NBC renews ’30 Rock,’ brings new three-hour comedy block to Thursday night

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As Comcast gets closer to finalizing an executive structure for NBC, the network has decided to shake up its lineup with a three-hour comedy block on Thursday nights.

On Monday, the Peacock announced several mid-season changes, including picking up ’30 Rock’ for another season, and moving it to 10 p.m. to make room for the return of ‘Parks and Recreation’ and the new comedy ‘Perfect Couples.’ (‘The Office’ and ‘Community’ will remain in their timeslots, while ‘Outsourced’ will now follow ’30 Rock.’) NBC’s website describes ‘Perfect Couples’ as ‘the misadventures of three engaging couples as they struggle to find out what makes the ideal relationship -- and how to maintain it through humorous trial and error.’

‘We were looking to add more comedy to our schedule and we believe the best way to do so is to expand our already successful Thursday night,’ said Mitch Metcalf, NBC’s executive vice president of program planning and scheduling, in a statement.

NBC also announced the January premieres of four new shows: ‘Perfect Couples,’ the superhero epic “The Cape,” the David E. Kelley legal drama “Harry’s Law,” and the reality competition “America’s Next Great Restaurant.”

Returning series “Parks and Recreation,” “The Biggest Loser: Couples,” “Who Do You Think You Are?,” “Minute to Win It,” “The Marriage Ref” and “The Celebrity Apprentice” will also join the schedule in January.

NBC’s ‘School Pride,’ which has struggled with ratings, was conspicuously absent from the lineup. Many speculate that the show will not be renewed for a second season.

NBC’s three other mid-season offerings -- ‘Friends With Benefits,’ ‘The Paul Reiser Show’ and ‘Love Bites’ -- were not included in Monday’s announcements. All three shows are in production and will be scheduled later.

The new schedule’s full lineup follows (all times are ET). New series are capitalized.

MONDAYS

8-9 p.m. – “Chuck”

9-10 p.m. – “THE CAPE,” premiering with a two-hour episode on Sunday, Jan. 9 (9-11 p.m.). New episodes start in its regular time period Jan. 17 (9-10 p.m.)

10-11 p.m. – “HARRY’S LAW’ (beginning Jan. 17)

9-10 p.m. – “The Event” (returns Feb. 28, 9-11 p.m.; resumes in its regular time slot March 7)

10-11 p.m. -- “Parenthood” (debuts in this slot March 7 with all originals)

TUESDAYS

8-10 p.m. -- “The Biggest Loser: Couples” (beginning Jan. 4)

10-11 p.m. – “Parenthood” (beginning Jan. 4 for four episodes)

10-11 p.m. -- “Law & Order: Los Angeles” (beginning Feb. 8)

WEDNESDAYS

8-9 p.m. -- “Minute to Win It” (beginningJan. 5)

9-10 p.m. –“Chase” (beginning Jan. 12)

10-11 p.m. – “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” (originals beginning Jan. 5 with a two-hour episode, 9-11 p.m. ET)

9-10 p.m. – “AMERICA’S NEXT GREAT RESTAURANT” (beginning March 16)

THURSDAYS (all beginning Jan. 20)

8-8:30 p.m. – “Community”

8:30-9 p.m. – “PERFECT COUPLES”

9-9:30 p.m. – “The Office”

9:30-10 p.m. – “Parks and Recreation”

10-10:30 p.m. – “30 Rock”

10:30-11 p.m. – “Outsourced”

FRIDAYS

8-9 p.m. -- “Who Do You Think You Are?” (beginning Jan. 21)

9-11 p.m. – “Dateline NBC” (beginning Jan. 7)

SUNDAYS

7-8 p.m. – “Dateline NBC”

8-9 p.m. – “The Marriage Ref” (beginning March 6)

9-11 p.m. – “The Celebrity Apprentice” (beginning March 6)

--Melissa Maerz