NBC's summer schedule revealed: 'Philanthropist,' 'Merlin,' 'Celebrity,' Conan and more

[Schedule, premiere dates, show descriptions and trailers below] -- NBC has unveiled a surprising summer lineup that includes several scripted projects -- including the long-awaited scheduling of "The Philanthropist" starring James Purefoy and Neve Campbell. 

The lineup includes imported freshman drama series "Merlin" and "The Listener," in addition to new reality shows "I'm a Celebrity ... Get Me Out of Here" and "Great American Road Trip."

"We have a nice balance that provides as much original programming as possible," said NBC scheduling head Mitch Metcalf. "Reality has traditionally worked really well and though scripted has had a more spotted record, I believe if you put too much of one thing it becomes harder to promote and gain a whole audience."

The headline-maker here is "Philanthropist," produced by Universal Media Studios. Once planned for midseason, the expensive and ambitious drama stars Purefoy ("Rome") as a globetrotting billionaire man of action who helps those in need. The project was sidelined by financing issues as NBC sought an overseas production partner, then creatively as NBC swapped showrunners (with Tom Fontana now in charge) and then medically after Purefoy pulled a hamstring while shooting the pilot. 

Typically when an in-season show is pushed to summer, it spells trouble. But with only eight episodes in the show's run, Metcalf made a case that "Philanthropist" is being given a strong shot being by pairing it with last summer's most-watched show, "America's Got Talent."

"This idea that this is a summer burn off is just not supported by the fact we’re giving it a great lead in with our number one show," Metcalf said. "We’re giving it a great chance and it fits perfectly after 'Got Talent.'"

"Merlin" and "Listener" (trailers for both below) are foreign acquisitions. "Merlin" and was produced by Shine Television for the BBC, a 13-part series that updates the story of the sorcerer of Arthurian legend in the mythical city of Camelot. "Listener" is a Canadian drama co-produced by CTV about a telepath who helps people in crisis.

"'Listener' has a great shot because it's a close-ended procedural," Metcalf said. 'Merlin' is a big swing, it's set in the UK. But it's a timeless story with large appeal that's worked well in a movie form for us int he past."  

Two miniseries are included, too -- another summer rarity: "The Meteor" (rocks tumbling toward Earth) and "The Storm" (James Van Der Beek stars in this story of a weather creation experiment that goes bad -- "hurricanes change course, winds go instantly from hot to cold, torrential rains bring regions to a standstill, and buildings crumble into ruins under explosive lightening storms").

"Merlin" will take over the Sunday 8 p.m. spot from "Kings." The eight-episode run of "Philanthropist" will take over for "Law & Order" on Wednesday nights at 10 p.m. -- getting a lead in from NBC's biggest summer show "America's Got Talent." And "The Listener" will relieve "Southland" on Thursdays at 10 p.m.

With two of the new dramas going into 10 p.m. hours, NBC plans to helpgive O'Brien strong support when he takes over as host of "The TonightShow" on June 1. The network will also extend the season finales of a few shows ("Medium," "Law & Order" and "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit") into the first week of June, a season-extending practice increasingly common for networks as they try to keep their momentum going into the summer.

On the reality side, NBC will take the unusual step of stripping 15 episodes of "Celebrity" during the week at 8 p.m.

"We’re taking a reality format that has worked incredibly well around the world and borrowing now only a great idea, but a scheduling philosophy that has worked for this show overseas and worked for 'Deal or No Deal' and 'Who Wants to be Millionaire,'" Metcalf said.

Of course, both those game shows were self contained and stripped for very brief runs, whereas "Celebrity" is competition series which tends to be more serilized.

"The mechanics of the show keep it very join-able," Metcalf said. "And having an original across the 8 p.m. hour helps us better support Conan."

It may be fashionable to pick on NBC's programming this season (and one must fret about the quality of "Philanthropist" since it landed in the summer instead of the fall). But the network deserves praise for avoiding the usual strategy of packing its off-season with reality fare and instead balancing its schedule with three scripted series. There's a lot of (and I cannot stand this word but) escapist programming on this lineup. NBC has had poor luck with its overseas acquisitions  this season ("Crusoe," "Last Templar," "XIII"), hopefully "Merlin," "Listener" and "Meteor" can pop some meaty numbers while rivals air repeats and reality.

Refresh for latest, more details to come.

>> NBC's schedule, premiere dates, official show descriptions and trailers below:

MONDAY, JUNE 1

"I’M A CELEBRITY…GET ME OUT OF HERE!" -- premiere (8-9 p.m.)
"Medium" season finale (10-11 p.m.) 
 
TUESDAY, JUNE 2
"Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" -- season finale (10-11 p.m.)
 
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 3
"Law & Order" -- season finale (10-11 p.m.)

THURSDAY, JUNE 4
"THE LISTENER" -- premiere (10-11 p.m.)
 
SUNDAY, JUNE 7 and JUNE 14
"METEOR" -- miniseries (9-11 p.m.)
 
MONDAY, JUNE 8
"Law & Order: Criminal Intent" (NBC season premiere; 9-10 p.m.)
"Dateline NBC" (10-11 p.m.)
 
SUNDAY, JUNE 21
"MERLIN" (premiere 8-10 p.m.; June 28 airs 8-10 p.m.; July 5 resumes regular time 8-9 p.m.)
 
