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NBC has picked up a half dozen new shows for next season and multiple reports say the network will give final shortened seasons to its veteran sitcoms “30 Rock,” “Community” and “Parks and Recreation.”
NBC had not confirmed any pickups of returning shows as of early afternoon Tuesday. But the network in the past has embraced all three, despite their relatively low ratings, because they are critical and cult favorites.
And because, frankly, NBC hasn’t found a lot of other shows lately that have shown the promise of doing a lot better.
In the case of “30 Rock,” it has won numerous Emmys and other awards. Creator/star Tina Fey and co-star Alec Baldwin have also multiple awards and both are signed for one more season.
According to reports in the Huffington Post and elsewhere, “30 Rock” would get 13 more shows, giving it a total of seven seasons and more than enough episodes to be lucrative in syndication.
Wrapping it up in 2012-2013 would be consistent with recent comments by both Fey and Baldwin, who have said they see their involvement with the show ending.
If “Community” returns, it could be lacking Chevy Chase, a prominent member of the ensemble cast. Chase has been quoted lately as calling the show “a mediocre sitcom” and saying he can’t wait to be rid of it.
“Parks and Recreation,” which stars Fey’s old “Saturday Night Live” running buddy Amy Poehler, has always gotten rapturous reviews, but has never seemed to bring large new audiences to NBC, which could use some.
Another season would be the fifth for “Parks and Rec” and the fourth for “Community.”
NBC did confirm Tuesday that it has picked up a number of new sitcoms, including Matthew Perry’s “Go On,” Anne Heche’s “Save Me,” Ryan Murphy’s “The New Normal,” Bill Pullman’s “1600 Penn” and Justin Kirk’s “Animal Practice.”
It has also picked up the new J.J. Abrams post-apocalypse drama “Revolution” and “Hannibal.”
This news and these reports from NBC are coming out a week before all the major broadcast networks formally unveil their fall schedules during their “upfront” presentations to advertisers.
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