NBC fills post-Leno prime-time slots

Cast of NBC's Law & Order: SVU

PASADENA, Calif. -- The news continues to move fast and furiously out here at the ongoing Television Critics Association "press tour."

Sometimes, in fact, it's better to be in your hotel room rather than at a particular network session. That was the case Thursday, when NBC suddenly emailed its post-Jay Leno Show prime-time schedule while a number of writers were otherwise occupied with a presentation by the Black Entertainment Television network.

Leno has been occupying the last hour of prime-time on NBC's Monday-Friday schedule. But his show will vanish when the Peacock's Winter Olympics telecasts from Vancouver begin on Feb. 12th. The Games will run until Feb. 28th, with NBC's new entertainment schedule taking effect on the following night. Here's how it looks in Leno's vacated hours:

MONDAY -- Law & Order, which will return with a two-hour episode.

TUESDAY -- The new series Parenthood, co-created by Ron Howard.

WEDNESDAY -- Law & Order: SVU.

THURSDAY -- The Marriage Ref, a new non-scripted show co-produced by Jerry Seinfeld and hosted by comedian Tom Papa.

FRIDAY -- Dateline NBC, which will occupy the last two hours of prime-time.

As previously reported, Conan O'Brien is refusing to move The Tonight Show back a half-hour to accommodate a new late-nighter hosted by the transplanted Leno. O'Brien is hoping to negotiate his way out of an existing NBC contract before entertaining any offers from rival networks. The Peacock is likely to let him go while re-installing Leno as Tonight Show host at its regular time.

NBC's Thursday afternoon prime-time rehaul also includes the new Who Do You Think You Are?, which will precede Dateline on Fridays. Adapted from a BBC documentary series, it purportedly gives viewers an "up-close and personal history of some of today's most beloved and iconic celebrities." Among those featured are Lisa Kudrow, Spike Lee, Susan Sarandon, Brooke Shields and Emmitt Smith.

Who Do You Think You Are? will run until April 23rd. After that, it gives way to the fourth season of Friday Night Lights.

Another new unscripted hour, Minute to Win It, will join NBC's Sunday night schedule on March 14th. It's a big-money game show hosted by Guy Fieri of the Food Network's Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives.

NBC also said that the medical drama Trauma will return to the schedule on March 8th, supplanting Heroes.