NBC reschedules yet again

"Scrubs" creator/executive producer Bill Lawrence wasn't happy when NBC pre-empted his show for the premiere of "The Apprentice." He's got to be even less happy now that the network has banished the sitcom from Thursdays altogether in favor of the reality show.

The blame for the move can be laid at least in part at the feet of "American Idol," which killed "The Apprentice" in the ratings.

Lawrence said he was feeling "hugely" underappreciated when schedule game-playing between NBC and CBS resulted in moving the scheduled Wednesday premiere of "The Apprentice" to Thursday, which bounced his comedy off the schedule that week.

"In my head, we're still a new show. We're trying to establish ourselves," said Lawrence, who went on to say that he's "excited" about next season when "Friends" is no longer a part of the Thursday lineup. "I honestly think we're (appearing before critics) because this, for all intents and purposes, could be our turn. And, hopefully, our year coming up."

Well, maybe. But maybe not. As of Feb. 3, "Scrubs" is moving to Tuesdays at 8:30 p.m., where it will be the heir-apparent to "Frasier." And "Frasier" has been consistently losing in the ratings this season to the dreadful ABC sitcom "According to Jim."

What set this off was the failure of "The Apprentice" to compete with "American Idol" on Wednesday night. After averaging 19.1 million viewers in its first two original-episode outings (the first on Thursday after "Friends" and the second on Wednesday at 7 p.m.), "The Apprentice" lost a third of its audience when it had to go up against "American Idol." The Fox talent show pulled in 29.3 million viewers to just 12.3 million for "The Apprentice."

Take that, Donald Trump.

NBC immediately sounded the retreat. "The Apprentice" moves to Thursdays at 8 p.m., with a repeat episode airing the following Wednesday at 7 p.m. (Which says something about the level of NBC's programming, doesn't it?)

"Two of the hottest shows on television right now are 'The Apprentice' and 'American Idol.' We think it's a disservice to viewers to have them squaring off against each other," said Mitch Metcalf, NBC's chief scheduler. "We consider these moves a 'win-win' for NBC and the audience."

Well, not all of "these moves" are so great — at least not for "Scrubs" or its fans, who have had a difficult time finding the show as it bounced around the schedule. And it's not like "The Apprentice" is getting a pass — on Thursdays at 8 p.m., it will be going up against TV's most-watched show, CBS' "CSI." And beginning in February, CBS will further strengthen its Thursday lineup with the debut of the all-star edition of "Survivor."

NBC viewers will have to start looking for other shows, too. On Thursday, "Will & Grace" moves to 7:30 p.m., where it used to air after it moved from Mondays and before it moved to 8 p.m. Except when it airs at 8:30 p.m.

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