NBC announces 2009-10 fall premiere dates

Derek Luke of NBC's 'Trauma'

Credit: NBC

Last but not least, NBC has announced its fall premiere dates for the 2009-10 season, revealing when the rest of its lineup will join the ubiquitous Jay Leno.

NBC had previously revealed that "The Jay Leno" show will begin its weeknight 10 p.m. juggernaut starting on Monday, September 14. The rest of the lineup will begin its slow roll-out the following night with "The Biggest Loser." The Thursday comedies "Parks and Recreation," "The Office" and "Community," as well as the limited run of "Saturday Night Live Weekend Update Thursday" will begin on Thursday, September 17.

All of that programming will be getting a slight head-start on the season's official kick-off, Monday, September 21, which will mark the two-hour premiere of "Heroes." The new dramedy "Parenthood" and the returning "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" will go up on Sept. 23, while September 25 will be the premiere of "Law & Order" and "Southland."

The two outliers are the new drama "Trauma" [Yes, that rhymes.], premiering on Monday, Sept. 28, and "30 Rock," which will return on Oct. 15 when "Community" shifts from 9:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.

In an impressively generic network statement, Ben Silverman, Co-Chairman for NBC Entertainment and Universal Media Studios, says "NBC is proud to present more hours of comedy programming this fall than any other network with the 'The Jay Leno Show' each night at 10 p.m. and 'Community' joining the award-winning Thursday line-up. We're also excited about adding two new dramas to our strong slate of quality returning shows."

The complete list of NBC fall premiere dates (pay attention to the stuff in parenthesis)...

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 13
7-8:15 p.m. – "Football Night in America"
8:15-11 p.m. – "NBC Sunday Night Football"

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 14
10-11 p.m. – "The Jay Leno Show" (Series Premiere)

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 15
8-10 p.m. – "The Biggest Loser"
10-11 p.m. – "The Jay Leno Show"

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 17
8-8:30 p.m. - "Saturday Night Live Weekend Update Thursday"
8:30-9 p.m. - "Parks and Recreation"
9-9:30 p.m. – "The Office"
9:30-10 p.m. – "Community" (series premiere – moves to Thursdays 8-8:30 p.m. on October 8; "30 Rock" returns October 15, 9:30-10 p.m.)
10-11 p.m. – "The Jay Leno Show"

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 21
8-10 p.m. – "Heroes" (two-hour premiere, then "Trauma premieres 9-10 p.m. Monday, September 28)
10-11 p.m. – "The Jay Leno Show"
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 23
8-9 p.m. – "Parenthood" (Series Premiere)
9-10 p.m. – "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit"
10-11 p.m. – "The Jay Leno Show"

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 25
8-9 p.m. – "Law & Order"
9-10 p.m. – "Southland"
10-11 p.m. – "The Jay Leno Show"

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 26
8-9 p.m. – "Dateline NBC"
9-10 p.m. – "Trauma" (encore broadcast)
10-11 p.m. – "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (encore broadcast)
11:30 p.m. - 1:00 a.m. - "Saturday Night Live"

FOX 2009-10 Fall Premiere Dates

ABC 2009-10 Premiere Dates

The CW 2009-10 Premiere Dates

CBS 2009-10 Premiere Dates

Daniel Fienberg
Executive Editor

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A long-time member of the TCA Board and a longer-time blogger of "American Idol," Dan Fienberg writes about TV, except for when he writes about movies or sometimes writes about the Red Sox. But never music. He would sound stupid talking about music.