TV Guide lies to you, America.
NBC, whose fortunes only seem to go from bad to worse, will next week air five hours of its abysmally rated Maria Bello cop show “Prime Suspect.”
In addition to a airing a new episode in the show’s regular 10 p.m. Thursday slot (originally earmarked for a “Prime” repeat), NBC will air “Suspect” repeats in the 10 p.m. slots Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, replacing what would have been repeats of “Parenthood,” “SVU” and the now-cancelled “Playboy Club.” NBC has been repeating “Suspect” on Saturdays for several weeks now, and will continue to do so.
I seem to remember CBS implemented a similar strategy way back in 1994 with David E. Kelley’s “Chicago Hope,” which had been getting hammered by “ER” in the 10 p.m. Thursday slot -- but found a lot of new viewers after CBS flooded a week of its primetime schedule with “Hope” repeats.
“Hope” soon after got a new timeslot and lasted a total of six seasons. Of course it never had to follow “Whitney.”
Press release:
10/18/2011 04:11 UPDATES-NBC PRIMETIME SCHEDULE - Monday October 24, 2011 - Saturday November 5, 2011"PRIME SUSPECT"
(X) "CARNIVOROUS SHEEP"
10/24/2011 (10:00PM - 11:00PM) (Monday) : DUFFY AND TIMONEY ARE ON THE CASE OF A MOTHER MURDERED AND A MISSING LITTLE GIRL – Jane (Maria Bello) is called into Duffy’s (Brían F. O’Byrne) homicide and kidnapping case after Sweeney (Aidan Quinn) calls for all hands on deck. Duffy gets irritated with Jane after she suggests talking with the deceased woman’s employees. Meanwhile, Jane meets Matt’s (Kenny Johnson) son for the first time. Kirk Acevedo, Tim Griffin and Damon Gupton also star."PRIME SUSPECT"
(X) "BITCH"
10/25/2011 (10:00PM - 11:00PM) (Tuesday) : ON THE HUNT FOR A WIFE KILLER—ELIZABETH RODRIGUEZ ("MIAMI VICE") JOINS THE SHOW AS CAROLINA RIVERA—While helping out at her father’s (Peter Gerety) bar, Jane (Maria Bello) finds herself without her gun when she confronted with a robber. Calderon (Kirk Acevedo) and Jane get assigned to solving the murder of a woman found in a dumpster. Meanwhile, Carolina Rivera (Elizabeth Rodriguez) tries to befriend Jane while working on her father’s robbery case but gets the cold shoulder. Aidan Quinn, Brían F. O’Byrne, Tim Griffin and Damon Gupton also star."PRIME SUSPECT"
(X) "GREAT GUY, YET: DEAD"
10/26/2011 (10:00PM - 11:00PM) (Wednesday) : JANE IS ON THE PROWL FOR A STOCKBROKER’S KILLER—When a good-looking stockbroker is killed mysteriously, Jane (Maria Bello) automatically suspects his wife. Meanwhile, Jane enlists the help of a hypnotist to fight her addiction to smoking. Elsewhere, Matt (Kenny Johnson) is furious when his ex-wife (guest star Lena Georgas) suggests Jane shouldn’t attend their son’s (guest star Max Page) birthday party. Aidan Quinn, Brían F. O’Byrne, Kirk Acevedo, Tim Griffin, Damon Gupton and Peter Gerety also star."PRIME SUSPECT"
(X) "REGRETS, I'VE HAD A FEW"
10/27/2011 (10:00PM - 11:00PM) (Thursday) : JANE SEARCHES FOR A KILLER AFTER A YOUNG WOMAN IS KILLED IN THE PARK—When a young woman shows up dead in the park, Jane (Maria Bello) immediately goes to Lt. Sweeney (Aidan Quinn) to ask for manpower. Duffy (Brían F. O’Byrne) and Evrard (Damon Gupton) feverishly search for the murdered woman’s stepfather after he suddenly disappears. Meanwhile, Jane and her father (Peter Gerety) celebrate an important anniversary together. Kirk Acevedo, Tim Griffin, Damon Gupton and Kenny Johnson also star."PRIME SUSPECT"
(X) "REGRETS, I'VE HAD A FEW"
10/29/2011 (09:00PM - 10:00PM) (Saturday) : JANE SEARCHES FOR A KILLER AFTER A YOUNG WOMAN IS KILLED IN THE PARK—When a young woman shows up dead in the park, Jane (Maria Bello) immediately goes to Lt. Sweeney (Aidan Quinn) to ask for manpower. Duffy (Brían F. O’Byrne) and Evrard (Damon Gupton) feverishly search for the murdered woman’s stepfather after he suddenly disappears. Meanwhile, Jane and her father (Peter Gerety) celebrate an important anniversary together. Kirk Acevedo, Tim Griffin, Damon Gupton and Kenny Johnson also star.
