THE NBC PRIMETIME PREVIEW SHOW Kicks Off NBC Fall Season

NBC offers an advance look at its new and returning fall 2011 series via multiple broadcast, digital, NBCUniversal and cable entities with "The NBC Primetime Preview Show," a vibrant 30-minute presentation now through September 25. Whitney Cummings ("Chelsea Lately") -- star of the upcoming NBC comedy "Whitney" -- hosts the fast-paced program.

Joining Cummings as co-host of the preview will be Chris D'Elia ("Glory Daze"), her "Whitney" co-star.

The engaging "NBC Primetime Preview Show" will spotlight exclusive views of various series to be delivered across a wide horizon of NBC Universal media platforms. The program is estimated to be transmitted more than 500 times over broadcast, digital and cable entities.

The entertainment special will focus on NBC's new shows for the fall, including the dramas "The Playboy Club," "Prime Suspect" and "Grimm," while the new comedies are "Up All Night," "Free Agents" and "Whitney."

Viewers will also get a first look at "Smash," the musical drama set for mid-season that celebrates the beauty and heartbreak of the Broadway theater as it follows a cross-section of dreamers and schemers who all have one common desire -- to be a "Smash." Debra Messing ("Will & Grace"), Katharine McPhee ("American Idol"), Megan Hilty ("9 to 5: The Musical") and Anjelica Huston ("Prizzi's Honor") are among the stars.

In addition, returning favorites to be included are "Parenthood," "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit," "Harry's Law," "Chuck" (for its fifth and final season of 13 episodes), "Community," "Parks and Recreation," "The Office" and "30 Rock." Among next season's returning alternative series are "The Voice," "The Sing-Off" and "The Biggest Loser." "Sunday Night Football" also will be included in the show.

The annual Fall program will be offered to NBC's 234 television stations (check local listings) as well as other channel entities such as USA, Syfy, Bravo, UniHD, Chiller, mun2, MSNBC, CNBC, Oxygen, Sleuth, Xfinity, E! Entertainment Television, mun2, NBC2Go, on-demand and broadband. NBC stations will also make it available on their websites while NBC.com will feature it as well. In addition, the program will be screened on selected American Airlines flights (estimated to be shown on approximately 11,000 flights).

NBC Premiere Week begins in earnest on Monday, September 19 with "The Playboy Club" (10-11 p.m. ET). From Oscar-winning executive producer Brian Grazer, "The Playboy Club" is a provocative new NBC drama about a time and place that challenged the existing social mores and transformed American culture forever. It's the early 1960s, and at the center of Chicago lies the legendary and seductive Playboy Club, a living, breathing fantasy world filled with $1.50 cocktails, music, glitter and beautiful Bunnies. Nick Dalton (Eddie Cibrian, "CSI: Miami") is the ultimate playboy and one of the city's top attorneys, rubbing elbows with everyone in the Windy City's power structure. With mysterious and complicated ties to the mob, he comes to the aid of Maureen (Amber Heard, "Zombieland"), the stunning and innocent new Bunny at the club

"Up All Night," created by Emily Spivey (NBC's "Parks and Recreation" and "Saturday Night Live") and executive-produced by Lorne Michaels (NBC's "Saturday Night Live" and "30 Rock"), is an irreverent look at modern parenthood. Christina Applegate ("Samantha Who?") stars as Reagan Brinkley, a loving wife, successful career woman, life of the party and, most recently, mom. Determined not to compromise her career or cool reputation to the clichés of motherhood, Reagan adjusts to life with a baby and returns to work with the support of her stay-at-home husband, Chris (Will Arnett, "Arrested Development"). "Up All Night" will premiere out of its regular time period on Wednesday, September 14 (10-10:30 p.m. ET) and will resume in its regular time period on Wednesday, September 21 8-8:30 p.m. ET).

Based on the witty, cult U.K. series of the same name, "Free Agents" is a crooked, romantic comedy from creator John Enbom ("Party Down") and Emmy Award-winning director Todd Holland ("Malcolm in the Middle") that explores the trials and tribulations of finding love and companionship -- the second time around. Hank Azaria ("The Simpsons," "Huff") stars as newly-divorced Alex, a public relations exec who shares an ill-fated night of passion with co-worker Helen (Kathryn Hahn, "Hung") -- and they are forced to cope with the awkward aftermath. The series will premiere out of its regular time period on Wednesday, September 14 (10:30-11 p.m. ET) and will resume in its regular time period on Wednesday, September 21 8:30-9 p.m. ET)

NBC's new multi-camera comedy "Whitney" is a hilarious look at modern day love, which centers around Whitney (Whitney Cummings, "Chelsea Lately") and Alex (Chris D'Elia, "Glory Daze"), a happily unmarried couple. Together for three years, the duo is in no rush to get hitched, which seems to get a mixed response from their friends. "Whitney" debuts on Thursday, September 22(9:30-10 p.m. ET). Following "Whitney" is the new drama "Prime Suspect" -- from Emmy Award-nominated producers Peter Berg (NBC's "Friday Night Lights") and Alexandra Cunningham ("Desperate Housewives") -- that takes a look inside a New York City homicide department. The series stars Maria Bello ("A History of Violence") as tough-as-nails NYPD homicide Detective Jane Timoney, an outsider who has just transferred to a new squad where her new colleagues already dislike her. "Prime Suspect" premieres Thursday, September 22 (10-11 p.m. ET).

"Grimm" -- premiering Friday, October 21, 9-10 p.m. ET) -- is a new drama series inspired by the classic Grimm Fairy Tales. Portland homicide detective Nick Burkhardt (David Giuntoli, "Turn the Beat Around") discovers he is descended from an elite line of criminal profilers known as "Grimms," charged with keeping balance between humanity and the mythological creatures of the world. As he tries to hide the dangers of his new found calling from his fiancé Juliette Silverton, (Bitsie Tulloch,"Quarterlife") and his partner Hank Griffith (Russell Hornsby, "Lincoln Heights"), he becomes ever more entrenched in the ancient rivalries and alliances of the Grimm world.

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