• by David Goetzl  @dgoetzl, May 26, 2006

Once ABC moved "Grey's Anatomy" to Thursdays, it was a near certainty that NBC would tinker with its fall schedule. That proved to be a gross understatement.

Yesterday, NBC dramatically upended its lineup, making significant changes on all five weeknights--including scheduling "Law & Order" series back-to-back on Tuesday, inserting "Deal or No Deal" on Thursday, and holding back Monday hit "Medium" until mid-season.

Other major changes include the widely expected shift of new drama "Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip" from Thursday to "Medium's" old spot on Mondays at 10. "Studio 60," which NBC executives have touted as a breakout hit, had been slotted on Thursday at 9, where it would have had to establish itself against both "Grey's" and perennial time-period winner "CSI:" on CBS. The Monday spot places it head-to-head against CBS hit "CSI: Miami"--and gives it an uncertain lead-in from new drama "Heroes" at 9--but allows it to benefit from promotion during NBC's "Sunday Night Football" the night before. ("Medium" will return later in the season.)

Somewhat surprisingly, NBC will run "Law & Order: Criminal Intent" and "Law & Order: SVU" back-to-back at 9 and 10 on Tuesdays. And the flagship "Law & Order," which NBC promises will be revitalized with cast and creative changes, moves from its long-time perch on Wednesdays at 10 to Fridays at 10. NBC has pledged to make a renewed bid to win Fridays--a night that networks have de-emphasized recently. In that vein, the network is inserting veteran drama "Crossing Jordan"--scheduled as a mid-season utility player--on Fridays at 8 starting in the fall.

NBC annually has the disadvantage of holding its upfront presentation before the other networks, meaning that it unveils its schedule first, allowing the other networks time to react before they offer up their schedules to advertisers. NBC Entertainment President Kevin Reilly had indicated NBC would make changes after the other networks showed their cards. NBC's reshuffling comes as the upfront approaches, giving media buyers time to assess the changes and plan their negotiating strategy accordingly.

Other changes include new drama "Kidnapped," about the meandering chase to find the kidnapped teenager of a wealthy New York family, moving to Wednesdays at 10 from Tuesdays. Also on Wednesday, NBC is shifting new comedies "20 Good Years" and the promising "30 Rock"--the brainchild of "Saturday Night Live"'s Tina Fey--to the 8 o'clock hour. The comedies were scheduled for the 9 o'clock hour, where they would have faced off against ABC smash "Lost" and CBS's first-year success "Criminal Minds." Instead, NBC will counter-program against the two dramas with reality show "The Biggest Loser."

On Thursday, NBC is sticking with freshman comedy sensation "My Name is Earl" at 8 and "The Office" at 8:30, then counter-programming against "Grey's" and "CSI:" with "Deal or No Deal." "Deal" is the network's second-highest-rated show in the 18-to-49 demo. Its highest-rated show, "E.R.," stays at 10 on Thursdays (in a sign of how troubled NBC is, its number-one show in the 18-to-49 demo doesn't even crack the top 15.)

In a sign that NBC is confident in its development, the network kept all six new shows scheduled to debut in the fall--four dramas and two comedies--on the September schedule.

Below is the complete revised schedule: *New programs in CAPS; all times are Eastern.

MONDAY
8:00-9:00 p.m. "Deal or No Deal"
9:00-10:00 p.m. "HEROES"
10:00-11:00 p.m. "STUDIO 60 ON THE SUNSET STRIP"(new day and time)

TUESDAY
8:00-9:00 p.m. "FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS"
9:00-10:00 p.m. "Law & Order: Criminal Intent"(new day and time)
10:00-11:00 p.m. "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit"

WEDNESDAY
8:00-8:30 p.m. "20 GOOD YEARS" (new time)
8:30-9:00 p.m. "30 ROCK" (new time)
9:00-10:00 p.m. "The Biggest Loser" (new time);
10:00-11:00 p.m. "KIDNAPPED" (new day and time)

THURSDAY
8:00-8:30 p.m. "My Name Is Earl"
8:30-9:00 p.m. "The Office"
9:00-10:00 p.m. "Deal or No Deal" (new day and time)
10:00-11:00 p.m. "ER"/("THE BLACK DONNELLYS" in January 2007)

FRIDAY
8:00-9:00 p.m. "Crossing Jordan" (new day and time)
9:00-10:00 p.m. "Las Vegas"
10:00-11:00 p.m. "Law & Order" (new day)

SATURDAY
8:00-9:00 p.m. "Dateline Saturday"
9:00-11:00 p.m. Drama Series Encores

SUNDAY
7:00-8:00 p.m. "FOOTBALL NIGHT IN AMERICA"
8:00-11:00 p.m. "SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL"