NBC has released its 2018-2019 schedule ahead of the network’s advertiser upfronts in New York City on Monday (May 13).
The midseason schedule has not been released yet, but NBC Entertainment chairman Bob Greenblatt revealed on a conference call with reporters this morning that America’s Got Talent: The Champions, the recently announced AGT spinoff, will air on Mondays at 8 pm ET/PT in January and February in order to fill the singing show gap between The Voice seasons.
UPDATE: Also, the recently announced third season of World of Dance will air on Sundays beginning early 2019 after Sunday Night Football ends. There’s definitely a chance it will air opposite some episodes of Idol. World of Dance features ANOTHER ex-Idol judge, Jennifer Lopez. My theory is that WOD does well in the summer with a lead in from AGT. Without that lead in, I’m not so sure the show will be successful.
From Deadline’s report:
As the business has changed, Greenblatt explained of the push, winter, spring and summers have become as important as the fall. NBC’s America’s Got Talent franchise will get a mid-season run on Mondays in January and February, bridging seasons of The Voice in the slot.
NBC’s reality TV guru Paul Telegdy said they had wanted to experiment earlier with an in-season AGT run, but were never able to line up the calendar with key talent, “and this time that obviously is Simon Cowell.”
Cowell will lead a judges panel that will be announced at a later date.
Interesting to note: If American Idol begins a few weeks earlier than it did this season, it could possibly compete against AGT for a bit on Mondays.
Cowell has probably been dying for a hit show during the regular TV season. But it made NO sense to move AGT out of its summer slot, where it thrives. A spin off was the only answer. But will a worldwide “champions” version succeed? It kinda contradicts the whole idea of AMERICA having talent, doesn’t it?
Remember, while American Idol was a massive hit, the spinoffs American Idol Junior and World Idol were massive failures…
See the full NBC fall schedule below.
NBC FALL 2018-19 SCHEDULE
MONDAY
8-10 P.M. — The Voice
10-11 P.M. — MANIFEST
TUESDAY
8-9 P.M. — The Voice
9-10 P.M. — This Is Us
10-11 P.M. — NEW AMSTERDAM
WEDNESDAY
8-9 P.M. — Chicago Med
9-10 P.M. — Chicago Fire
10-11 P.M. — Chicago P.D.
THURSDAY
8-8:30 P.M. — Superstore
8:30-9 P.M. — The Good Place
9-9:30 P.M. — Will & Grace
9:30-10 P.M. — I FEEL BAD
10-11 P.M. — Law & Order: SVU
FRIDAY
8-9 P.M. – Blindspot
9-10 P.M. — Midnight, Texas
10-11 P.M — Dateline NBC
SATURDAY
8-10 P.M. — Dateline Saturday Night Mystery
10-11 P.M. – Saturday Night Live (encores)
SUNDAY
7-8:20 P.M. — Football Night in America
8:20-11 P.M. — NBC Sunday Night Football
