The NBC executive session at the TCA press tour featured many scheduling announcements. Jay Leno's final episode of The Tonight Show will be Friday, May 29, 2009 and Conan O'Brien will take over the following Monday, June 1. Conan will be stopping his current show in early 2009 and Jimmy Fallon will take over in either March or April, following a virtual preview of the show that will exist online prior to its network premiere.

The other big story was Amy Poehler's role on the new show from The Office writers Greg Daniels and Michael Schur which is officially NOT an Office spin-off. Though Daniels is also developing a spin-off that would include characters currently on The Office, the Amy Poehler show will be tonally similar but has no direct connection to The Office.

The post-Super Bowl slot is currently in question because of Poehler's pregnancy which may postpone that series to March. They're looking at some combination for the post-Super Bowl slot of The Office and either the Poehler series, the Office spin-off, or a preview of one or both of those shows.

Saturday Night Live will premiere early on September 13 with four straight live episodes leading up to the presidential election and SNL will have three Thursday night live political specials starting October 9. On November 3, the Monday before the election, NBC will air a political primetime special. Despite her pregnancy, Poehler will play a role on SNL leading up to the election, though head writer Seth Meyers acknowledged Hillary Clinton may be sitting behind a lot of desks.

Monday nights will also see sophomore drama Life get an extra bounce as it will air for two Mondays at 10pm starting September 29 in addition to its Friday airings before the Christian Slater drama My Own Worst Enemy premieres October 13. Thursday nights were also slightly rearranged as Kath and Kim moves up to 8:30pm and 30 Rock pairs with The Office at 9:30pm, premiering after the SNL election specials.


Also Read:
CBS' New Fall Shows
Showtime Orders 2 More Seasons of Weeds
Shannen Doherty Returns to 90210
CW Changes Schedule, Previews New Reality Show
Preview of CW's Sunday Night Lineup
TCA Awards Honor 30 Rock and Mad Men
Friday Night Lights Season 3
Bravo Orders More Top Chef and Real Housewives
Sci Fi's BSG Prequel Caprica
Chuck Season 2


-John Kubicek, BuddyTV Senior Writer
(Image courtesy of NBC)