside and hone in on what the groups are attempting to do and how effective it is. “I don’t like all records, but a record is a record. You try not to make it personal, but make it about how they’re working together and how effective it might be for their audience.” On the other hand, Sara has nothing to compare it to. She knows it helps to keep in back of her mind that this is a competition for who can make a great record and connect with a mass audience. She looks forward to the complexity of what they’re capable of.

Thoughts on the Fannin Family

The Fannin’s are this season’s all-family group, so they are unique in that sense alone. Even more, the youngest contestant on the show is one of the lead singers from this group. “She sings good, shows a lot of potential and heart,” Sara claims. The judges go on to agree that there is something really sweet and innocent about seeing a family sing together and doesn’t come across as hokey.

On Groups Biggest Challenge When Searching For a Piece to Perform

Ben thinks this is different for every group. “The story behind it is interesting. For example, you have an all female group – no bass. They have to find ways to make it work, they’re off the beaten path. Sometimes you keep them [groups]. They may not have done their best show, but we may see something that will develop and surprise us. It’s in how they surmount their weaknesses.”

On What Makes This Season Different

“This is the ‘Season of Innovation.’ As it evolves, everyone will see the innovation to be second nature. Everyone will look for heart; it marks this season. We have a lot of stand out groups this season.”

Sara: On Joining As a Judge

“Last finale, I was such a nerd – giddy and excited to be on the show. I had to put on my facades and be totally cool about it. On a lot of levels, I’m still geeking out and love that it highlights genre of music. I have the best seat in the house. I’m getting to impart my experience and wisdom on them and I’m learning a lot as well.”

On Preparing For The Show

“Before the show, we have our sit-down and listen to the songs that the groups will sing. We don’t listen to their version; we listen to the original. We know who will be singing what. We all probably take mental notes about what we expect and that provides a framework. If the group comes and surprises you, you had what you expected and what they did, and it gives a range of what to do [in terms of elimination] and what the group has changed from the week before.

On Giving People Second Chances

This season there are groups made up of superstars from previous seasons. “We actually encourage it,” Ben states. “It’s about groups working together. The show has become a hub of talent. One fellow on the Dartmouth Aires never contemplated being a musician.” Well, look at him now…

On What An A Capella Singer Is About

As the one with experience, Sara had a lot to say about this question. “There is nothing to hide behind. I wouldn’t answer that I’m always looking at the purity of the music. Connection with the audience can transcend minor technical issues. It’s about being moved by an expression of art. It’s all voices and sometimes your jaw is on the floor with the amazing talents of these people on stage. I can’t imagine how they’re making the sounds they do make. I look for depth, diversity and range on stage. Looking for technical skill and the ease.” Ben echoed Sara’s sentiments.

Ben’s Thoughts on Similar Reality and Primetime Shows
Ben has never seen Glee and has only seen 5 minutes of American Idol, just to see what Simon Cowell was all about. “Simon will be remembered as how music industry is integrated into the pop culture. He’s got a whole chapter. This world he created is not really what we do. We live in the form – he partially invented. We’re really very different because the show itself is about harmony.” He does plan on watching Glee sometime.

On A Ben Folds/Sara Bareilles Collaboration
Without hesitation, Ben stats, “Let’s do it.” Ben is actually producing an EP in November for Sara. The plans have been in place to go to Nashville and collaborate on a song. The plans were in place before Sara even joined The Sing-Off.

On How Being In a Group Prepared Sara
“This show gives me nostalgia for a time in my life that I’m proud about. I’m one of the more emotional ones. I get sucked into the story, into their [the group's] journey and it’s part of the fact that I’ve been in their shoes. I do feel very connected. I felt like I wanted to jump on stage and be a part of the all-girl group.” As for Ben, “one of the main reasons I got into this show was high school music programs. Sometimes they are one of the first cut [with budget revisions]. I did an a capella record with a University group and money went to music education charities. One of the great things about the show is despite the cut of music in school, you’re seeing an increased number of kids getting together on their own dime with no class credit at universities. It’s becoming a social event. They’re having to learn harmony and voice leading and they have various levels of education.”

On The Changed Dynamics with 16 Groups
Adding more groups to the mix makes it hard for everyone. Ben admits it is “more than a challenge even from our point of view. Competition is heavier because there is more talent. You have to hone your ear in more. Finding creative ways to take 16 groups and have them all sing together in one opening number is pretty amazing stuff. It’s nothing but better, it’s just more difficult.”

There you have it. Remember, the premiere is tonight, so you don’t want to miss it! The talent promises to be unbelievable! Thanks to Sara and Ben for their time!

