Two weeks prior to upfront week, NBC has announced its programming initiatives for the 2009-10 season at its "infront" presentation in New York. But specific time periods have not been officially confirmed, and the future of on-the-fence series Chuck, Law & Order, Medium and My Name is Earl remain uncertain.

With five nights (and five hours) of talker The Jay Leno Show filling the weeknight 10 p.m. hour, plus the return of football on Sunday (and a lack of original options other than Dateline on low-HUT level Saturday), the main concern is the Monday to Friday 8-10 p.m. block. With that in mind, the network will roll out six scripted series throughout the season: dramas Parenthood, Trauma, Mercy and Day One; and comedies 100 Questions and Community.  Day One will launch out of the 2010 Winter Olympics, while start dates for the remaining entries remain a question mark. 

The Leno talker, meanwhile, is expected to remain in production for 46 weeks. NBC will also air six new episodes of Saturday Night Live Weekend Update Thursday. And there are three non-scripted series on the agenda: The Marriage Ref (from former golden boy Jerry Seinfeld), Breakthrough With Tony Robbins and Who Do You Think You Are?

Despite the Jay Leno project inheriting an unprecedented 23 percent of prime-time real estate, NBC has announced several series renewals including Heroes, The Biggest Loser, Law & Order: SVU, The Office, 30 Rock, Friday Night Lights, Celebrity Apprentice, and the recently introduced Southland and Parks and Recreation. Heroes is expected to remain in the Monday 9 p.m. hour, while The Biggest Loser will continue to anchor Tuesday (although it may be trimmed down from two hours). 

Law & Order: SVU will air on Wednesday (likely at 9 p.m.), but the future of series stars Christopher Meloni and Mariska Hargitay is up in the air. Thursday 8-10 p.m. will feature the ongoing two-hour sitcom block, while Friday will consist of two scripted dramas leading into Leno. The official NBC schedule will be announced on May 19.

While the network, of course, cannot be critiqued until the specific time periods are revealed, common consensus among the press at the New York presentation was positive, particularly for the new crop of scripted series.   
 


Here are the new program descriptions:

Drama

MERCY
The daily events inside a hospital are seen through the eyes of three
nurses.  Taylor Schilling (Dark Matter), Jamie Lee Kirchner (Rescue Me)
and Michelle Trachtenberg (Buffy, the Vampire Slayer) star.  

PARENTHOOD
Based on the 1989 Ron Howard theatrical, four grown siblings share the
"headaches, heartaches and joy" of being parents.  Peter Krause, Maria
Tierney and former Coach star Craig T. Nelson lead the ensemble cast.
(Footnote: Parenthood, a failed half-hour comedic version of the movie
aired briefly on NBC in the fall of 1990).  

TRAUMA
First responder paramedics are the focus of this medical drama set in
San Francisco.  Derek Luke (Notorious), Cliff Curtis (10,000 B.C.),
Anastasia Griffith (Damages) and Jamey Sheridan (Law & Order: Criminal
Intent) star.

DAY ONE
A diversified group of survivors strive to rebuild society after a
global catastrophe has devastated the world.  The cast includes Adam
Campbell (Date Movie), Catherine Dent (The Shield), Julie Gonzalo (Eli
Stone), Carly Pope (24) and Addison Timlin (Cashmere Mafia).

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Comedy

100 QUESTIONS
A woman (Sophie Winkleman) looking for love joins an online dating site
and revisits various times in her life as she takes a 100-question
compatibility test.  Directed by Emmy winner James Burroughs (Cheers,
Will & Grace).

COMMUNITY
A band of misfits is the focus of life at fictional Greendale Community
College. Chevy Chase and Joel McHale (The Soup) star.

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Non-Scripted

THE JAY LENO SHOW
The soon-to-be former host of The Tonight Show heads to prime-time in a
nightly hour featuring comedy skits, big stunts and well-known segments
like "Headlines" and "Jaywalking."

THE MARRIAGE REF
Comedy Legend Jerry Seinfeld is the creator and producer of this
non-scripted look at marriage as celebrities, comedians and sports stars
decide who is right...and who is wrong...in real-life disputes between
real-life spouses.

BREAKTHROUGH WITH TONY ROBBINS
Best-selling author and philanthropist Tony Robbins attempts to inspire
people to search out the tools to forever change their lives.  

WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE?
A different celebrity each week embarks on a journey of self discovery,
revealing stories that are often linked to events in American history.