NBC picks up 'The Office,' '30 Rock' and 'Biggest Loser'

Facing a very different-looking schedule next fall, NBC has locked up several of its cornerstones.

The Peacock Network used its Thursday (Jan. 15) sessions at the Television Critics Association press tour to announce that "The Office," "30 Rock" and "The Biggest Loser" will all be back for the 2009-10 season.

They'll be joined, of course, by five nights-a-week of Jay Leno.

"These renewals represent our faith in 'The Office' and '30 Rock' as they continue to represent the gold standard in acclaimed and award-winning series," says NBC Primetime Entertainment President Angela Bromstad. "We want the devoted fans of these series to know that we are thrilled that these quality programs will be back with the same high-caliber episodes that viewers have come to expect." 

"The Office" and "30 Rock" have won the past three Emmy awards for outstanding comedy series.

In addition to winning last year's series Emmy, "30 Rock" also picked up Emmys for stars Alec Baldwin and Tina Fey. That acclaim had helped "30 Rock" to a fall that was up by 26 percent year-to-year in adults 18-49 and 20 percent in total viewers. 

"The Office," meanwhile, is the season's top-rated comedy in the 18-34 demographic. In addition to averaging 9.4 million viewers weekly, "The Office" has a high concentration of the affluent viewers NBC craves.

And "Biggest Loser"?

"'The Biggest Loser' is a positive, life-enhancing show that has resonated with our audience and has created a solid and loyal fan base," says Paul Telegdy, NBC's executive vice president of alternative programming. "This inspirational franchise series will continue with fresh ideas and heartwarming stories."