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NBC Hopes to Reclaim Thursdays as ‘Must See TV’ - The New York Times

posted onMay 15, 2017
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Article snippet: Can NBC make Thursday nights a “Must See TV” destination again? The network is going to try to market them that way, starting this fall. NBC announced on Sunday, a day ahead of its annual showcase to advertisers, that it would pair its biggest hit, “This Is Us,” with the network’s biggest revival, “Will & Grace,” on Thursday nights beginning in September. NBC will round out the Thursday schedule with its new limited series “Law & Order True Crime: The Menendez Murders.” “This Is Us,” which will finish the 2016-2017 season as the second-highest-rated scripted show on broadcast television, was previously shown on Tuesdays. NBC was once dominant on Thursday night — propelled by comedies like “Seinfeld” and “Friends” and the drama “E.R.” — and its marketing department called it “Must See TV.” Over the years, as NBC’s comedy lineup collapsed and as other networks jumped in on Thursdays, NBC lost its advantage. Although tweaks to time slots may seem antiquated in this era of delayed viewing, network executives say that lineups still matter — especially when lead-in shows like “The Voice” can give new shows a better start. NBC clearly smells blood in the water: ABC, which once had a strong edge on Thursdays with shows helmed by Shonda Rhimes, saw ratings plummet for stalwarts like “Scandal” and “How to Get Away With Murder,” both by Ms. Rhimes. “Grey’s Anatomy,” which is shown at 8 p.m. Eastern on Thursdays, is still going strong. But NBC’s schedule is not witho... Link to the full article to read more

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