NBC Unveils Dramatic Midseason Schedule Changes, Renews '30 Rock'

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NBC's midseason schedule has a whole lotta shaking goin' on.

The lineup includes a three-hour Thursday comedy block, four new shows and a couple weaker freshman programs getting second chances in new time periods.

The biggest headline here is NBC once again attempting to re-invent the wheel at 10 p.m., scheduling comedies 30 Rock and Outsourced in an hour normally reserved for drama programs. New series Perfect Couples and the return of Parks & Recreation will fill out the block (see full schedule below).

Also, the network has renewed 30 Rock for another season; the show has averaged a 3.1 rating in the adult demo this fall, according to the most current ratings data.

Though Monday night's freshman procedural drama Chase has been super-soft in the ratings, NBC is going to give the show another chance in midseason in a new time period, Wednesdays at 9 p.m. beginning Jan. 12. Another show having Nielsen trouble to a lesser degree, Law & Order: Los Angeles, will be shifted to Tuesdays at 10 p.m., relieving Parenthood starting Feb. 8. David E. Kelley's latest legal drama, Harry's Law, will take over the 10 p.m. slot on Monday's launching Jan. 17th.

The network's new superhero series The Cape will get a two-hour launch on Sunday, Jan. 9, before moving to its regular time-period in the former Heroes slot on Mondays. The move puts The Event on a hiatus, which will last until March 7.

And Jerry Seinfeld's reality series The Marriage Ref is coming back, airing on Sundays this time at 8 p.m. starting March 6, serving as a lead-in for Celebrity Apprentice.

Here's the schedule, new series are capitalized:
 
MONDAYS
8-9 p.m. – “Chuck”
9-10 p.m. – “THE CAPE” will premiere with a two-hour episode on Sunday, January 9 (9-11 p.m.).  New episodes start in its regular time period on January 17 (9-10 p.m.) // “The Event” (returns on February 28, 9-11 p.m.; resumes in its regular time slot March 7)
10-11 p.m. – “HARRY’S LAW’ (beginning January 17) // “Parenthood” (debuts in this slot March 7 with all originals)
 
TUESDAYS
8-10 p.m. -- “The Biggest Loser: Couples” (beginning January 4)  
10-11 p.m. – “Parenthood” (beginning January 4 for four episodes) // “Law & Order: Los Angeles” (beginning February 8)
 
WEDNESDAYS
8-9 p.m. -- “Minute to Win It” (beginning January 5)
9-10 p.m. –“Chase” (beginning January 12) // “AMERICA’S NEXT GREAT RESTAURANT” (beginning March 16)
10-11 p.m. – “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” (originals beginning January 5 with two-hour episode, 9-11 p.m. ET)
 
THURSDAYS (all beginning January 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?” (beginning January 21)
9-11 p.m. – “Dateline NBC” (beginning January 7)
 
SUNDAYS
7-8 p.m. – “Dateline NBC”
8-9 p.m. – “The Marriage Ref” (beginning March 6)
9-11 p.m. – “The Celebrity Apprentice” (beginning March 6)