NBC ANNOUNCES FALL PREMIERE DATES FOR 2005-06 WITH SINGLE WEEK OF DEBUTS FOR VIRTUALLY ALL SERIES FROM SEPTEMBER 19-25

Network Also Announces New Swap of Friday Time Periods Between "Dateline NBC" at 8-9 p.m. (ET) and "Three Wishes" at 9-10 p.m. (ET)

NBC Introduces Six Promising New Series Including "My Name Is Earl," "E-Ring," "Surface," "Inconceivable," "The Apprentice: Martha Stewart"and "Three Wishes"

Returning Series Also Debut During One Week Except for "The Biggest Loser" 90-Minute Premiere on September 13 and "Will & Grace" Live Premiere on September 29

Longform Programs "The Poseidon Adventure," "10.5: Apocalypse," and "Saturday Night Live: The '80s" (Working Title) and Faith Hill Music Specials All Get November Airdates

BURBANK, Calif. -- July 24, 2005 -- NBC unveils virtually all of its fresh new Fall 2005-06 primetime season with a week of premieres from September 19-25, including its new comedy series "My Name Is Earl," new dramas "E-Ring," "Surface" and "Inconceivable" -- and new unscripted series "The Apprentice: Martha Stewart" and "Three Wishes." In a schedule change, the network will swap two Friday-night time periods as "Dateline NBC" now returns at 8-9 p.m. (ET) while "Three Wishes" will be broadcast from 9-10 p.m. (ET).

The announcements were made today by Kevin Reilly, President, NBC Entertainment.

"There's a feeling of excitement as we gear up for what promises to be a positive step forward with a potent new slate of series," said Reilly. "We're going to be aggressive as we upgrade our time periods and showcase some action-packed special events. The first step begins with launching most of our series premieres in one week in September."

"As for Fridays, we will be moving 'Dateline' into its previous time period at 8 p.m. where it has been so strong while 'Three Wishes' can break out at the later hour and provide a viable, compatible lead-in to 'Inconceivable' at 10 p.m."

All of NBC's Fall series will debut in their regularly scheduled day and time periods during the week except for "The Biggest Loser" (with a special 90-minute premiere on Tuesday, Sept. 13 from 8-9:30 p.m. ET) and "Will & Grace." The Emmy Award-winning "Will & Grace" will open its final season with a live episode on Thursday, Sept. 29 (8:30-9 p.m. ET) that features returning guest star Alec Baldwin (recently nominated for an Emmy for his performance on the series) and Eric Stoltz ("The Triangle," "The Butterfly Effect"). Baldwin will appear in at least four episodes. (see separate release).

The live premiere of "Will & Grace" on September 29 will allow for a one-hour season premiere of "Joey" on Thursday, Sept. 22 (8-9 p.m. ET).

In addition, NBC will broadcast a second crossover episode between "Crossing Jordan" (Sundays, 10-11 p.m. ET) and "Las Vegas" (Mondays, 9-10 p.m. ET) in October (see separate release).

Among NBC's longform and specials programs, the network has scheduled big-ticket events that include: a new version of "The Poseidon Adventure" on Sunday, Nov. 20 (8-11 p.m. ET); the four-hour miniseries sequel "10.5: Apocalypse," on Sunday, Nov. 27 and Monday, Nov. 28 (both times 9-11 p.m. ET); a Faith Hill music special on Wednesday, Nov. 23 (9-10 p.m. ET); and the "Saturday Night Live: The '80s" special (working title), an all-new sequel to the Emmy Award-nominated "Saturday Night Live First Five Years" special, on Sunday, Nov. 13 (9-11 p.m. ET).

Among NBC's new dramas, the action-adventure series "Surface" (formerly "Fathom") will debut on Monday, Sept. 19 (8-9 p.m. ET). "E-Ring," the suspenseful military drama starring Benjamin Bratt and Dennis Hopper from mega-producer Jerry Bruckheimer, will premiere on Wednesday, Sept. 21 (9-10 p.m. ET). In addition, "Inconceivable," concerning the thorny ethics of nurturing new life at a family fertility clinic, will begin on Friday, Sept. 23 (10-11 p.m. ET).

NBC's new alternative series are "The Apprentice: Martha Stewart," which will kick off on Wednesday, Sept. 21 (8-9 p.m. ET), and "Three Wishes," an uplifting wish-fulfillment series starring Grammy winning entertainer Amy Grant, that now begins on Friday, Sept. 23 at the new time of 9-10 p.m. (ET).

A calendar of NBC's Fall 2005-06 series premieres follows and later includes November longform and specials programs. New series capitalized (except for "ER"); all times ET/PT:

SEPTEMBER 13
"The Biggest Loser" (90-minute premiere, 8-9:30 p.m.)

SEPTEMBER 19
"SURFACE" (formerly "Fathom," 8-9 p.m.)
Las Vegas" (9-10 p.m.)
"Medium" (10-11 p.m.)

SEPTEMBER 20
"MY NAME IS EARL" (9-9:30 p.m.)
"The Office" (9:30-10 p.m.)
"Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (10-11 p.m.)

SEPTEMBER 21
"THE APPRENTICE: MARTHA STEWART" (8-9 p.m.)
"E-RING" (9-10 p.m.)
"Law & Order" (10-11 p.m.)

SEPTEMBER 22
"Joey" (special 1-hour premiere, 8-9 p.m.); ("Will & Grace" returns Sept. 29)
"The Apprentice" (9-10 p.m.)
"ER" (10-11 p.m.)

SEPTEMBER 23
*"Dateline NBC" (8-9 p.m.)
*"THREE WISHES" (9-10 p.m.)
"INCONCEIVABLE" (10-11 p.m.)

SEPTEMBER 24
NBC Movie (8-11 p.m.)

SEPTEMBER 25
"Dateline NBC" (7-8 p.m.)
"The West Wing" (8-9 p.m.)
"Law & Order: Criminal Intent" (9-10 p.m.)
"Crossing Jordan" (10-11 p.m.)

SEPTEMBER 29
"Will & Grace" (live episode, 8:30-9 p.m.)

NOVEMBER 13
"Saturday Night Live: The '80s" (9-11 p.m.)

NOVEMBER 20
"The Poseidon Adventure" (8-11 p.m.)

NOVEMBER 23
Faith Hill music special (9-10 p.m.)

NOVEMBER 27-28
"10.5: Apocalypse" (9-11 p.m. both nights)

* Denotes change of time from previously announced Fall schedule