Nellie Andreeva
NBC is making an aggressive push in comedy with blocks on four nights, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. After a last-minute deal with the key actors, veteran comedy series The Office is back with a 22-episode order. Making a debut on NBC’s fall schedule is NBC’s flagship reality series The Voice after two midseason showings, while The Voice‘s companion this past season, musical drama Smash, is held again for midseason. Also missing from NBC’s fall schedule is longtime staple The Biggest Loser, which is held as a backup after launching a cycle in the fall for the past eight years. But making a surprising return to the schedule is low-rated newsmagazine Rock Center With Brian Williams, which actually got upgraded to the Thursday 10 PM slot. Downgraded from Thursday to Friday is cult favorite Community, which will lead Friday night, paired withWhitney. Of NBC’s 12 new series for next season, six — four comedies, Go On, The New Normal, Animal Practice and Guys with Kids, and two dramas, The J.J. Abrams-producedRevolution and Dick Wolf-produced Chicago Fire— are launching in the fall. The rest are being held for midseason. Thriller Revolution is getting the coveted post-Voice Monday 10 PM slot, while NBC is creating a Dick Wolf block on Tuesday with Law & Order: SVU leading intoChicago Fire.