NBC's summer has sizzle, but more fizzle

* By Tim Surette
* 03/13/09 4:13 PM
The Philanthropist cashes in in June, but four-nights a week of I'm a Celebrity…
Get Me Out of Here is overkill.


Remember last year's NBC summer lineup? Centered around the Olympics, NBC went
all red-white-and-blue with "NBC's All-American Summer," which included American
Gladiators and Nashville Star. The network pushed its lineup hard, presumably
while wearing an Uncle Sam mask and holding sparklers, but both of those shows
are long buried.

So what's in store for this summer from NBC? Not much better from the looks of
it. NBC is assaulting our senses into submission with the comeback of I'm a
Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here, in which 10 "celebrities" are plopped down in the
jungle and left to fend for themselves (or at least as much as producers would
like us to believe they are).

And NBC--which calls this a "bold scheduling move"--isn't simply trickling the
show out; Get Me Out of Here will get the Jay Leno treatment and air four nights
a week (from 8 p.m. to 9 p.m.) for the first three weeks of June (I repeat: four
nights a week!!), and only (only!) three night for its final week. The
participating celebrities will be announced at a later time.

The network is also holding back the finales of Medium, Law & Order: Special
Victims Unit, and Law & Order until the first week of June to provide a boost
for the debut of The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien.

America's Got Talent returns June 23 for its fourth season. NBC is also trotting
out two miniseries: UK import Merlin, about the famed wizard, and Meteor, about
a gigantic space rock that threatens Earth.

NBC does have a few scripted programs ready for debut during the hot months. The
Listener will debut on June 4, and The Philanthropist finally premieres June 24
(it was originally planned for midseason). The Listener centers on a paramedic
who also happens to be telepathic, and The Philanthropist follows a billionaire
who goes incognito to help those less fortunate.

Summer used to be a time networks threw away, but things have changed since the
family vacation went out of style (and became too expensive). NBC spent much of
last year talking about abandoning the traditional fall/midseason format in
favor of year-round programming, and now it's come to this? How the mighty have
fallen.

NBC's summer schedule is 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.)