As summer winds down and we get hit football season, back to school sales, and can no longer wear white pants, it’s also time for your TV and DVR to start sweating bullets. Why? Well, the new fall season is less than a month away from premiering and you just know that you’re going to pile on more than you or your DVR can handle. That’s why we’re here to help. For the next few weeks, we’ll be sifting through what the major networks have to offer. We’ll preview new shows, remind you about your old favorites, and provide you with a calendar of what shows will air when … and more importantly, when they’ll premiere. The last thing we want is for you to miss a minute. So without further adieu, let’s get started with this week’s network feature: NBC.

Click here for our Fox Preview

When NBC returns to the small screen this fall with original programming, you can expect 6 new shows (3 of which are sitcoms) to fill in the blanks on their fall schedule. In addition to hits like the Parenthood, Law & Order: SVU, award-winning sitcoms like The Office, underrated gems like Community and reality TV favorites like The Biggest Loser, NBC plans on showing you the inner workings of playboy clubs in 1960s Chicago as well as giving us a twist on the classic tales of the Brothers Grimm. Below you’ll find the fall schedule for NBC (along with premiere dates) and don’t forget to click on to the following pages to preview their upcoming new shows. We want to know what you’re watching, so don’t forget to comment below and let us know what you’re looking forward to!

Click Here for our CBS Preview!

NBC Fall Schedule (all times EST), New Shows italicized

Monday:
8pm ~ The Sing Off, Premieres 9/19
10pm ~ The Playboy Club, Premieres 9/19

Tuesday:
8pm ~ The Biggest Loser, Premieres 9/20
10pm ~ Parenthood, Premieres 9/13

Meet The New Sing-Off Groups!

Wednesday:
8pm ~ Up All Night (original time slot premiere 9/21), Series premieres 9/14 at 10pm
8:30pm ~ Free Agents (original time slot premiere 9/21), Series premieres 9/14 at 10:30pm
9pm ~ Harry’s Law, Premieres 9/21
10pm ~ Law & Order: SVU, Premieres 9/21

Thursday:
8pm ~ Community, Premieres 9/22
8:30pm ~ Parks and Recreation, Premieres 9/22
9pm ~ The Office, Premieres 9/22
9:30pm ~ Whitney, Premieres 9/22
10pm ~ Prime Suspect, Premieres 9/22

Friday:
8pm ~ Chuck, Premieres 10/21
9pm ~ Grimm, Premieres 10/21
10pm ~ Dateline NBC, Premieres 9/23

Saturday:
8pm ~ Encores

Sunday:
7pm ~ Sunday Night Football, beginning 9/8 with the NFL opener

Next Up: The Playboy Club

What has been speculated for days has been confirmed tonight on the Finale Performance Show of The Voice. The Top 8 contestants will be headed on a multi-city tour this summer. Right now, only 6 dates have been announced with no word of more dates coming in the future. Coaches Adam Levine, Blake Shelton, Cee Lo Green, and Christina Aguilera will not be a part of this tour, but fans can look forward to some of their favorite contestants tackling the stage. Finalists Javier Colon, Beverly McClellan, Dia Frampton, and Vicci Martinez will be joined by Casey Weston, Frenchie Davis, Xenia, and Nakia. Check out tour dates below and check out NBC.com for ticket information.

July 27 Los Angeles, CA Gibson Amphitheatre
July 30 Las Vegas, NV MGM Grand Garden Arena
August 2 Chicago, IL Rosemont Theatre
August 4 Boston, MA Bank of America Pavilion
August 5 Wallingford, CT Toyota Presents Oakdale Theatre
August 6 New York, NY Beacon Amphitheatre

NBC’s reality show that seemed to come out of the blue keeps on surprising and supersizing. On the heels of announcing the addition of special results shows, NBC revealed the new stage design for the Live rounds to EW.com today. Not only do they magnify the ratings hit this show has become, the stage seems to just throw you (the viewer) straight into what looks like could be a futuristic videogame! The network is not shying back when it comes to The Voice, as the show has been a pleasant surprise for NBC and the American public, adding twist after twist to what may have become a tried and true talent competition style. Check out the photos of the stage below, as well as a sneak peek at the Coaches’ rehearsal for their special Queen medley tonight! The Voice goes LIVE as the Quarterfinal Rounds begin and we’ll be chatting every minute HERE!

Who says reviving old reality shows was a thing of the past? NBC doesn’t agree! EW has confirmed that NBC is bringing back one of their action filled alternative programs, Fear Factor. NBC’s head of alternative programming Paul Telegdy says “No one has come close to doing what they’ve done on that show. You go back and they’ve stood the test of time. It always had this incredible spectacle to it.” Telegdy has met with Endemol USA, producer of the once favored reality show, and they have plans to go bigger and better for a reboot of the not so old gem (?). “The stunt and camera technologies have evolved since then, we’re going to be able to make it even bigger,” Telegdy said. “We’re going to make it more visually arresting.” Telegdy continued to explain in reference to the show’s inception in 2001, “In the brave new world of reality TV it was deemed symptomatic of a problem — ‘we want our West Wing, why are you doing this?’ Now the ecology has changed, the top shows are reality TV. For consumers, it will be a fond reunion.”

