NBC Struts Series, May Unveil 'Naked Truth'

By Joe Flint

HOLLYWOOD (Variety) - Look for changes in NBC's Thursday-night powerhouse lineup in January as the network looks to try out new series.

NBC Entertainment president Warren Littlefield said Tuesday the network will try out a midseason show in one of its "satellite" time periods, which means either 8:30-9 p.m. where The Single Guy airs, or 9:30-10 p.m. where Suddenly Susan is slotted.

There is speculation that The Naked Truth, which was plucked from ABC last May, will end up in one of those slots. Littlefield also said the network would try another series on its strongest night in March.

One scenario has Naked Truth getting a shot at 9:30 p.m., with Suddenly Susan moving to 8:30. The Single Guy would either move to another night or get a rest. NBC has ordered 22 episodes of the show, which is in its second season.

Whether NBC in March will try another comedy or slot a drama in ER's slot at 10 p.m. is unknown. There is some speculation that the police drama Prince Street will get a run in the ER slot to get sampling as well as to give a rest to the top-rated drama.

NBC West Coast president Don Ohlmeyer took some shots Tuesday at Fox's two specials, When Animals Attack and Monday night's Cheating Death. Ohlmeyer compared the shows to snuff films and said the web is putting "grotesque" stuff on the air and "feels no shame."

Asked if NBC's Dateline was guilty of the same practices when it recently aired a person fending off an animal attack, Ohlmeyer said that piece was a "survivor story" and added it should be taken in the context of all the different news stories the show airs.

A Fox spokesman said the network has had great success with these specials and that the genre is not new to TV, nor is it unique to Fox.

Reuters/Variety