• by David Goetzl , January 22, 2008

NBC has picked a loser for Super Bowl Sunday. The network has scheduled four hours of repeats of "The Biggest Loser." To counter-program against the big game, NBC will air separate, two-hour episodes from 7 to 9 p.m. and then from 9 to 11.

For obvious reasons, networks without the Big Game shy away from original programming that night, although they often look for shows with female appeal. NBC wants to boost sampling for "American Gladiators," but the network likely opted not to use it on Super Sunday, since its male skew probably wouldn't peel many Super Bowl viewers away.

ABC has scheduled film "Meet the Fockers" on Super Sunday from 9 to 11. CBS has repeats of dramas "Shark" and "Cold Case."

The economically produced reality competition "Biggest Loser" has proved a redoubtable asset to NBC, perhaps more so during the writers' strike, allowing it to fill hours with original programming. Two-hour shows run on Tuesdays. However, it now faces off against "American Idol," a major ratings challenge.

Other apparently strike-induced programs on NBC include a two-hour version of "Celebrity Apprentice" on Thursday, Jan. 31. Also, a repeat episode of the Thursday comedy "The Office" is scheduled for Monday, Jan. 28 in the 10 o'clock hour, where drama "Medium" has been.