’30 Rock’ Renewed; NBC Schedule Major Reshuffle

In a surprise to no one, NBC has picked up multiple-Emmy Award winning comedy 30 Rock for another season. The comedy celebrates its 100th episode this season and has performed well (albeit not great) in the ratings after being constantly shuffled around. Speaking of shuffling around, words don’t begin to describe (or decipher) what NBC is doing to their schedule come January. Check the new schedule after the break, and if you can figure it out, you get a cookie.

UNIVERSAL CITY, Calif. – November 15, 2010 – NBC has picked up its Emmy Award-winning comedy “30 Rock” (Thursdays, 10-10:30 p.m. ET) for another season through 2011-12, it was announced today by Angela Bromstad, President, Primetime Entertainment, NBC and Universal Media Studios.

UNIVERSAL CITY, Calif. – November 15, 2010 – NBC today made several mid-season schedule announcements, including the premiere dates for four new series – the dramas “The Cape” and “Harry’s Law,” the comedy “Perfect Couples” and the alternative series “America’s Next Great Restaurant.” The lineup also includes series time period changes for “Law & Order: Los Angeles,” “Chase,” “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” and “Parenthood.”

Additionally, returning series “Parks and Recreation,” “The Biggest Loser: Couples,” “Who Do You Think You Are?,” “Minute to Win It,” “The Marriage Ref” and “The Celebrity Apprentice” resume on the schedule while other moves maximize the amount of original, non-repeat programming on the network.

Following are night-by-night details:

Mondays

The new action-filled drama “The Cape” will premiere with a two-hour episode on Sunday, January 9 (9-11 p.m. ET). An encore broadcast of the two-hour episode airs Monday, January 10 (9-11 p.m. ET) with new episodes starting in its regular time period on January 17 (9-10 p.m. ET). The highly buzzed-about drama “The Event” returns with a two-hour edition on Monday, February 28 (9-11 p.m. ET) and begins airing in its regular 9-10 p.m. (ET) time slot on March 7. The new drama “Harry’s Law” debuts at 10-11 p.m. (ET) starting on January 17. “Parenthood” will return on January 4 with new episodes in its current time period (Tuesdays, 10-11 p.m. ET) and will move to Mondays on March 7 at 10-11 p.m. (ET) with original episodes to complete its second season. “Chuck” continues at 8-9 p.m. (ET) on January 17.

Tuesdays

The new season of “The Biggest Loser: Couples” premieres on Tuesday, January 4 at 8-10 p.m. (ET). “Law & Order: Los Angeles” will move to Tuesdays at 10-11 p.m. (ET) on February 8.

Wednesdays

Beginning January 5, “Minute to Win It” returns at 8-9 p.m. (ET). The freshman drama “Chase” relocates to a new night and time at 9-10 p.m. (ET) beginning January 12. “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” moves to a new time beginning with a two-hour episode from 9-11 p.m. (ET) on January 5 before resuming in its regular time of 10-11 p.m. (ET) the next week. The new alternative series “America’s Next Great Restaurant” premieres from 9-10 p.m. (ET) on March 16.

Thursdays

The new Thursday-night lineup features wall-to-wall comedy beginning January 20 with “Community” at 8-8:30 p.m. (ET) followed at the new comedy “Perfect Couples” at 8:30-9 p.m. (ET). “The Office” continues at 9-9:30 p.m. (ET) and “Parks and Recreation” returns from 9:30-10 p.m. (ET). NBC opens a new hour of humor with “30 Rock” moving to 10-10:30 p.m. (ET) and the freshman series “Outsourced” concludes the night at 10:30-11 p.m. (ET).

Fridays

The alternative genealogy series “Who Do You Think You Are?” returns on January 21 (8-9 p.m. ET). “Dateline NBC” will return on January 7 (9-11 p.m. ET).

Sundays

“The Marriage Ref” returns for its second season on March 6 (8-9 p.m. ET) followed by the return of “The Celebrity Apprentice” (9-11 p.m. ET), also on March 6.

The premieres of the new January-March program schedule follow in a grid (all times ET); 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.)

10-11 p.m. – “HARRY’S LAW’ (beginning 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. — “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)

10-11 p.m. — “Law & Order: Los Angeles” (beginning February

WEDNESDAYS

8-9 p.m. — “Minute to Win It” (beginning January 5)

9-10 p.m. -”Chase” (beginning January 12)

10-11 p.m. – “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” (originals beginning January 5 with two-hour episode, 9-11 p.m. ET)

9-10 p.m. – “AMERICA’S NEXT GREAT RESTAURANT” (beginning March 16)

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)