There is no word yet as to when Fear Factor will hit airwaves, but midseason 2012 or summer are pretty safe bets.

What do you think? Will you be fondly reunited with Fear Factor? Who would you like to see host this show, or would you want Joe Rogan back in the driver’s seat?

NBC has decided to give it’s new Reality Singing Competition “The Voice” it’s top start treatment: the coveted spot immediately following the Super Bowl in February.

The network has scheduled already a special one hour episode of The Voice in it’s blind audition stages for Feb. 5th, 2012. The show had been considered for awhile now to take that position, as it already has the momentum going from the first season.

“There is no better showcase on television than to follow the Super Bowl, and we believe ‘The Voice‘ is deserving of such high-profile exposure,” said NBC chairman Bob Greenblatt. “The attention grabbing blind audition phase of ‘The Voice’ has mass appeal and will fittingly team up with the biggest sporting event of the year.”

Fox, on the other hand, is placing it’s new season of American Idol a few weeks prior to the Super Bowl, airing it’s first episode following the NFL’s NFC Conference.

Are you a fan of The Voice? Let us know what you think below!

A very smart business decision, I feel. CNN reports the announcement today.

Do you think the publicity stunt was good for him, or a mistake? Let us know below!

Should The Donald put in a bid for a 2012 Presidential Run, NBC will replace him in the boardroom of The Apprentice. New NBC Pres Bob Greenblatt said on Sunday following the release of the new fall schedule “If he decides to run for president and is unavailable to do the show, we will bring the show back and there will be somebody else sitting at the head of the boardroom table. Who that is, we’re not going to really entertain, because I’m still hoping well have Donald back in the seat.” Greenblatt also went on to say, “The show will go on in his absence,” Greenblatt added. “If we had to address the issue of who it would be replacing him, we’d have to be confident we have another galvanizing presence. I’m hopeful we don’t have to go there, but if we do, it’s too strong a franchise to not consider that.” As we reported earlier, the next installment of the Celebrity Apprentice is set to premiere midseason in early 2012. In the meantime, we’re down to the final four this season where either John Rich, Marlee Matlin, Lil’ Jon, or Meatloaf will claim victory.

Would you still watch if The Donald isn’t in the boardroom? Who can fire celebrities so eloquently? Let us know what you think below and in our FORUMS!

It’s that time of the year! Networks are dolling out their new schedules for the upcoming Fall TV season and NBC is the first of the major networks to hop on board and give us a peek at what to look forward to. Noticeable changes to NBC’s schedule is Chuck’s move to Fridays at 8pm. Chuck will have its fifth and final season roll out on Friday night. 30 Rock won’t hit airwaves until mid-season, while production is on hiatus during Tina Fey’s pregnancy. When Rock returns, look for a consecutive, uninterrupted season with original episodes each week. Parks & Rec is moving back to it’s “original” time slot of Thursdays 8:30 EST, while Harry’s Law gets a second season on a new night and time on Wednesday’s at 9EST. Prime Suspect, Up All Night, Free Agents, Whitney and Grimm will get their first look at the TV landscape this fall, as NBC hopes their new fare will keep America watching. In addition to 30 Rock, NBC will add the following for their midseason line-up: new cycles of Celebrity Apprentice and The Voice; new comedies Are You There, Vodka? It’s Me, Chelsea, Bent and Best Friends Forever; and new dramas Awake, Smash, and The Firm. Check out the full listing of NBC’s new schedule below, as well as a sneak peek at some of the new shows to hit airwaves in the fall! (all times EST)

MONDAY
8 pm The Sing-Off
10 pm THE PLAYBOY CLUB (new show)

TUESDAY
8 pm The Biggest Loser
10 pm Parenthood

WEDNESDAY
8 pm UP ALL NIGHT (new show)
8:30 pm FREE AGENTS (new show)
9 pm Harry’s Law (new time slot)
10 pm Law & Order: Special Victims Unit

THURSDAY
8 pm Community
8:30 pm Parks and Recreation (new time slot)
9 pm The Office
9:30 pm WHITNEY (new show)
10 pm PRIME SUSPECT (new show)

FRIDAY
8 pm Chuck (new time slot)
9 pm GRIMM (new show)
10 pm Dateline NBC

SATURDAY
“Encore programming”

SUNDAY
7 pm Football Night in America
8:15 pm NBC Sunday Night Football

It was bound to happen, and we all got to see a little piece of it Tuesday night. (That is, if you watched The Voice this week. If you haven’t seen this show, this writer thinks you should go check it out!)

