• by David Goetzl  @dgoetzl, March 13, 2009

Summer nights filled with reruns are moving further into the rear-view mirror. NBC unveiled much of its summer lineup Friday, which offers multiple original drama productions and several new reality series.

Among the dramas is 13-part series "Merlin," the latest take on the curious medieval magician. Also on deck is a reality series that's a cross between "Survivor" and "The Surreal Life," which ran briefly on ABC six years ago, and a family travel competition that smacks of the "The Amazing Race."

NBC also said it would hold series finales of three dramas--"Medium," "Law & Order: SVU" and "Law & Order"--until June in an attempt to give a lift to the debut of Conan O'Brien on "The Tonight Show." Those dramas will air at 10 p.m. during O'Brien's June 1 debut week. The network hopes viewers will stick around through the local news for a peek at the "Tonight Show" post-Jay Leno.

Also, moderate summer hit "America's Got Talent" will be back for a fourth season, starting June 23.

NBC is making a significant commitment to "I'm a Celebrity ... Get Me Out of Here," the British series where ABC ran a version briefly in 2003. The series--featuring 10 celebrities who are plopped into the wild and then engage in survival challenges--will have viewers deciding their fate. It will run four nights a week from June 1-18, leading to a finale the next week.

The eight-episode "Great American Road Trip," also a British import, will feature seven families on the road competing in challenges. One family is eliminated each week. NBC is touting the show as having a "humorous" tone--and as an opportunity to showcase landmarks such as the Grand Canyon. "Road Trip" could resonate as Americans plan summer vacations; it debuts July 1.

In addition to "Merlin," which debuts June 21 and will air Sundays, there is also the drama "The Listener," about a young paramedic who is a telepath and gradually begins to use his powers to assist people. In addition, "The Philanthropist"--the story of a wealthy man who, after rescuing a young boy, decides to aggressively use his fortune to help others--premieres June 24.

"The Listener" will debut on Thursday of O'Brien's debut week on June 4 at 10 p.m.