TUESDAY, JUNE 23 and WEDNESDAY, JUNE 24
"AMERICA’S GOT TALENT" (9-10 p.m. both nights)
 
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 24
"THE PHILANTHROPIST" -- premieres (10-11 p.m.)
 
WEDNESDAY, JULY 1
"GREAT AMERICAN ROAD TRIP" -- premieres (8-9 p.m.)
 
SATURDAY, JULY 4
"MACY’S 4TH OF JULY FIREWORKS SPECTACULAR" (9-10 p.m.)
 
SUNDAY, JULY 19 and SUNDAY, JULY 26
"THE STORM" -- miniseries (9-11 p.m.)

Official show descriptions:

>> "The Philanthropist" chronicles  the  heroic  adventures of a billionaire playboy turned vigilante philanthropist. James Purefoy ("Rome") stars  as Teddy Rist, a successful tycoon whose life is forever changed after rescuing a young  boy during a hurricane in the Nigerian town he was visiting. Rist is  spontaneous and impulsive and quickly  decides to channel his passion, power and money into helping  those in need. Rist’s  actions are not just about  helping others – he is purging his  soul to help exorcise  the inner demons which have been festering ever since his young son died and  he lost everything he truly loved

>> "Merlin" is a new 13-part drama series that updates the story of the infamous sorcerer of Arthurian legend for a new audience in the mythical city of Camelot, in a time before history began. In this fantastical realm, Merlin is a young man gifted with extraordinary magical powers who arrives in the kingdom and quickly makes enemies, including the heir to Uther's crown, the headstrong Prince Arthur.  But guided by Uther's wise physician, Gaius, Merlin is soon using his talents not just to survive but also to unlock Camelot's mystical secrets.

>> "The Listener" centers on Toby Logan (Craig Olejnik, "The Timekeeper"), a 25-year-old paramedic who has a big secret -- he’s a telepath.  Until now, Toby kept his ability hidden, exploring its possibilities only with his long time mentor and confidant, Dr. Ray Mercer (Colm Feore, "24: Redemption").  As he makes the rounds with his energetic paramedic partner -- "Oz" Bey (Ennis Esmer, "Young People F*#king"), "The Listener" follows Toby as he tries to help people in crisis, and in the process, unravel the truth about his past.  While his professional life is in check, Toby’s personal life could use its own rescue.  And with the help of Detective Charlie Marks (Lisa Marcos, "Diary of a Mad Black Woman") and his E.R. doctor/ex-girlfriend Olivia Fawcett (Mylène Dinh-Robic, "Da Vinci’s City Hall"), Toby realizes his gift can help others.  

>> "I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here!" is the ultimate SwissFamily Robinson as ten celebrities are dropped into the heart of thejungle to face fun and comedic challenges designed to test theirsurvival skills.  America is the puppetmaster, controlling theirfavorite celebrities by putting them into challenges and tasks to winfood, supplies and luxury items.  In each episode, friendships will betested, hilarity will ensue and viewers will decide which celebritiesstay or go.  The last remaining star will be crowned King or Queen ofthe Jungle, winning a substantial cash prize for their favoritecharity.

>> "Great American Road Trip" from BBC Worldwide, is a hilariousand relatable new series where seven families from divergentbackgrounds are selected take the journey of a lifetime.  Over eightepisodes, the families will travel through cities large and small allwhile competing in a medley of humorous challenges that will ultimatelylead one family to victory.  These comical, clever challenges are setagainst iconic American backdrops like the majestic Grand Canyon andthe regal Washington Monument.  Along the way, our families and ourviewers will also discover quirky American landmarks ranging from theWorld's Largest Chair to a sneaker the size of a car.  Although familyfun is the centerpiece of the show, the competition is real and onefamily will be eliminated each week based on their performance in thechallenges.  Ultimately, only one family will return home with a dreamprize that perfectly compliments their extraordinary and memorablesummer vacation.

>> In "Meteor," two massive rocks, tumbling debris older than the solar system itself, collide in space. The course has been altered. The target is Earth.  In a remote observatory, Dr. Lehman (Emmy winner Christopher Lloyd, "Back to the Future"), discovers a meteor approximately three times the size of Mount Everest barreling its way towards Earth.  His devoted young assistant Imogene O’Neill (Marla Sokoloff, "The Practice") feverishly types in the coordinates only to find the previously identified meteor named Kassandra is headed their way.  It’s only the beginning of their troubles as showers of smaller meteorites begin to lay waste to major cities around the globe.

>> In "The Storm," from RHI Entertainment, billionaire Robert Terrell (Golden Globe and Emmy nominee Treat Williams, "Everwood") has fulfilled a lifelong obsession and made history with "weather creation" technology though his Atmospheric Research Institute. But during a test run, a blast of energy is sent into the ionosphere with unexpected results. The experiments hurtle the planet towards destruction—hurricanes change course, winds go instantly from hot to cold, torrential rains bring regions to a standstill, and buildings crumble into ruins under explosive lightening storms.  It’s only the beginning. Only one scientist, Dr. Jonathan Kirk (James Van Der Beek, "Dawson’s Creek"), steps forward to demand that the system be terminated.

MERLIN TRAILER:

THE LISTENER: