NBC RE-MAKES TWO-HOUR COMEDY BLOCK ON THURSDAYS WITH RETURN OF 'SCRUBS' AND MOVE OF '30 ROCK' TO JOIN 'MY NAME IS EARL' AND 'THE OFFICE' BEGINNING NOVEMBER 30
MOVE IS PRECEDED BY SPECIAL 'SUPER-SIZED' NIGHT OF COMEDY FEATURING 40-MINUTE EPISODES OF 'EARL,' 'THE OFFICE' AND '30 ROCK' ON NOVEMBER 16
BURBANK - October 25, 2006 - NBC will return the Emmy Award-nominated "Scrubs" and move freshman comedy "30 Rock" to Thursday nights beginning November 30 to form a new two-hour 8-10 p.m. (ET) comedy block with "My Name Is Earl" and "The Office." The change will follow a special super-sized night of comedy two weeks earlier on Thursday, November 16, with three 40-minute episodes of "My Name Is Earl," "The Office" and "30 Rock."
The announcements were made by Kevin Reilly, President, NBC Entertainment.
"We are excited about the prospect of two-hours of top-notch comedy on Thursday nights, which includes the return of 'Scrubs,'" said Reilly. "We will stay on-brand with the best comedy block on television, which will position us for the future on the night."
Beginning November 30, NBC's Thursday-night lineup will be "My Name Is Earl" (8-8:30 p.m. ET); "The Office" (8:30-9 p.m. ET); "Scrubs" (9-9:30 p.m. ET); and "30 Rock" (9:30-10 p.m. ET). "ER" will continue at 10-11 p.m. (ET).
Starting November 22, NBC will feature various specials on Wednesdays (8-9 p.m. ET), which will soon be announced.
Winner of a prestigious Humanitas Prize and a People's Choice Award, and nominated for a Producer's Guild and two consecutive Outstanding Comedy Series Awards, "Scrubs" (now entering its sixth season) focuses on the strange experiences of J.D. (Zach Braff, "Last Kiss," "Garden State"), a medical resident, as he continues on his healing career in a surreal hospital, crammed full of unpredictable staffers and patients -- where humor and tragedy can collide at any time.
Joining the rumpled J.D. at Sacred Heart Hospital are fellow residents Chris Turk (Donald Faison, "Remember the Titans," "Felicity") -- J.D.'s college buddy who is part of the elite surgical group -- and the beautiful, but socially awkward, Elliot Reid (Sarah Chalke, "Roseanne").
Keeping a watchful eye over these young doctors are the caustic chief of medicine, Dr. Bob Kelso (Ken Jenkins, "Courage Under Fire"), the abrasive, but caring, Dr. Perry Cox (John C. McGinley, "Wall Street," "Platoon"), and Turk's wife and no-nonsense nurse, Carla Espinosa (Judy Reyes, "Oz"). Neil Flynn ("Magnolia"), the hospital janitor, portrays J.D.'s nemesis, who never seems to miss an opportunity to harass his target.
"Scrubs" is produced by Touchstone Television. Bill Lawrence ("Spin City") is the executive producer and creator.
"30 Rock" is told through the comedic voice of Emmy winner Tina Fey (NBC's "Saturday Night Live") as Liz Lemon and features Alec Baldwin as the brash new network executive who has turned her show upside down with his meddling ways. Single Lemon is living every comedy writer's dream - head writer on a demanding, live TV program in New York City. Her life is jolted when executive Donaghy (Baldwin, "The Aviator") interferes with her show, and bullies Lemon into convincing Tracy Jordan (Tracy Morgan, NBC's "Saturday Night Live," "The Longest Yard"), a wild and unpredictable movie star, to join the cast. Tony winner Jane Krakowski also is featured as the star of "The Girlie Show."
Also rounding out the cast in the half-hour comedy are Scott Adsit, Jack McBrayer and Rachel Dratch ("Saturday Night Live").
"30 Rock" is from Broadway Video and NBC Universal Television Studio. Executive producers are Lorne Michaels ("Saturday Night Live"), Tina Fey ("Saturday Night Live"), JoAnn Alfano ("Sons & Daughters"), Marci Klein ("Saturday Night Live") and David Miner ("The Tracy Morgan Show").
Created and written by Emmy-winning Greg Garcia ("Yes, Dear), "My Name Is Earl" is executive-produced by Garcia and Emmy-winning Marc Buckland ("Medical Investigation," "Ed") and Bobby Bowman ("Yes, Dear"). The series is produced by Twentieth Century Fox Television and Amigos de Garcia. Jason Lee stars in the title role.
"The Office" - which earned the Emmy as Outstanding Comedy Series earlier this year -- is executive-produced by Ben Silverman, Greg Daniels, Ricky Gervais, Stephen Merchant and Howard Klein. Golden Globe winner Steve Carell stars.
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