Meg and Chris rode off on the motorcycle and we’ll perhaps never know what happened next. (I say perhaps because I have heard rumors that Jonathan Prince may try selling the show to WB or such.)

NBC released its 2005-06 schedule and American Dreams was nowhere in it :-(

Sad day today.

—

Monday, May 16, 2005
NBC INTRODUCES SIX NEW PRIMETIME SERIES FOR 2005-06 FALL SCHEDULE WITH ACCENT ON FRESH FACES, INNOVATIVE CONCEPTS AND PROVEN RETURNING SERIES
Released by NBC


NBC INTRODUCES SIX NEW PRIMETIME SERIES FOR 2005-06 FALL SCHEDULE WITH ACCENT ON FRESH FACES, INNOVATIVE CONCEPTS AND PROVEN RETURNING SERIES

‘MY NAME IS EARL’ JOINS NBC’S COMEDY LINEUP; NEW DRAMAS ARE ‘E-RING,’ ‘FATHOM’ AND ‘INCONCEIVABLE’

‘THE APPRENTICE: MARTHA STEWART’ AND ‘THREE WISHES’ ARE NEW UNSCRIPTED SERIES

NEW YORK - May 16, 2005 - NBC is emphasizing originality and big ideas in its 2005-06 Fall primetime schedule with a lineup of three new drama series, one new comedy and two unscripted series - continuing its tradition of fresh faces and innovative concepts built on a strong foundation of quality returning series.

The annual program announcement was made today by Jeff Zucker, President, NBC Universal Television Group and Kevin Reilly, President, NBC Entertainment, before the advertising community, affiliates and press at Radio City Music Hall.

“We’re very excited and encouraged by the lineup we’re presenting today,” said Zucker. “I’m confident that we have addressed our schedule needs and will continue to excel in drawing the advertiser-friendly, upscale viewers who have come to appreciate NBC’s quality brand of programming.”

“NBC viewers will see fresh talent and bold, original concepts in our new series next year,” said Reilly, “Our goal is to create real excitement, especially at 8 p.m., which will pay dividends throughout each night. We’re eager to be number one again, and this freshman class, combined with NBC’s powerful core schedule and recent successes like “Medium,” “The Biggest Loser” and “The Office,” represent a major step toward getting there.”

Highlights of the 2005-06 season include the new dramas: “E-Ring” (Wednesdays, 9-10 p.m. ET), a suspenseful drama from standout producer Jerry Bruckheimer set inside the Pentagon that stars Benjamin Bratt (NBC’s “Law & Order”) and Dennis Hopper (“Speed”); “Fathom” (Mondays, 8-9 p.m. ET), an ambitious action-adventure about a mysterious new form of sea life that begins to appear in oceans all over the earth; and “Inconceivable” (Fridays, 10-11 p.m. ET), a serialized ensemble drama set inside a fertility clinic, starring Jonathan Cake (“Fallen”) and Ming-Na (NBC’s “ER”).

The new comedy being added in the fall is the smart, fresh “My Name Is Earl” (Tuesdays, 9-9:30 p.m. ET), starring Jason Lee (“Almost Famous”), as a young man who has taken one too many wrong turns on the highway of life but is now determined to make amends.

In keeping with NBC’s strategy of launching series all year long, additional new comedies for next season include “Four Kings,” from Emmy Award winners David Kohan and Max Mutchnick, the creators of “Will & Grace,” and “Thick and Thin,” from multi Emmy-Award-winning producer Lorne Michaels, and starring Jessica Capshaw (“The Practice”) as a once overweight woman who embarks on a new journey as a fit and newly single woman.

The fall lineup also includes two new unscripted series, “The Apprentice: Martha Stewart”) on Wednesdays (8-9 p.m. ET) and “Three Wishes” on Fridays (8-9 p.m. ET), hosted by popular recording artist Amy Grant.

Fan favorites “Scrubs” and “Fear Factor” will also return to the NBC schedule at some point next season.

Additional Fall schedule changes include the move of four-time Emmy winner “The West Wing” to Sundays (8-9 p.m. ET); and the return of the critically acclaimed freshman comedy “The Office” on Tuesdays (9:30-10 p.m. ET). “Dateline NBC” moves up an hour on Fridays (to 9-10 p.m. ET).

(Please see accompanying release for details of NBC’s longform programming for 2005-06).

Following is NBC’s primetime series schedule for the Fall 2005-06 season. Nightly strategy and show descriptions follow (all times are Eastern).

NBC PRIMETIME SCHEDULE FOR 2005-06

*New programs in CAPS (with the exception of “ER”)

MONDAY
8-9 p.m. “FATHOM”
9-10 p.m. “Las Vegas”
10-11 p.m. “Medium”

TUESDAY
8-9 p.m. “The Biggest Loser”
9-9:30 p.m. “MY NAME IS EARL”
9:30-10 p.m. “The Office”
10-11 p.m. “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit”

WEDNESDAY
8-9 p.m. “THE APPRENTICE: MARTHA STEWART”
9-10 p.m. “E-RING”
10-11 p.m. “Law & Order”

THURSDAY
8-8:30 p.m. “Joey”
8:30-9 p.m. “Will & Grace”
9-10 p.m. “The Apprentice”
10-11 p.m. “ER”

FRIDAY
8-9 p.m. “THREE WISHES”
9-10 p.m. “Dateline NBC” (new time period)
10-11 p.m. “INCONCEIVABLE”

SATURDAY
8-11 p.m. “NBC SATURDAY NIGHT MOVIE”

SUNDAY
7-8 p.m. “Dateline NBC”
8-9 p.m. “The West Wing” (new day and time)
9-10 p.m. “Law & Order: Criminal Intent”
10-11 p.m. “Crossing Jordan”