Earlier today, NBC announced its Thursday night schedule for the month of January.  With the strike decimating NBC's must-see comedies, Thursday nights in early 2008 are not going to look very familiar.  This NBC announcement also reveals when the final episodes of 30 Rock, My Name is Earl, Scrubs and ER will air.  The NBC two-hour comedy block on Thursdays will be reduced to one hour in early 2008 to make room for The Apprentice: Celebrity Edition. 

Thursday, January 3:  Deal or No Deal will air on a special night at 8, followed by the season premiere of Celebrity Apprentice, and an episode of ER.

Thursday, January 10: The final episodes of My Name is Earl and 30 Rock will air at 8pm and 8:30pm, followed by Apprentice and ER.

Thursday, January 17: A repeat of one of NBC's comedies will run at 8pm, followed by the first of the final four episodes of Scrubs in its new 8:30 time slot, then Apprentice, and the final new episode of ER.

Thursday, January 24: A comedy repeat at 8pm, Scrubs at 8:30pm, then a two hour episode of Celebrity Apprentice.

Thursday, January 31: A comedy repeat at 8pm, Scrubs at 8:30pm, then a two hour episode of Celebrity Apprentice.

Thursday, February 7: A comedy repeat at 8pm, the final new Scrubs at 8:30pm followed by The Apprentice and the series premiere of Lipstick Jungle. 


That's how things are going to shake out.  It's a reasonable schedule for NBC, the network who will have the most trouble surviving without new episodes of their scripted shows during the strike.  The saddest part about this is the possible anti-climactic end to Scrubs.  If the strike keeps going on indefinitely, these may be the final four Scrubs episodes ever.  I'm curious to see how Apprentice does in the ratings.  NBC is probably banking on Trump and company to bring in at least some respectable ratings, but I don't know if the audience is there anymore. 


-Oscar Dahl, BuddyTV Senior Writer
Source: The Futon Critic
(Image Courtesy of NBC)