Medical Drama Brilliant Minds Starring Zachary Quinto and Mockumentary Comedy St. Denis Medical Join the Fall Lineup Along with More Laughs from Reba McEntire in the New Multi-cam Happy’s Place!
NBC unveils its 2024 fall schedule highlighting fan-favorite franchise dramas, two nights of laughs, huge unscripted hits and the biggest and best live specials and holiday programming. The new shows will join an already powerful line-up of returning show which include top sophomore dramas Found and The Irrational, fan-favorite comedies Lopez vs Lopez and Night Court, hit alternative series The Voice, as well as the beloved #OneChicago and Law & Order franchises.
Three new series are set to premiere in the fall: Drama Brilliant Minds, starring Zachary Quinto and inspired by the true story of a revolutionary, larger-than-life neurologist, Oliver Wolf, and his team of interns as they explore the last great frontier — the human mind — while also grappling with their own relationships and mental health.
Next we have St. Denis Medical, which stars Wendi McLendon-Covey, Allison Tolman and David Alan Grier, and is from co-creators Justin Spitzer and Eric Ledgin. A mockumentary about an underfunded, understaffed Oregon hospital where the dedicated doctors and nurses try their best to treat patients while maintaining their own sanity.
Keeping the laughs coming, Reba McEntire returns to comedy with multi-camera Happy’s Place, in which her character inherits her father’s bar. She is less than thrilled to discover that she has a new business partner in the half-sister she never knew she had.
MIDSEASON
Joining NBC’s line-up at midseason will be the network’s highly anticipated, 10-part tentpole event series The Americas arrives on Feb. 23 with a special two-hour premiere. Narrated by actor, producer, and writer Tom Hanks with music by two-time Oscar winner Hans Zimmer, the natural history series is five years in the making and filled with extraordinary new discoveries. It marks the first time North America and South America, home to the largest variety of life on the planet, are at the center of a wildlife documentary series.
Also arriving in 2025 are two new pulse-pounding shows: reality competition series “Destination X,” which combines a spectacular adventure with immersive gameplay and the ultimate guessing game, and procedural drama “The Hunting Party” starring Melissa Roxburgh (Manifest),which will see a team of investigators attempt to capture the country’s most dangerous killers. Deal or No Deal Island returns a new set of contestants to the Banker’s private island for season two.
Saturday Night Live will mark its milestone 50th anniversary with a celebratory weekend culminating in a live primetime special on Sunday, Feb. 16 from 8-11 p.m. ET.
ADDITIONAL PILOTS
As part of NBC’s rolling development cycle, the following projects have been picked up to pilot with decisions yet to be made on series pickup: Dramas Grosse Pointe Garden Society from Jenna Bans and Bill Krebs (Good Girls) and Suits: L.A. from the world of hit legal drama Suits and original creator Aaron Korsh. With NBC’s 52-week scheduling strategy, these pilots – if picked up to series – could air later in the 2024-25 season or roll over to the 2025-26 season.
All new series will stream next day on Peacock along with the rest of NBC’s entertainment lineup.
NBC’s 2024/25 Schedule Highlights:
MONDAY:#1 most-watched alternative series The Voice leads off premiere week for its 26th cycle at 8 p.m., setting the stage for the debut of true life-inspired medical drama Brilliant Minds, starring Zachary Quinto, at 10 p.m.
TUESDAY: Laughs lead off the evening with the premiere of mockumentary St. Denis Medical at 8 p.m., followed by the return of hit comedy Night Court at 8:30 p.m. “The Voice” takes the stage at 9 p.m. followed by the highly anticipated sophomore season of new hit drama The Irrational.
WEDNESDAY: The #OneChicago lineup continues to hold down the fort starting at 8 p.m. with Chicago Med, continuing with Chicago Fire and concluding with Chicago P.D.
THURSDAY: Thursday starts with the flagship Law & Order at 8 p.m. followed by the record-extending 26th season of Law & Order: SVU. The night concludes with the return of #1 new fall drama Found, starring Shanola Hampton.
FRIDAY: Reba McEntire kicks off a new comedy hour at 8 p.m. with the debut of Happy’s Place, leading into the return of fan-favorite Lopez vs. Lopez, followed by hit newsmagazine Dateline NBC from 9-11 p.m.
SATURDAY: Big Ten Saturday Night is back in primetime as an expanded conference of storied college programs vie for dominance.
SUNDAY: #1 primetime television show for a record 13 consecutive years, NBC Sunday Night Football will broadcast 20 regular-season games throughout the NFL season.
NBC FALL 2024-25 SCHEDULE
(New programs in UPPER CASE; all times ET/PT)
MONDAY
8-10 P.M. — The Voice
10-11 P.M. — BRILLIANT MINDS
TUESDAY
8-8:30 P.M. —ST. DENIS MEDICAL
8:30-9 P.M. — Night Court
9-10 P.M. — The Voice
10-11 P.M. — The Irrational
WEDNESDAY
8-9 P.M. — Chicago Med
9-10 P.M. — Chicago Fire
10-11 P.M. — Chicago P.D.
