• by David Goetzl  @dgoetzl, May 15, 2011

NBC is shaking up its Thursday lineup, but as he unveiled the new fall schedule, Bob Greenblatt's most notable comments came about programming that is already drawing attention.

Greenblatt, NBC's new entertainment chairman, said the network believes the NFL will be back with little interruption, and even if Donald Trump doesn't return to host "The Celebrity Apprentice," another "galvanizing presence" will be ready to fire people.

"Sunday Night Football" is scheduled to return Sept. 11 (after a special season opener), while "The Celebrity Apprentice" will come back early next year as the presidential race heats up. If Trump is a candidate, that could mean a new host, although Greenblatt said his preference is for Trump to return.

"There will be somebody else sitting at the head of the boardroom table," said Greenblatt, who assumed his position earlier this year when Comcast took control of NBCUniversal.

He did not speculate about who may replace the New York real-estate tycoon. Martha Stewart's single season as host of an "Apprentice" spinoff failed miserably. "Celebrity Apprentice" will air next winter in an 8 p.m.-10 p.m. Sunday slot.

On the NFL, where the Sunday games give NBC a strong promotional platform leading into the week, Greenblatt said: "We're feeling pretty optimistic that football will be there; worst-case scenario, we might have a delay of games for a few weeks."

Asked the reason for his confidence as owners and players are mired in an acrimonious lockout, he indicated NBC Sports head Dick Ebersol had some inside knowledge, or at least was magnetically hopeful.

"Dick Ebersol's the master here. I take all my sports cues from him and he's feeling pretty positive," Greenblatt said.

If games are canceled, Greenblatt said NBC is working on several reality-style, live-event broadcasts, though he did not provide specifics.

Notable on the fall lineup is new drama "Prime Suspect," -- about a female New York detective, which is coming to Thursdays at 10 p.m. -- and the launch of two new comedies in the 8 p.m. hour on Wednesdays.