NEW YORK — May 13, 2018 — Following a triumphant 2017-18 season with an outstanding 38% 18-49 lead and a win in entertainment programming (even when Olympics and Super Bowl are factored out), NBC unveils a new year-round lineup that adds fresh voices, top talent and superb storytellers to an already thriving roster. The new schedule, which will add five first-year dramas and two new comedies (and one transplant) over the course of the 2018-19 season, features a robust fall lineup that paves the way for a blockbuster midseason roster anchored by powerhouse alternative franchises.
“Once again, we are coming into the season from a place of strength and stability, which makes us bullish about a scheduling strategy that delivers top-notch original programming not just in the fall, but year round,” said Robert Greenblatt, Chairman, NBC Entertainment. “We have a very strong fall schedule, as always, but winter, spring and summer are every bit as important to us, and this year we’re putting our talent and our money where our mouth is. This schedule builds on the type of programming that makes NBC #1 year after year: bold, humanistic, compelling dramas; an unmatched collection of the highest-quality unscripted shows for the entire family; and one of the strongest comedy lineups on television that is unique to the legacy of the NBC brand.”
“I continue to be proud of the pedigree of talent on both sides of the camera, from global superstars and producers like Dwayne Johnson, Jennifer Lopez and Simon Cowell, to comedy legends like Amy Poehler and the cast of ‘Will & Grace’ and the many others who call NBC their home,” continued Greenblatt. “This roster is a testament to our incredible NBC programming presidents — Paul Telegdy, Lisa Katz and Tracey Pakosta — whose teams are on the front lines of the best programming in the world.”
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Highlights of the drama offerings for the newly announced fall schedule include “Manifest” from executive producer Robert Zemeckis, an emotionally rich, unexpected mystery journey that is jump-started following a turbulent but seemingly routine flight; and “New Amsterdam,” a character-driven medical drama starring “The Blacklist’s” Ryan Eggold and based on New York City’s historic Bellevue Hospital, one of the oldest public hospitals in the country.
NBC’s strong comedy lineup adds a new player with family comedy “I Feel Bad” from writer/creator Aseem Batra and executive producer Amy Poehler. A modern comedy about being perfectly OK with being imperfect, the series stars Sarayu Blue as Emet, who balances being mom, boss, friend, wife and daughter.
New dramas set to launch in midseason are spy-hunting thriller “The Enemy Within,” starring Morris Chestnut (“Rosewood”) as an FBI agent who enlists a notorious traitor (“Dexter’s” Jennifer Carpenter) to help track down a fiercely dangerous and elusive criminal; “The InBetween” from executive producer David Heyman, in which Cassie Bishop, who can see and communicate with the dead, may have found a way to keep her demons at bay, all while solving some of the city’s most challenging cases; and “The Village,” written and produced by Mike Daniels, a heartwarming ensemble drama set in a Brooklyn apartment building where the residents have built a bonded family of friends and neighbors.
The laughs continue midseason with “Abby’s” a new comedy from “The Good Place” executive producer/creator Michael Schur, starring Natalie Morales (“Parks and Recreation”). “Abby’s” centers around the best bar in San Diego, home to good prices, great company and, of course, Abby. Redefining the multi-camera comedy for a new generation, “Abby’s” is the first sitcom to be shot outdoors in front of a live audience. Also from executive producer Michael Schur and creator/executive producer Dan Goor, Golden Globe winner “Brooklyn Nine-Nine” will make its triumphant return in midseason; produced by sister studio Universal Television, “Brooklyn Nine-Nine” will move to NBC for its sixth season.
NBC’s robust 52-week schedule is highlighted by its most ambitious midseason in years. A brand new in-season spin-off “America’s Got Talent: The Champions” (with executive producer and key judge Simon Cowell) will light up the schedule on Mondays in January and February between seasons of “The Voice.” And bona fide new hit “Ellen’s Game of Games” will make midseason Tuesdays at 8 P.M. just as strong. Furthermore “The Titan Games” — a high-octane competition series from Dwayne Johnson, Dany Garcia and producers of “American Ninja Warrior” that offers everyday people a chance to achieve the impossible — blasts onto Wednesdays for a limited run at 8 P.M. this winter.
The anticipated sixth season of “The Blacklist” premieres in January at 9 P.M. Friday following “Blindspot” running continuously without repeats, providing a two-hour block of action-filled prestige dramas. And the third season of Jennifer Lopez’s hit “World of Dance” makes its move to Sundays from 8-10 P.M. post-football in the spring, followed by the juicy new drama hit “Good Girls” at 10 P.M.
“In the fall, our continued success with ‘The Voice’ and ‘This Is Us’ will provide great lead-ins for our strong new dramas, and our two-hour Thursday night comedy block is becoming one of our strongest in years with returning favorites ‘Superstore,’ ‘The Good Place’ and ‘Will & Grace,’ plus a great new family comedy from Aseem Batra and Amy Poehler,” said Jeff Bader, President, Program Planning, Strategy and Research, NBC Entertainment. “Our mid-season strategy is one of our most aggressive to date, building off A-list talent and brands in the alternative space – including the first-ever in-season run of ‘America’s Got Talent’ – to anchor a schedule that will buoy sophomore shows like ‘A.P. Bio’ and ‘Good Girls’ as well as launch additional shows from our strong crop of pilots.”
NBC is poised to win the traditional September-to-May season in adults 18-49, adults 25-54 and all other key demographics, and to deliver its most competitive finish in total viewers in 16 years. This is the fourth time in five years NBC has won the coveted 18-49 demo. NBC is also well positioned to win the full September-to-September season in 18-49 for a fifth year in a row and is poised to win the full 52-week season in total viewers for the first time since 2001-02.
NBC currently leads the season in 18-49 averages that include all programs, as well as rankings that include entertainment programs only (no sports).
Returning shows for the 2018-19 schedule include “America’s Got Talent,” “A.P. Bio,” “The Blacklist,” “Blindspot,” “Chicago Fire,” “Chicago Med,” “Chicago P.D.,” “Dateline NBC,” “Ellen’s Game of Games,” “Good Girls,” “The Good Place,” “Law & Order: SVU,” “Midnight, Texas,” “Superstore,” “This Is Us,” “The Voice,” “The Wall,” “Will & Grace” and “World of Dance.”
Decisions are yet to be made on “Timeless” and “Champions.”
NBC FALL 2018-19 SCHEDULE
(New programs in UPPER CASE; all times ET)
MONDAY
8-10 P.M. — The Voice
10-11 P.M. — MANIFEST
TUESDAY
8-9 P.M. — The Voice
9-10 P.M. — This Is Us
10-11 P.M. — NEW AMSTERDAM
WEDNESDAY
8-9 P.M. — Chicago Med
9-10 P.M. — Chicago Fire
10-11 P.M. — Chicago P.D.
THURSDAY
8-8:30 P.M. — Superstore
8:30-9 P.M. — The Good Place
9-9:30 P.M. — Will & Grace
9:30-10 P.M. — I FEEL BAD
10-11 P.M. — Law & Order: SVU
FRIDAY
8-9 P.M. – Blindspot
9-10 P.M. — Midnight, Texas
10-11 P.M — Dateline NBC
SATURDAY
8-10 P.M. — Dateline Saturday Night Mystery
10-11 P.M. – Saturday Night Live (encores)
SUNDAY
7-8:20 P.M. — Football Night in America
8:20-11 P.M. — NBC Sunday Night Football