THURSDAY
8-9 P.M. — Law & Order
9-10 P.M. — Law & Order: SVU
10-11 P.M. — Found
FRIDAY
8-8:30 P.M. — HAPPY’S PLACE
8:30-9 P.M. — Lopez vs. Lopez
9-11 P.M — Dateline NBC
SATURDAY
7-7:30 P.M. ET— Big Ten Pregame / Notre Dame Pregame (also live on Peacock)
7:30-11 P.M. ET— Big Ten Saturday Night / Notre Dame Football (also live on Peacock)
SUNDAY
7-8:20 P.M. ET— Football Night in America (also live on Peacock)
8:20-11 P.M. ET— NBC Sunday Night Football (also live on Peacock)
Here are a few more details on the all the great new stuff coming to NBC in the 2024-25 season.
New Comedy Series
HAPPY’S PLACE
Bobbi (Reba McEntire) inherits her father’s bar and is less than thrilled to discover that she has a new business partner in the half-sister she never knew she had. (Multi-cam)
The series stars Reba McEntire, Belissa Escobedo, Melissa Peterman, Pablo Castelblanco, Tokala Black Elk and Rex Linn.
Writer Kevin Abbott executive produces with Michael Hanel, Mindy Schultheis, Julie Abbott and Reba McEntire.
Happy’s Place is produced by Universal Television, a division of Universal Studio Group.
ST. DENIS MEDICAL
A mockumentary about an underfunded, understaffed Oregon hospital where the dedicated doctors and nurses try their best to treat patients while maintaining their own sanity. (Single-cam)
The cast includes Wendi McClendon-Covey, David Alan Grier, Allison Tolman, Josh Lawson, Mekki Leeper, Kahyun Kim and Kaliko Kauahi.
Justin Spitzer and Eric Ledgin will write and executive produce. Simon Heuer also executive produces with director Ruben Fleischer (pilot only).
Universal Television, a division of Universal Studio Group, produces in association with Spitzer Holding Company.
New Drama Series
BRILLIANT MINDS
Inspired by the extraordinary life and work of world-famous author and physician Oliver Sacks, “Brilliant Minds” follows a revolutionary, larger-than-life neurologist and his team of interns as they explore the last great frontier – the human mind – while grappling with their own relationships and mental health.
The cast includes Zachary Quinto, Tamberla Perry, Ashleigh LaThrop, Alex MacNicoll, Aury Krebs, Spence Moore II, Teddy Sears and Donna Murphy.
Michael Grassi serves as writer and executive producer. Greg Berlanti, Sarah Schechter, Leigh London Redman, Lee Toland Krieger, DeMane Davis, Melissa Aouate, Henrik Bastin, Andy Serkis, Jonathan Cavendish and Will Tennant also executive produce.
Berlanti Productions, Fabel Entertainment, The Imaginarium, Grassi Productions and Tavala produce in association with Warner Bros. Television and Universal Television, a division of Universal Studio Group.
THE HUNTING PARTY
A high-concept crime procedural about a small team of investigators who are assembled to track down and capture the most dangerous killers our country has ever seen, all of whom have just escaped from a top-secret prison that’s not supposed to exist.
The cast includes Melissa Roxburgh
JJ Bailey and Jake Coburn will write and executive produce.
Universal Television, a division of Universal Studio Group, will produce.
New Unscripted Series
THE AMERICAS
From BBC Studios Natural History Unit, the creators of the critically acclaimed and multi-Emmy Award-winning Planet Earth and Blue Planet, in association with Universal Television Alternative Studio, comes the epic 10-part tentpole event series The Americas.
Marking the first time acclaimed actor, producer and writer Tom Hanks will narrate an unscripted entertainment series, The Americas will also feature music by two-time Oscar winner Hans Zimmer. This incomparable project will employ revolutionary filmmaking technology that will showcase the wonders, secrets and exquisiteness of the Americas – Earth’s largest landmass and the only one to stretch between both poles – and reveal extraordinary, untold wildlife stories that deeply connect with millions around the world.
The Americas is executive produced by renowned Emmy and BAFTA Award-winning wildlife producer Mike Gunton for BBC Studios Natural History Unit, the world’s largest production unit dedicated to wildlife filmmaking, in association with Universal Television Alternative Studio, a division of Universal Studio Group.
DESTINATION X
Merging fantasy with reality in this larger-than-life adventure competition series, viewers will follow contestants as they embark on the road trip of a lifetime but have no idea of their location. In order to win, they must figure out their mystery locations. Once they’re on the blacked-out Destination X bus, the journey transforms into a real-life game board, with challenges designed to offer clever clues as to their location, along with a few misdirects to keep them guessing.
At the end of each episode, the contestant who places an X on a map furthest from the actual location packs their bags. The first participant to reach Destination X will be crowned the winner. With high stakes and mind-blowing, spectacular gameplay, the series will keep viewers engaged and playing along on all screens.
Caroline Davies, Andy Cadman Dan Adamson and David Clews will executive produce. Shireen Abbott and Karen Hudson will oversee production.
Twofour and Universal Television Alternative Studio, a division of Universal Studio Group, will produce.
New Specials
DEFYING GRAVITY: THE CURTAIN RISES ON WICKED
In celebration of the generation-defining, cinematic event of the year, international superstars Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande lead an all-star cast in a journey through a dazzling new vision of Oz, created for Universal Pictures’ Wicked. As they unveil some of the most spectacular sets ever created for film, Wicke” stars Erivo and Grande are joined by Michelle Yeoh, Jeff Goldblum, Jonathan Bailey and more to host this thrilling behind-the-scenes special, sharing their personal memories, intimate video diaries and secrets of the making of “Wicked,” culminating in the debut of a world-exclusive scene from the film.
Andrew Smith will executive produce. Monkey Kingdom will produce.
