NBC struggling, juggling fall lineup

Broken but unbowed, NBC introduced a fall lineup Monday that features two Apprentices, one fewer Law & Order, three new dramas and a single new comedy.

The network also renewed The Office, a comedy that had a short run this spring.

The perennial No. 1 network in the only audience measurement it considers — viewers age 18 to 49 — dropped to No. 4 for the 2004-05 season, prompting the changes made by programming chief Kevin Reilly.

"We're eager to be No. 1 again," he said, "and this freshman class, combined with NBC's powerful core schedule, represents a major step toward getting there."

American Dreams — previously protected by Jeff Zucker, Reilly's predecessor — officially got the ax Monday, as did the briefly seen spring comedy Committed, the reality series The Contender and the drama Medical Investigation. Law & Order: Trial by Jury also was canned, becoming the first nonfiction L&O show to get pink-slipped.

They join previously canceled NBC shows Third Watch, Father of the Pride, Hawaii and LAX.

Reilly chose to put Fear Factor and Scrubs in mothballs but said both shows will be back. Scrubs, in fact, has a full season order. I hope so, I like Scrubs!

Added to the lineup:

•The Apprentice: Martha Stewart, a clone of the Donald Trump reality series but with a different diva as host.
•E-Ring, a drama from Jerry Bruckheimer and Taylor Hackford set inside the Pentagon. Dennis Hopper stars in his first TV series (his previous longest TV stretch was a guest star on 24 in 2002). Benjamin Bratt also stars.
•Fathom, a drama about the discovery of a new form of sea life. Lake Bell stars.
•Inconceivable, about life at a fertility clinic. Alfre Woodard and Jonathan Cake star.
•My Name Is Earl, a comedy about a low-rent crook (Jason Lee) who wins a lottery and decides to use his fortune to right the wrongs from his past.
•Three Wishes, a reality series in which host Amy Grant each week leads a team of "experts" to a town, where three residents will get their wishes granted.
In addition, the network has added 13 more episodes of The Biggest Loser.

"Building a comedy block is absolutely a top priority for us," Reilly said. Though he acknowledged My Name Is Earl might be a risk, "it was the highest-testing comedy in 15 years."

NBC'S LINEUP


• Monday
7 p.m. Fathom (new)
8 p.m. Las Vegas
9 p.m. Medium
• Tuesday
7 p.m. The Biggest Loser
8 p.m. My Name Is Earl (new)
8:30 p.m. The Office (I enjoyed this!)
9 p.m. Law & Order: SVU
• Wednesday
7 p.m. The Apprentice: Martha Stewart (new)
8 p.m. E-Ring (new)
9 p.m. Law & Order
• Thursday
7 p.m. Joey
7:30 p.m. Will & Grace
8 p.m. The Apprentice
9 p.m. ER
• Friday
7 p.m. Three Wishes
8 p.m. Dateline NBC
9 p.m. Inconceivable
• Saturday
7 p.m. Movie
• Sunday
6 p.m. Dateline NBC
7 p.m. The West Wing (new time)
8 p.m. Law & Order: Criminal Intent
9 p.m. Crossing Jordan
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