New NBC Shows

Can NBC get out of fourth place in the ratings with a retro drama about the Playboy Club, a police show based on a revered British series, a horror series inspired by fairy tales and three new comedies?  Well, if one of them sticks, then the new head of NBC Entertainment Bob Greenblatt can start building on his plan to "develop more upscale shows."  Let's hope that means more shows such as "Harry's Law" or "30 Rock" and fewer like "Minute to Win It."  Greenblatt, a former Showtime programmer, faced a room full of TV columnists Monday to tout additions to the network's upcoming season. He was introduced by Joel McHale of NBC's "Community," who joked that NBC's new "Playboy Club" basically is "Mad Men" with boobs. "NBC has a new strategy," he said. "We're going to wait for all the old people watching CBS and ABC to die. The new motto is: 'Just one more step and you'll be at the bottom of the stairs, Grandma.' "  Greenblatt said the network is "working aggressively" to get out of fourth place. "We want to restore NBC to its leadership position in comedy," he said. But reality competitions remain on NBC's plate. "The Voice" is a hit and will premiere Feb. 5 after the Super Bowl on NBC.  A two-hour "Voice" episode on Feb. 6 will lead into the premiere of "Smash," a musical drama about the making of a Broadway play about Marilyn Monroe (in what might be NBC's best new series). But "Smash" is months away, and the critics apparently are not wowed by the six new series coming to NBC in the fall. Getting the most attention at the moment is "The Playboy Club," a drama set in the swinging Rat Pack days of the 1960s when Playboy Clubs where just getting started.  Eddie Cibrian co-stars as a dapper ladies man and club key holder. He is having an affair with a blond bunny (Amber Heard). The large cast includes other bunnies with various problems.  Greenblatt and the show's producers rejected suggestions from the critics that "Playboy Club" is like AMC's critically acclaimed '60s drama "Mad Men." They also defended the show after questions were raised about whether it might be sexist or just a sexy potboiler with attractive women in skimpy bunny outfits. NBC also has an Americanized version of the popular British series "Prime Suspect." Maria Bello has the Helen Mirren role of a tough female detective battling a good old boy network. NBC's comedy hopes are pinned on a new romantic comedy, "Whitney," that showcases the comedy and appeal of Whitney Cummings. "Free Agents" stars Hank Azaria and Kathryn Hahn as co-workers and potential lovers at a public relations agency; and "Up All Night" stars Christina Applegate and Will Arnett as yuppies struggling to adjust to being parents. A dark horse for NBC could be "Grimm," an offbeat horror/fantasy drama about a detective fighting evil fairy tale characters causing trouble in the real world.  Greenblatt also announced that Sean Hayes ("Will and Grace") will develop and star in a comedy for next season, Adam Levine (Maroon 5 frontman and "Voice" mentor) is producing a comedy series, Dick Wolf ("Law & Order") is working on a new drama about firefighters and Michael Bublé will have a holiday special on NBC. [caption id="attachment_712" align="alignnone" width="550" caption="The Playboy Club - New on NBC"][/caption]

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