The Voice coach, Adam Levine from Maroon 5, made a comment on Tuesday’s show, speaking to a contestant that did not get a coach to turn around during their “blind audition”. He said, “The people that we’re not turning our chairs around for could win American Idol,” after he and fellow celebrities Christina Aguilera, Cee Lo Green and Blake Shelton decided not turn their chairs either. We all heard it, and many of us in the forum, and around Twitter, commented on it.

So far, we had heard nothing from the ‘Idol-sphere’ really about The Voice, and how they really feel about the competition, until today.

Randy Jackson told the Hollywood Reporter today that “It’s a great thing when talent can be simple, honest and revered as opposed to spinning around with gimmicky chairs. Maybe Simon Cowell should have people opening doors. Like, ‘Knock, knock. Who’s singing? I can’t see you!“

He continued, “Look, none of these other shows could exist without somebody forging the path before them. I’m happy to say that Idol did that and paved the way.”

The Voice itself has premiered with some very impressive ratings, and has certainly impressed me. So much so, that I have stopped watching Idol. To me, Idol has lost it’s special something, and I think it was the right timing for Simon to leave. The judges are no longer judging the contestants, but are more a cheerleading section, and I find myself really disliking Jimmy Iovine. I would much rather see the contestants do what they want to do on their own. Let them be individuals, and find within themselves the artist they wish to be, rather than be coached by this guy. A little less arrogance, and some more humble pie would be nice Mr. Iovine.

Jackson states his only fear is that “with all these shows coming is that people don’t tire of the format,” he adds. “I don’t know how much singing at you the public can take” referring to The Voice, America’s Got Talent and Cowell’s X Factor premiering in the Fall.

Personally, I can take a lot, if it’s good. I don’t find The Voice gimmicky. In fact, it seems to me they came up with a format that could work for seasons to come… New judges can be brought in every season, allowing for a fresh take every time.

What do you think? Agree with Randy, or do you think Idol may have met it’s match?

All I have to say, is bravo Mark Burnett. Bravo.

For me, this show came at the exact right time. I, myself, and I know many others, were just about fed up with the powerhouse they call American Idol. Then, here comes this little gem. The judges are fresh, funny and serious about their jobs as coaches. The concept, not seeing the singer before making the choice, is innovative and puts the true talent to the test. (I don’t think Simon could ever do something like that, as it seems he likes the whole “package” and based many a judging on someone’s looks.) The talent has so far been great. We don’t have to sit through the bad, the silly or the just plain crazy. Yes, there are many people that are big fans of the Idol Audition Rounds just for that reason, but I personally was tired of it. It was funny in the beginning, but as of late, I was using my FF button on my remote a lot.

Last night, we saw some skillz with a “Z”! I loved how they let us see the families watching from backstage begging the judges to press their buttons and turn around. The back stories, to some, got a little long, but I didn’t think they were too involved. I also liked that every once in awhile, they would let the audience “play along with the judges” and not show the singer right away, giving us a chance to hear them before we made judges on looks.

We chatted about the show (while it was on East Coast Time) in the forum, and everyone seemed to enjoy it. The only comments I saw were maybe to cut the backstories a bit, and maybe have a wall between the judges so they don’t know who turned around. At first, I thought the latter might be a good idea… By the end though, I was a little up in the air on that. I like that the others can see the others reactions once they turn around, and poke fun at each other. On the other hand, does that influence one another? It doesn’t seem so.

Christina Aguilera, who I must admit I have been a little annoyed with lately, didn’t annoy me at all. Cee Lo, Adam and Blake all made me laugh out loud, which is not easy to do with a TV show. (Just ask my family, who continually ask me why I am not laughing.) Mind you, for many things, I am laughing silently… really I am… at least that’s what I tell them!

I digress… The Voice was a hit for me. I watched it taped kind of late at night so the family wasn’t able to join in, but I have a feeling this one will be a staple in our house. In fact, I have already showed videos of some of the performers to my husband to get him hooked.

We are not alone apparently. The Voice dominated the ratings last night with delivering 11.8 million total viewers. This marks the strongest series premier for any network since CBS launched Undercover Boss after the 2010 Super Bowl (to a much larger audience however, 38.6 million viewers, but think about how many were already on that channel).

Did you see it? Did you miss it? I know DWTS and Deadliest Catch were both on last night, creating a dilemma for many people. Well, if you missed it, they are showing an encore tonight to get you all caught up! Tune in to NBC at 9p Eastern/Pacific, you won’t be disappointed!

If you watched, or plan to, leave us a comment below and let us know what you thought! Also, join us in the FORUM where we are all talking about it!