NBC is finally returning the sitcom "Lateline" to its schedule -- although the news has to be viewed with a bit of trepidation.
As of Jan. 6, the comedy -- which is witty, clever and downright cerebral compared with most of what's out there -- will take over the Wednesday at 8 p.m. timeslot on the Peacock's schedule.So, let's get this straight. "Lateline," which NBC didn't feel was strong enough to make its fall schedule based on a tryout this past spring, is going to be the lynchpin of the network's Wednesday-night lineup. Huh?
The fact is that "Lateline," which is set behind the scenes at a "Nightline"-like late-night news program, is the sort of show that needs nurturing. The sort of show that needs a protected timeslot (preferably between a couple of established hits) in order to grow an audience.
It's not the kind of show that should lead off the 8 p.m. hour on Wednesday nights when it has to go up against "The Drew Carey Show," "60 Minutes II" (see note below), "Party of Five," "Star Trek: Voyager" and "Charmed."
This is suicide scheduling that's going to waste what could turn out to be a long-term hit for NBC if "Lateline" were actually given a chance.
You can't help but wonder if NBC hasn't pretty much written the 8-9 p.m. hour on Wednesdays off altogether, given that the second 30 minutes will be occupied by the never-too-strong and quickly fading "Working."
Given all the other problems NBC is having, this is probably the best the network can do. And new episodes of "Lateline" are certainly preferable to the reruns of "3rd Rock from the Sun" the network will be running on Wednesdays until Jan. 6.
But there's something sort of sad about watching a network that had as strong a lineup as NBC has had for years as it crumbles.
DEBUT DATE: CBS's much-anticipated (well, sort of) "60 Minutes II" finally has a time slot and a premiere date.
The news magazine will be seen Wednesdays at 8 p.m. beginning Jan. 13, replacing the low-rated (and not-renewed) "To Have & to Hold."
The CBS announcement has apparently fended off NBC's rumored plans to move its Wednesday edition of "Dateline" back from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. (Not that "Lateline" would have had a better chance had it been scheduled an hour earlier.)
EXIT DATE: Craig Kilborn's tenure at Comedy Central is about to end. His last day as host of "The Daily Show" is scheduled for Thursday, Dec. 17.
Kilborn fans will have to wait until sometime early next year when he succeeds Tom Snyder as host of CBS's "Late Late Show."
As for "The Daily Show," former talk-show host Jon Stewart takes over as the host of the cable program on Jan. 11.