NBC announces January 2009 schedule including two new reality shows

NBC has announced its January 2009 schedule that features a few new reality shows including international dancing competition Superstars of Dance and Howie Do It featuring Deal or No Deal host Howie Mandel.

Superstars of Dance, from the producers of So You Think You Can Dance will debut for a month-long stint beginning Sunday, January 4 before the series resumes in its regular day and time on Monday, January 5 through January 19 from 8 to 10 p.m. ET/PT. The season finale of Superstars of Dance will wrap up on Monday, January 26 from 8 to 9 p.m. ET/PT.

The new competition series showcasing the world’s best and most varied dancers, will be followed on Mondays by Momma’s Boys (10 to 11 p.m. ET/PT), the new series from executive producer Ryan Seacrest.

Momma’s Boys, originally scheduled to debut earlier this fall, will premiere on Tuesday, December 16.

Fridays will see the debut of a hidden-camera reality show Howie Do It on January 9, from 8 to 9 p.m. ET/PT. No other information about the show was immediately available.

Superstars of Dance, hosted by Michael Flatley (Lord of the Dance), is an international dance competition led by executive producers Nigel Lythgoe and Simon Fuller, two of the masterminds behind American Idol and So You Think You Can Dance.

The series will pit the masters of various dance genres from eight countries against each other.

Eight countries will participate in the competition with each team comprised of two soloists, one duo and one larger group. Viewers will get to know the competitors and the coaches through the trials and tribulations, both behind the scenes and on the stage.

These artists are not only representing themselves, but also their dance form and entire nation.

The eight countries currently scheduled to participate include: Ireland, India, USA, Argentina, China, Russia, South Africa and Australia.

Momma’s Boys is a new dating series that centers on three possessive, yet loving mothers who must help their sons choose the perfect woman.

With the mothers in the picture, it should be interesting to watch the showdowns and rivalries as 32 single women — some classy, some not so classy — vie for the attention of three eligible bachelors and their mothers who live with them through the series.

In the end, we will find out who plays a more crucial role in these young men’s lives — his mother or his significant other.

Momma’s Boys is a production of Ryan Seacrest Productions and Glassman Media. Glassman and Seacrest are the executive producers. Eliot Goldberg and Grant Julian will serve as co-executive producers.

NBC has not announced it’s longterm midseason schedule yet, with many of its regular shows such as Chuck, Heroes and Life expected to return in February.

New fall TV shows already on the January schedule include Kath & Kim and Knight Rider.

The critically acclaimed Friday Night Lights will then return to NBC’s Friday-night lineup on January 16 (9-10 p.m. ET).

Here is the new January program schedule grid from NBC (all times ET); new series are capitalized:

MONDAYS (beginning January 5)

8-10 p.m. — “SUPERSTARS OF DANCE”; premieres Sunday, January 4 (9-11 p.m.); season finale Monday, January 26 (8-9 p.m.)

10-11 p.m. – “MOMMA’S BOYS”

(“Chuck” and “Heroes” return in February)

TUESDAYS (beginning January 6)

8-10 p.m. – “The Biggest Loser: Couples”

10-11 p.m. — Law & Order: Special Victims Unit”

TUESDAY (January 20)

10-11 p.m. – “Dateline NBC”: Presidential Inauguration Special (10-11 p.m. ET)

WEDNESDAYS (beginning January 7)

8-9 p.m. — “Knight Rider”

9-10 p.m. – “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” encores (“Life” returns in February)

10-11 p.m. — “Law & Order”

THURSDAYS (beginning January

8-8:30 p.m. – “My Name Is Earl”

8:30-9 p.m. — “Kath & Kim”

9:00-9:31 p.m. — “The Office”

9:31-10 p.m. — “30 Rock”

10-11 p.m. – “ER”

FRIDAYS

8-9 p.m. — “HOWIE DO IT” (series premiere January 9)

9-10 p.m. – “Friday Night Lights” (beginning January 16)

10-11 p.m. — “Dateline NBC” (beginning December 5)

SATURDAYS (beginning January 10)

8-11 – “Law & Order” and “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” encores

SUNDAYS (January 4)

7-9 p.m. – “Saturday Night Live Sports Extra”

9-11 p.m. – “SUPERSTARS OF DANCE” (premiere)

“Sunday — Event Specials”

8-11 p.m. – “THE GOLDEN GLOBE AWARDS” (January 11)

9-11 p.m. – “SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE FILM FESTIVAL” (January 18)

9-11 p.m. — THE LAST TEMPLAR — (January 25 and Monday, January 26)

6:15-10 p.m. — SUPER BOWL XLIII (February 1)

Photo courtesy Newscom