• by Wayne Friedman , May 11, 2014

Looking to build on its winning season among key viewers -- even without the high-rated Sochi Olympics -- NBC will make its rookie show “The Blacklist” a key player, along with five new hopeful dramas and seven comedies.

NBC will have the most first-year shows of the current season that are coming back for a second year in some time -- including “The Blacklist,” “About a Boy,” “Chicago P.D.,” and “Hollywood Game Night.”

The biggest change for NBC for the new season comes on Thursday where it will slim down its comedy lineup for the night -- far removed from its glory years in the 1990s, when the night was billed as "Must See TV."

After five seasons, NBC is canceling Thursday night comedy, "Community." And while "Parks and Recreation" will return, it won't be on in the fall. NBC has not given the comedy a firm time slot come mid-season and beyond.

“Reinvigorating Thursday was a top priority, made possible by moving 'The Blacklist' there in the 9 p.m. time slot after exposing it to the audience watching the Super Bowl,” says Bob Greenblatt, chairman of NBC Entertainment, in a release.

After starting out on Monday night at 10 p.m. after “The Voice,” “The Blacklist” will then move to 9 p.m. on Thursday on February 5th. Also, “Blacklist will get a key post-Super Bowl time slot special airing on February 1, 2015.

New drama additions for the fall: “Constantine” (Friday, 10 p.m.); “The Mysteries of Laura” (Wednesdays, 8 p.m.); and “State of Affairs” (Monday, 10 p.m. starting Nov. 17). “Odyssey” and “Allegiance” will arrive mid-season.

New comedies: “A to Z” (Thursday, 9:30 p.m.); “Bad Judge” (Thursday, 9 p.m., starting Feb. 5); and “Marry Me” (Tuesday, 9 p.m.). “Mission Control,” “Mr. Robinson,” “One Big Happy” and “Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt” will make their way to the NBC prime-time schedule at a later date.

After 32 weeks, NBC has a Nielsen 2.8 rating among 18-49 viewers when looking at live-program-plus-seven days of time-shifted viewing data, up 17% against a year ago. Fox is second place with a 2.5 rating. Even without the Sochi Olympics, NBC earned a 2.6 rating through 32 weeks -- still tops among all broadcast networks.

NBC FALL 2014-15 SCHEDULE

(New programs in caps; all times ET)

MONDAY

8-10 p.m. — “The Voice”

10-11 p.m. — “The Blacklist” / “STATE OF AFFAIRS” (beginning Nov. 17)

TUESDAY

8-9 p.m. — “The Voice”

9-9:30 p.m. — “MARRY ME”

9:30-10 p.m. — “About a Boy”

10-11 p.m. — “Chicago Fire”

WEDNESDAY

8-9 p.m. — “THE MYSTERIES OF LAURA”

9-10 p.m. — “Law & Order: SVU”

10-11 p.m. — “Chicago P.D.”

THURSDAY

8-9 p.m. — “The Biggest Loser”

9-9:30 p.m. — “BAD JUDGE” (“The Blacklist” beginning Feb. 5)

9:30-10 p.m. — “A TO Z”

10-11 p.m. — “Parenthood”

FRIDAY

8-9 p.m. — “Dateline NBC”

9-10 p.m. — “Grimm”

10-11 p.m. — “CONSTANTINE”

SATURDAY

8-11 p.m. — Encore programming

SUNDAY

7-8:20 p.m. — “Football Night in America”

8:20-11:30 p.m. — “NBC Sunday Night Football”