QUICK HITS: Midseason Schedule Suggestion for NBC

On Thursday, I posted my suggestion for FOX at midseason. Now it's on to NBC!

NBC has had an OK fall. The Voice remains strong of course. Blindspot isn't the hit that The Blacklist was but it's also not the flop that State of Affairs was. The Wednesday dramas have been solid, even The Mysteries of Laura. And they have football which always helps a big deal. The Friday comedies are bombing but they're low priority. Thursday is probably the biggest trouble spot. NBC always runs into trouble in January when both football and The Voice leave their schedule. They have a lot on the bench so they should have many options.

MONDAYS
8:00 (Jan) The Biggest Loser/(late Feb) The Voice
10:00 Blindspot
I think The Biggest Loser would be a good bridge on Mondays again in-between cycles of The Voice. I would leave Blindspot on the condition that it doesn't completely fall apart in future weeks, which I think is a possibility. If that happens, NBC should launch a new drama at 10pm when The Voice returns.

TUESDAYS
8:00 (Jan) Little Big Shots/(late Feb) The Voice
9:00 Chicago Med
10:00 Chicago Fire
I am pretty confident that Chicago Med will do decently so I would leave things as is on Tuesday nights except they'll need another bridge for The Voice in between cycles. Maybe the reality show Little Big Shots would be a good option?

WEDNESDAYS
8:00 (Jan) Shades of Blue/(Apr) The Mysteries of Laura
9:00 Law & Order: SVU
10:00 Chicago PD
Wednesdays are holding up OK but I still think NBC may want to give The Mysteries of Laura just a short extension and give it a break in January to make room for an updated Women Crush Wednesday night with Shades of Blue starring Jennifer Lopez at 8pm leading into Law & Order: SVU and Chicago PD. It could provide more of a punch to the night and Laura can return to finish out its second season when Shades of Blue wraps its 13 episode order.

THURSDAYS
8:00 The Carmichael Show
8:30 Crowded
9:00 Hot & Bothered
9:30 Superstore
10:00 The Blacklist
Thursdays are a big problem and comedies are a big problem for NBC. So why not throw caution to the wind and try something different? Why not launch four new comedies and hope something works like ABC did with Wednesdays in 2009 to great success. The Carmichael Show had a little bit of buzz in its six episode summer run while the other three could all be decent. It may not be the pedigree of that first ABC Wednesday lineup but I just think NBC should try to re-launch a "Must See TV" comedy block and start from scratch with all new (or nearly new for Carmichael) shows. There's not really another place for comedies anyway and there's not much to lose on Thursdays so I say its worth a shot. I don't think NBC will agree. I would move The Blacklist to 10pm and give up on the idea of it anchoring a night at 9pm.

FRIDAYS
8:00 (Jan) Undateable (1 hour episodes)/(Mid Feb) Emerald City
9:00 Grimm
10:00 Dateline NBC
I think Truth Be Told will be gone by the end of the calendar year and NBC can do one hour editions of Undateable to finish up its season. Then in February, I would air Emerald City, which might be a good genre pairing with Grimm.

SUNDAYS
(Jan)
7:00 Dateline NBC
8:00 Reality/Specials/Etc

(Mar)
7:00 Dateline NBC
9:00 Game of Silence
10:00 The Night Shift
I wouldn't even mess with Sundays in January and February where there is competition from the Golden Globes, Oscars, Grammys, and Super Bowl. Then in March, I would launch Game of Silence at 9pm and bring back The Night Shift for the 10pm slot. Heartbreaker could be an option too but I would save that for summer. Blindspot could be a possibility too if they go with a new drama on Mondays.