NBC Blinks

While network schedules aren't etched in stone once they're announced during the annual ritual that is the May upfront week, it's rare for a network to utterly tear up its schedule and start over from scratch. Nonetheless, that's what NBC did today when it released a revised 2006-07 fall schedule.

Every day but Saturday (which was just an installment of "Dateline" and repeats) and Sunday (given over to football) has been revamped. "Crossing Jordan," which was initially intended to return midseason, is being brought off the bench to air Fridays at 8 p.m., replacing one of the installments of "Deal or No Deal," which is being moved to 9 p.m. Thursdays, which was previously occupied by Aaron Sorkin's new drama, "Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip." On Thursdays, "Studio 60" was not only going to have to compete with CBS's "CSI," but "Grey's Anatomy," which ABC had moved into the timeslot, ostensibly to ensure that Sorkin's new baby would be stillborn. It's now set to air Mondays at 10 p.m., replacing "Medium," which has been pushed to midseason.

All of NBC's moves, in one way or another, seem to have protecting "Studio 60" in mind. But there are further question marks in the network's new lineup: Now, Tuesdays will feature "Law & Order: Criminal Intent" and "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" back to back beginning at 9 -- even for the most devout "L&O" fan, that feels like overkill (the original "L&O" has been shipped to 10 p.m. Friday, where "Criminal Intent" had initially been moved). And while "Studio 60" will only have to compete with "CSI: Miami" in its new timeslot (well, and ABC's low-rated "What About Brian"), don't expect it to get much help from its fairly incompatible lead-in, "Heroes," an odd-looking show about ordinary citizens with bizarre super-powers (but no tights or Latex suits).

One move does make sense: The network rescheduled its new comedies, "20 Good Years" and "30 Rock," an hour earlier on Wednesdays, at 8 p.m. Until "George Lopez" and "According to Jim" appear after the next cycle of "Dancing with the Stars," there are no other sitcoms in that timeslot (actually, given the quality of "Jim," there'll scarcely be any other comedies in the timeslot when it does return).

And moving "Deal or No Deal" to 9 p.m. Thursday can't really hurt NBC, since that show's audience probably isn't capable of dealing with the nuances of narrative structure that scripted series such as "CSI" and "Grey's Anatomy" offer, and even if it doesn't do particularly well in the ratings, it's a relatively cheap show to produce. Nonetheless, it's not much of a contribution to the legacy of NBC's once-hallowed "Must-See Thursday."

That sound you hear? Can't be flop sweat; flop sweat doesn't make a sound.

NBC's updated 2006-07 schedule (* indicates new show; ** indicates new timeslot; *** indicates a new show in a revised timeslot):

Monday
8 p.m. "Deal or No Deal"
9 p.m. "Heroes" *
10 p.m. "Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip" ***

Tuesday
8 p.m. "Friday Night Lights" *
9 p.m. "Law & Order: Criminal Intent" **
10 p.m. "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit"

Wednesday
8 p.m. "20 Good Years" ***
8:30 p.m. "30 Rock" ***
9 p.m. "The Biggest Loser" **
10 p.m. "KIDNAPPED" ***

Thursday
8 p.m. "My Name Is Earl" **
8:30 p.m. "The Office" **
9 p.m. "Deal or No Deal" **
10 p.m. "ER"/("The Black Donnellys" * in January 2007)

Friday
8 p.m. "Crossing Jordan" **
9 p.m. "Las Vegas"
10 p.m. "Law & Order" **