• by Wayne Friedman , May 27, 2008

NBC will make the unusual move in not using its big-rated Summer Olympics as a launch platform for its new season shows.

Instead of running in the last week in August, after the Beijing Olympics are completed, the network will premiere shows in a typical mid-September/early October jumping-off point.

NBC also made some scheduling changes. The biggest is putting its highly touted "Kath & Kim" in its high-profile Thursday night comedy block, starting at 9:30 p.m., getting a lead-out from "The Office." The show had been scheduled on Tuesday after "The Biggest Loser."

NBC's first new show of the season will be a new reality show, "America's Toughest Jobs," which will start with a two-hour premiere on Friday, Sept. 12. "Heroes," which has been off the air for months due to the writers' strike, will renew Monday, Sept. 22--first with a one-hour highlight show at 8 p.m., then with a two-hour premiere at 9 p.m. It will be NBC's first scripted series debut of the season.

NBC's other praised new effort, "My Own Worst Enemy," will debut on Monday, Sept. 29th at 10 p.m., benefiting from a lead-out from "Heroes."

In the past, NBC has used the Olympics to launch new shows, but media analysts have increasingly questioned whether Olympics viewers match up well with prime-time series entertainment. Those viewers--sometimes referred to as "light TV" viewers--only show up for special TV events.

In addition, NBC would not get the benefit of any 2008-2009 seasonal ratings totals by Nielsen Media Research, given that those shows technically run before the season starts.

Here is the complete list of NBC fall premiere dates:

Friday, Sept. 12

"America's Toughest Jobs" series premiere (8-10 p.m.); returns on Sept. 19 (8-9 p.m.) for five weeks, then resumes from 9-10 p.m. on Oct. 24

Monday, Sept. 22

"Heroes" clip show (8-9 p.m.); season premiere (9-11 p.m.)

Tuesday, Sept. 23

"Law & Order: SVU" (10-11 p.m.)

Wednesday, Sept. 24

"Knight Rider" (8-9 p.m.)

"Lipstick Jungle" (10-11 p.m.)

Thursday, Sept. 25

"My Name Is Earl"--one-hour premiere (8-9 p.m.)

"The Office"--one-hour premiere (9-10 p.m.)

"ER" (10-11 p.m.)

Monday, Sept. 29

"Chuck" (8-9 p.m.)

"My Own Worst Enemy" (10-11 p.m.)

Friday, Oct. 3

"Life" (10-11 p.m.)

Thursday, Oct. 9

"Kath & Kim" (9:30-10 p.m.)

Friday, Oct. 17

"Crusoe" two-hour premiere (8-10 p.m.)

Thursday, Oct. 30

"30 Rock" (8:30-9 p.m.)