NBC had already announced that The Jay Leno Show would premiere a week before the official start of the 2009-10 TV season. The network will take its time rolling out the rest of the fall schedule, though.
Leno’s prime-time show will premiere Monday, Sept. 14 and run every weeknight at 10 ET. Two other nights of programming — The Biggest Loser on Tuesdays and the Thursday comedy block — will also debut that week, while the Monday, Wednesday and Friday shows will join them the week of Sept. 21, when Nielsen starts counting ratings for 2009-10.
The Thursday schedule will include, for three weeks, another round of Saturday Night Live Weekend Update Thursday at 8 p.m., followed by Parks and Recreation, The Office and newcomer Community. The latter show will shift to 8 o’clock on Oct. 8 to make room for an hour-long Office. Emmy winner 30 Rock will join the party late again, debuting its fourth season on Oct. 15.
Also of note: Heroes will have a two-hour premiere on Monday, Sept. 21, which will push the debut of Trauma to Sept. 28. Saturday Night Live will kick off its season on Sept. 26.
The full rundown (all times Eastern):
Sunday, Sept. 13
7 p.m. Football Night in America
8:15 p.m. Sunday Night Football (Chicago Bears at Green Bay Packers)
Monday, Sept. 14
10 p.m. The Jay Leno Show (airs every weeknight)
Tuesday, Sept. 15
8 p.m. The Biggest Loser
Thursday, Sept. 17
8 p.m. Saturday Night Live Weekend Update Thursday
8:30 p.m. Parks and Recreation
9 p.m. The Office
9:30 p.m. Community
Monday, Sept. 21
8 p.m. Heroes (two hours)
Wednesday, Sept. 23
8 p.m. Parenthood
9 p.m. Law & Order: SVU
Friday, Sept. 25
8 p.m. Law & Order
9 p.m. Southland
Saturday, Sept. 26
8 p.m. Dateline NBC
11:30 p.m. Saturday Night Live
Monday, Sept. 28
9 p.m. Trauma
Thursday, Oct. 8
8 p.m. Community (new time period)
Thursday, Oct. 15
9:30 p.m. 30 Rock
Source: Zap2It
