NBC - Now 55% Fresh!

It's upfront week in TV-dom, the week the networks announce their fall lineups.

And why do the networks roll out a fall lineup? Because back in the day, they had to roll out exciting new shows to serve as spot carriers for the new models rolling off the Detroit assembly lines. That's why.

So, let's take a look at NBC - the proud as a peacock 4th place network. The network that once publicly excoriated FOX for relying on reality programming. The network that recently announced plans to abandon scripted programming at 8/7 Central.

Disclaimer: I'll be using info from the announced January lineups, since Sunday nights will feature NFL games until then.

NBC programs seven nights, if you count Saturday - that's 22 hours of programming.

MON - DEAL OR NO DEAL, HEROES and JOURNEYMAN - an unscripted game show (that is repurposed on CNBC), a hit (that is repurposed on SCI-FI) and what amounts to a remake of QUANTUM LEAP. A man travels back and forth in time, changes people's lives and reconnects with his true love - not his wife.

TUE - THE BIGGEST LOSER, CHUCK and LAW & ORDER: SVU - a reality competition (that is repurposed on USA), a new show from the creators of THE O.C. about a geek who accidentally downloads a bunch og government secrets into his brain - Adam Baldwin (FIREFLY, THE X-FILES) co-stars so I might tune in, and L&O.

WED - DEAL OR NO DEAL, THE BIONIC WOMAN and LIFE - a second episode of an unscripted game show (that also airs on CNBC), a reimagining of a '70s sci-fi classic (that will also be repurposed on SCI-FI) and a crime drama featuring a detective who has just served some time for a crime he didn't commit (which will be repurposed on LIFETIME). yes, an entire night of programming you can watch on a different night on different channels - who needs a TiVo?

THUR - MY NAME IS EARL, 30 ROCK, THE OFFICE, SCRUBS and ER - the only comedies on NBC's schedule, and the final season of a once mighty giant on a once mighty night.

FRI - THE SINGING BEE, LAS VEGAS and FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS - a reality competition that requires contestants to sing lyrics perfectly or be eliminated (apparently the notes don't count), a marginally successful drama and a show about high school football on a night when anyone can go to their local high school and see high school football.

SAT - DATELINE NBC and VARIOUS REPEATS - a newsmagazine mired in the pursuit of online sexual predators to the degree that one wonders when they're going to hire Maury Povich to host (that is repourposed on MSNBC), and two hours of things that are already being repurposed on other channels on other nights. Why bother?

SUN - DATELINE NBC, LAW & ORDER, MEDIUM and LIPSTICK JUNGLE - see above, L&O, a show that might actually do well in this slot and Brooke Shields in an effort to recapture the SEX IN THE CITY lightning in a bottle.

Overall, 6 hours of non-scripted programming - 27%
2 hours of scheduled repeats 9%
10 hours of repurposed programming - 45%

Yep, almost HALF of the NBC schedule can be seen at other times - any wonder why their mired in 4th place?

I'm a HEROES fan. I'll check out THE BIONIC WOMAN, CHUCK and LIFE. But if I didn't have a TiVO - and more than 80% of Americans don't - I wouldn't give up 24, HOUSE or LOST for any of these new shows.

Tomorrow, more....