The Apprentice 6 & Grease You're The One That I Want To Premiere Mid-Season On NBC
By Joe Reality on Reality TV
NBC will re-shape its mid-season program lineup following the planned departure of “Sunday Night Football” in January with the debut of the new reality series “Grease: You’re the One That I Want” (8-9 p.m. ET) on Sunday, January 7 (8-9 p.m. ET) and the season premiere of the Emmy Award-nominated “The Apprentice” (9-10 p.m. ET).
In addition, starting on Wednesday, January 3, NBC’s Wednesday-night lineup will have a new look with the popular game show “Deal or No Deal” shifting to the 9-10 p.m. (ET) slot. The announcements were made by Kevin Reilly, President, NBC Entertainment.
"It's already been a terrific Fall for NBC, our re-build is in motion and we’re looking to maintain that momentum through the Spring,” said Reilly. “Although the second half of the season will get tougher, we think the quality of our mid-season series will continue to fuel NBC’s year-to-year story of ratings growth.”
The following includes NBC's new mid-season schedule (all times ET) for reality series and game shows:
Mondays
8-9 p.m. -- "Deal or No Deal"
Wednesdays
9-10 p.m. -- "Deal or No Deal" (January 3)
Fridays
8-9 p.m. -- "1 VS 100"
Sundays
8-9 p.m. -- "Grease: You're the One That I Want" (January 7; first two weeks will run from 8-9:30 p.m.)
9-10 p.m. -- "The Apprentice" (January 7; first two weeks will run from 9:30-11 p.m.)
The fifth cycle of "The Apprentice" last season averaged a 4.0 rating, 9 share in adults 18-49 and 9.8 million viewers overall, and ranked as one of the most upscale shows on television. The fifth cycle peaked with its June 5 finale (4.4/12 in 18-49, 11.2 million viewers overall), which scored primetime's #2 non-sports rating of that week in adults 18-49.
The most powerful people in musical theater are on a mission in “Grease: You’re the One That I Want” (Sundays, 8-9 p.m. ET, starting January 7 with a special premiere from 8 -9:30 p.m. ET). They have the stage, the lights, the money, the music, the cast and the costumes. But they’re missing one thing -- the leads. NBC will search for the next Sandy and Danny in the new talent competition series from BBC Worldwide Productions as America will ultimately get to choose the two leads for a new Broadway production of "Grease." The new production of "Grease" will open on Broadway in June 2007 and will be directed and choreographed by two-time Tony Award-winner Kathleen Marshall ("The Pajama Game"), who will also be a judge on the TV series along with Jim Jacobs, the co-creator of "Grease" and renowned theater producer David Ian. Billy Bush (“Access Hollywood”) and Denise Van Outen (“Chicago”) on Broadway serve as host and co-host.
“The Apprentice” (Sundays, 9-10 p.m. ET beginning January 7 with a special premiere from 9:30-11 p.m. ET) moves to Southern California for season six of the unscripted series -- leaving Manhattan for the first time in the history of the show. Series star Donald Trump will once again do the firing -- and the hiring -- as 18 enterprising candidates vie for the coveted title of “The Apprentice” and the career opportunity of a lifetime working for the legendary business tycoon. Along with the new Southern California backdrop comes a whole new series of surprising twists and turns that will make this the liveliest and most challenging competition yet among candidates eager to become the next “Apprentice.” |
