The long-delayed TV season will begin right after the holidays.
Or, at least, parts of it will. For some parts, viewers must wait until March.
This week, NBC and Fox set plans that are relatively speedy. Both will have several non-reruns arriving in early and mid-January, getting a one-month jump on CBS and ABC; NBC will even have two advance episodes — “Night Court” (shown here) and Jon Cryer’s new “Extended Family” — on Dec. 23.
When the writers’ and actors’ strikes ended (Sept. 27 and Nov. 9), networks took different approaches.
CBS will start most shows in the week after its Feb. 11 Super Bowl. ABC will start two of its nights sooner (Mondays, with “The Bachelor, on Jan. 22; Tuesdays, with comedies, Feb. 7), but will hold Sundays (“American Idol”) until Feb. 18 and Thursdays (“Grey’s Anatomy”) until March 14.
Now the other half of the big-four has set plans to mostly return sooner:
— NBC starts its comedies – the returning “Night Court” and new “Extended Family” — early, with a post-football spot Dec. 23 and a regular one Jan. 2. An “America’s Got Talent” spin-off and “La Brea” also start early; all of the “Chicago” and “Law & Order” shows start in mid-January. The only shows arriving after the Super Bowl are the new “Voice” season and a variation on “Deal or No Deal.”
— Fox has a reality and game-show rush in early January, while adding two animated series – the new “Grimsburg” and the returning “Up North.” Except for animation, scripted shows will be rare. “The Cleaning Lady” “Alert: Missing Persons Unit” and “Animal Control” start in March. Fox didn’t mention “Accused” or “9-1-1: Lone Star” and let “9-1-1” jump to ABC. Here are overviews:
NBC
When the strikes started, NBC was in fairly good shape. Four of its dramas had already been filming and a fifth (”Transplant”) is Canadian, with a full season ready.
“Found” (10 p.m. Tuesdays) returns Jan. 9, with its season’s final two episodes … “Irrational” (10 p.m. Mondays) returns Jan. 29, with its final four … and “Transplant” moves to 8 pm. Fridays, on Jan. 19.
Meanwhile, the shows mass-produced by Dick Wolf will have a fairly quick return – the Chicago ones on Wednesdays and “Law & Order” ones on Thursdays, starting Jan. 17 and 18. Others are scattered:
— The comedies arrive Dec. 23, then take their regular slot (8-9 p.m. Tuesdays) on Jan. 2.
— “America’s Got Talent: Fantasy League” gets 8-10 p.m. Mondays, starting Jan. 1.
— “La Brea,” the offbeat sci-fi show, starts its season Jan. 9. That’s on Tuesdays, sandwiched between the comedies and the final “Found” episodes.
— “The Voice” reclaims its spots (8 p.m. Mondays and Tuesdays) on Feb.26-27. “Deal or No Deal Island” debuts at 9:30 on Feb. 26, then will be at 10 p.m. Mondays, starting March 4.
FOX
This network is moving quickly, but only with unscripted shows or cartoons. It has:
— Two new games. Rob Lowe hosts “The Floor” (9 p.m. Tuesdays, starting Jan. 2); Anthony Anderson hosts “We Are Family” (9 p.m. Wednesdays, Jan. 3) with his mom.
— Two familiar titles. TMZ has had some specials, but now “TMZ Investigates” will be 8 p.m. Mondays, starting Jan. 22, leading into the revived “America’s Most Wanted.”
— Lots of returning games or reality – “Celebrity Name That Tune” (8 p.m. Tuesdays, Jan. 2); “I Can See Your Voice” (8 p.m. Wednesdays, Jan. 3); “Next Level Chef” (after football, Jan. 28, then 8 p.m. Thursdays); “Farmer Wants a Wife” (9 p.m. Thursdays, Feb. 1); and “Masked Singer” (8 p.m. Wednesdays, March 6).
— The ongoing animated shows, plus two additions. “Grimsburg,” with Jon Hamm as a private eye, has a preview Jan. 7. It joins the Sunday line-up at 9:30 p.m. Jan. 18, after the “Up North” season-opener.
— And those few scripted non-cartoons — “The Cleaning Lady” and “Alert,” 8 and 9 p.m. Tuesdays, March 5; “Animal Control,” 9 p.m. Wednesdays, March 6. Fox has so few shows that it doesn’t have a standard comedy to pair with “Animal Control.” The 9:30 spot goes to the animated “Family Guy.”