NBC Midseason Premiere Dates: One Chicago & ‘Law & Order’ Dramas Set January Return, Comedies Get December Start

Nellie Andreeva
·6 min read
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NBC, the only broadcast network to have original, homegrown scripted series on the fall schedule with The Irrational and Found, will also launch most of its strike-impacted scripted slate the fastest.

The network has announced its midseason premiere dates, which include mid-January returns for Wolf Entertainment’s three One Chicago and three Law & Order dramas on Wednesday and Thursday, respectively.

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That is a month before dramas on the other major broadcast networks are set to return with new episodes and a couple of weeks before any scripted series elsewhere come back. It is a testament to the well oiled machine that Wolf Entertainment is. As Deadline has reported, the company is capable to start delivering new episodes after as little as two months if starting from scratch with no banked scripts.

Had the SAG-AFTRA strike ended sooner after the WGA work stoppage, that may have happened; the Wolf Entertainment series are now set to start production on Monday after opening writers rooms the week of October 2.

NBC’s midseason rollout starts Dec. 23 with the series premiere of new comedy Extended Family, starring Jon Cryer, and a special holiday episode of Night Court airing behind a marquee NFL game. Both multi-camera comedies had episodes filmed before the strikes and returned to production last week.

In January, NBC also will premiere the six-episode Season 3 of La Brea, confirming that it would be the sci-fi series’ final chapter, as well as new America’s God Talent offshoot, Fantasy League. The Irrational, whose order was upped by an episode, and Found will wrap their Season 1 runs in their Monday/Tuesday 10 PM berths. Deal Or No Deal Island is set for a February premiere.

“Building off the momentum of a strong fall, we’re entering midseason with a powerhouse schedule that leans into the strength of both beloved titles and new shows while also growing our audience across NBC and Peacock,” said Frances Berwick, Chairman, NBCUniversal Entertainment. “This season brings fresh takes on favorites, including the first double-chair on The Voice, a new spin on America’s Got Talent and a tropical setting for Deal or No Deal Island, as well as the return of last season’s top comedy Night Court, Jon Cryer’s return to network television with Extended Family and the much-anticipated return of #OneChicagoand the Law & Order franchise – all of which continue to establish NBC as a destination for our loyal fans.”

Previously announced shows that have yet to be dated include the remaining episodes of this season’s Quantum Leap, and Magnum P.I. as well as Lopez vs. Lopez The Weakest Link Password, That’s My Jam and The Wall.

As Deadline reported, NBC’s new series St. Denis Medical and Dr. Wolf will debut next season.

NBC MIDSEASON 2023-24 SCHEDULE 

(New programs in UPPER CASE; all times ET/PT) 

SATURDAY, DEC. 23 
8 PM – EXTENDED FAMILY (Series premiere) 
8:30 PM – Night Court (Special holiday episode)

MONDAY, JAN. 1 
8 PM – AMERICA’S GOT TALENT: FANTASY LEAGUE (Series premiere)

TUESDAY, JAN. 2 
8 PM – Night Court (Time period premiere) 
8:30 PM – EXTENDED FAMILY (Time period premiere)

TUESDAY, JAN. 9 
9 PM – La Brea (Season premiere) 
10 PM – Found (Final two episodes of season)

WEDNESDAY, JAN. 17 
8 PM – Chicago Med (Season premiere) 
9 PM – Chicago Fire (Season premiere) 
10 PM – Chicago P.D. (Season premiere)

THURSDAY, JAN. 18 
8 PM – Law & Order (Season premiere) 
9 PM – Law & Order: SVU (Season premiere) 
10 PM – Law & Order: Organized Crime (Season premiere)

FRIDAY, JAN. 19 
8 PM – Transplant (Time period premiere)

MONDAY, JAN. 29 
10 PM – The Irrational (Final four episodes of season)

MONDAY, FEB. 26 
8 PM – The Voice (Season premiere, part 1) 
9:30 PM – DEAL OR NO DEAL ISLAND (Season premiere)

TUESDAY, FEB. 27 
8 PM – The Voice (Season premiere, part 2)

MONDAY, MARCH 4 
10 PM – DEAL OR NO DEAL ISLAND (Time period premiere)

In In addition to their curated linear time slots, all shows will be available to stream next day on Peacock.

NEW COMEDY SERIES

EXTENDED FAMILY 
Jim and Julia, after an amicable divorce, decide to continue to raise their kids at the family home while taking turns on who gets to stay with them. Navigating the waters of divorce and child-sharing gets more complicated for Jim when Trey, the owner of his favorite sports team, enters the picture and wins Julia’s heart.

The cast includes Jon Cryer, Donald Faison, Abigail Spencer, Sofia Capanna and Finn Sweeney.

Creator Mike O’Malley serves as showrunner and executive producer. Tom Werner, Jon Cryer, Wyc Grousbeck, Emilia Fazzalari, George Geyer, Victor Levin, Victoria Morrow, and James Widdoes also executive produce.

Lionsgate produces in association with Universal Television, a division of Universal Studio Group.

NEW UNSCRIPTED SERIES

AMERICA’S GOT TALENT: FANTASY LEAGUE 
Based on the popularity of “AGT: All-Stars” and “AGT: The Champions,” NBC puts a fresh spin on the hit “America’s Got Talent” franchise with new iteration “AGT: Fantasy League,” premiering in January 2024. Singer and songwriter Mel B returns to the “AGT” judges’ desk alongside executive producer Simon Cowell, global fashion icon Heidi Klum and renowned comedian Howie Mandel. The dynamic Terry Crews returns as host.

In “AGT: Fantasy League,” similar to a fantasy sports draft, the judges will each choose a roster of their favorite acts picking from winners, finalists, viral sensations and fan favorites from “America’s Got Talent” and “Got Talent” franchises around the world, all nominated by America to participate. For the first time in show history, the judges will be competing alongside the contestants and will guide the acts throughout the competition with the hopes of earning bragging rights and seeing an act from their team crowned the champion of “AGT: Fantasy League.” The judges will fill their fantasy teams with 10 showstopping acts compiled from singers, dancers, ventriloquists, comedians, aerialists, magicians and more. The Golden Buzzer will be back sending acts straight to the finals, but with a twist, as each judge can use their coveted Golden Buzzer for their own act or to take an act from another judges’ team. The audience will vote each week to determine which acts will advance to the finals and which judge will earn bragging rights as their act is crowned the “AGT: Fantasy League” champion.

“AGT: Fantasy League” is co-produced by Fremantle and Syco Entertainment. Simon Cowell, Sam Donnelly, Jason Raff and Natasha Brugler executive produce.

DEAL OR NO DEAL ISLAND  
The iconic game of “Deal or No Deal” is back and unlike anything you have ever seen before! This new format transports 13 players to the elusive Banker’s private island where he makes the rules and there are twists behind every palm tree. Hidden on the island are over 100 briefcases with millions of dollars split between them, which players must compete to retrieve in thrilling challenges and mind-bending dilemmas. In each episode, the player up for elimination must play a high-stakes game of “Deal or No Deal.” At the end of the season, the last player standing will face the Banker to potentially win the biggest prize in “Deal or No Deal” history.

Joe Manganiello serves as host.

Produced by Endemol Shine North America “Deal or No Deal Island” is an exciting new competition format that has been reimagined from the original Banijay format, “Deal or No Deal.”

Executive producers are Matt Kunitz, Matt Apps, Sarah Happel Jackson, Howie Mandel and Endemol Shine North America’s Sharon Levy, DJ Nurre and Sean Loughlin.

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