Spinoff of The Office coming next season on NBC
Last Updated: Thursday, April 3, 2008 | 12:35 PM ET
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NBC plans a spinoff of workplace comedy The Office and a reprise of action show Knight Rider in its 2008-9 TV season.
The U.S. network unveiled its programming lineup in New York on Wednesday.
Kyle Chandler portrays Eric Taylor on Friday Night Lights, which will return to the air on NBC in 2008-9.
(NBC/Associated Press)
NBC did not release casting or plot details of The Office spinoff, but said it was from the same creative team as the original hit show.
The new series will premiere back-to-back with an episode of the parent show following NBC's coverage of the Super Bowl in February, the most watched U.S. telecast every year.
Knight Rider, about a high-tech car that helps in fighting crime, is a reprise of the 1980s series and will star Val Kilmer as the voice of the car.
And in a treat for lovers of political humour, Saturday Night Live will air for four half-hours in prime time in the leadup to the U.S. presidential election this November.
Hospital drama E.R. returns for its 15th season, but the year will be the final one for the much-loved series.
Christian Slater, shown in August 2007, will star in NBC series about a suburban father who has a secret life as a spy.
(Martial Trezzini/Associated Press)
Another returning show is Friday Night Lights, the critically acclaimed series about a football team in a small Texas town.
Other new offerings:
- Merlin: a fantasy drama set in mythic Camelot.
- Kings: based on the biblical story of David, but set in a modern metropolis.
- The Philanthropist: About a renegade billionaire who uses his wealth to help people.
- My Worst Enemy: about a suburban dad who lives a secret life as a spy, starring Christian Slater.
- Kath & Kim: a mother-and-daughter comedy starring Molly Shannon and Selma Blair.
- Crusoe: based on the classic novel about a castaway struggling for survival.
Bionic Woman, Journeyman and Scrubs have been axed from the coming season at NBC.
Other major U.S. networks are expected to unveil their prime-time offerings in May. Prime-time ratings on U.S. TV are down about 12 per cent from a year ago.
With files from the Associated PressShare Tools
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