Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip," "Kidnapped," "Deal or No Deal," "Law & Order," "Law & Order: Criminal Intent" Get New Nights While "Crossing Jordan" Joins Fall Lineup Among Other Changes

BURBANK, Calif. - May 25, 2006 - With a focus on strong launches for its crop of new Fall series, NBC has adjusted its new 2006-07 primetime program schedule by re-positioning several series, including "Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip," "Kidnapped," "Deal or No Deal," "Law & Order," "Law & Order: Criminal Intent," and marking the Fall return of "Crossing Jordan."

The changes were announced by Kevin Reilly, President, NBC Entertainment, who said:

"We've enjoyed an extremely successful development season and are going to do what it takes to give each new series the strongest launch we can. Now that we've assessed the competitive landscape, we've scheduled our new shows in time periods where we believe they'll succeed and will be supporting them with robust marketing campaigns and the full resources of the network."

Starting on Mondays, NBC will move the new drama "Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip," from Emmy Award winners Aaron Sorkin and Thomas Schlamme (both from "The West Wing") to 10-11 p.m. (ET) on an otherwise unchanged night. Likewise, the network will shift "Law & Order: Criminal Intent" to Tuesdays (9-10 p.m. ET) followed by the popular "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit," which remains at 10-11 p.m. (ET).

On Wednesdays, the new comedy "20 Good Years" (starring Emmy winner John Lithgow, "3rd Rock from the Sun," and Jeffrey Tambor, "Arrested Development") will now open the night at 8-8:30 p.m. (ET) followed by the new comedy "30 Rock" (starring Emmy winner Tina Fey, NBC's "Saturday Night Live") from 8:30-9 p.m. (ET). "The Biggest Loser" will shift to 9-10 p.m. (ET). Rounding out the night will be the new drama "Kidnapped," starring Jeremy Sisto ("Six Feet Under") and Delroy Lindo ("The Core"), which now moves to Wednesdays 10-11 p.m. (ET).

Thursday nights will feature a mix of comedies, a hit game show and Emmy-winning drama with the addition of "Deal or No Deal" at 9-10 p.m. (ET) seated between the comedies "My Name Is Earl" (8-8:30 p.m. ET) and "The Office" (8:30-9 p.m. ET) and "ER" (10-11 p.m. ET). The durable "Deal" has improved by 55 percent on NBC's regular-program 18-49 average in its Monday (8-9 p.m. ET) slot this season prior to "Deal" (4.5 vs. 2.9). "Deal or No Deal" will also remain in its regular Monday (8-9 p.m. ET) slot.

As previously announced, "The Black Donnellys" - from Oscar winners Paul Haggis and Bobby Moresco (both for "Crash") - will debut in January 2007 following a run of original episodes of "ER" through December. "ER" will then return later in the spring with all original episodes through the rest of the year.

The proven drama "Crossing Jordan" - originally intended for a mid-season re-launch - will now resume in the Fall on Fridays (8-9 p.m. ET) followed by "Las Vegas" (9-10 p.m. ET) and the new arrival of "Law & Order" (10-11 p.m. ET).

NBC's Saturday and Sunday-night programming remains unchanged.

"Medium," NBC's hit drama starring Emmy winner Patricia Arquette as a wife and mother who uses her psychic abilities to solve crimes, and fan favorite comedy "Scrubs," will both return to the program lineup later in the season.