NBC has given a March 15 return date for “Community” and also announced premieres for “Bent,” “Best Friends Forever” and “Betty White’s Off Their Rockers.”
“Bent” will debut March 21 in the 9 p.m. Wednesday timeslot, going head to head against ABC comedy powerhouse “Modern Family.” Starring Amanda Peet, “Bent” will air in two-episode hourlong blocks the following two weeks. Tad Quill exec produced for Universal Television and Rosalita Prods.
“Off Their Rockers,” which drew a 2.6 rating among viewers 18-49 and 12.2 million viewers overall when sneak-previewed by NBC on Jan. 16, will officially air Wednesdays at 8 p.m. beginning April 4. That will be immediately followed by the premiere of female buddy sitcom “Best Friends Forever,” starring Jessica St. Clair and Lennon Parham, who exec produce with Scot Armstrong, Alexa Junge, Fred Savage and Ravi Nandan for Universal TV and American Work.
With “Community,” which has been off the air since Dec. 8., coming back, NBC is resetting its Thursday lineup. As of March 15, “Community” will be followed by “30 Rock,” “The Office” and “Up All Night.” “Parks and Recreation” will take a six-week hiatus after its March 8 airing, returning at 9:30 April 19 after “Up All Night” finishes its 24-episode freshman season.
In other show-shuffling news, “Rock Center With Brian Williams” will move to 10 p.m. on Wednesdays starting March 7 for five weeks, returning to 9 p.m. April 11. “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” returns with original episodes at 10 p.m. on April 11, leading to its season finale on May 23.
