Geroge Clooney, MTV working on Haiti telethon

Weinstein Co.'s 'Piranha 3-D' isn't going to be biting anyone for a while

In what is becoming a recurring theme for Weinstein Co., the production company said it was delaying yet another movie premiere.

This time it's "Piranha 3-D," which is moving from April 16 to sometime in August at the earliest, the company said today.

Weinstein Co. said it was relocating "Piranha 3-D," one of its more highly anticipated releases, to get out of the way of Lionsgate's movie "Kick-Ass," which also opens that weekend and may appeal to the same young demographics.

David Glaser, a senior Weinstein Co. executive, said there were no financial motivations behind the decision to move "Piranha 3-D."

But that won't stop the endless stream of speculation about the company's future. Besides disappointing recent releases including "Nine," "Youth in Revolt" and "The Road," the company also recently delayed the premiere of "Hoodwinked Too! Hood vs. Evil," a sequel to "Hoodwinked," which was a surprise hit for the company several years ago. "Hoodwinked Too!" was scheduled to open this weekend. The company still doesn't have a new release date. Last year it delayed another 3-D movie, "Escape from Planet Earth."

Weinstein Co. also has several finished movies sitting on the shelf waiting for release dates including "Shanghai" with John Cusack, Ryan Gosling's "All Good Things" and "Hurricane Season."

-- Joe Flint

Conan gone from NBC in a week? Plus the network's post-Leno plan

Two reports on Wednesday, from ESPN's Bill Simmons and People, say that Conan O'Brien's tenure at "The Tonight Show" will probably end next week and that his last show will be Jan. 22. It's not clear whether those reports are true or not.

UPDATE: NBC told TV Guide there has been "no movement" on the late night front and that rumors of Jay Leno firming up a deal to host a 1-hour show at 11:35 p.m. ET are false.

NBC has also announced its schedule for after the Olympics, when it will have a Jay Leno-free prime-time lineup once again. 

A few notes:

The fourth season of "Friday Night Lights" will arrive earlier than NBC had planned -- it will now premiere on NBC April 30. "Parenthood" will arrive March 2. What is a "comedy panel" series? We'll find out when Jerry Seinfeld's new show, "The Marriage Ref," arrives Feb. 28. NBC warhorse "Law & Order: Original Flavor" moves to 9 p.m. Central Mondays. NBC has resurrected "Trauma" from among the season's presumed casualties. That show will air on Mondays as well, at 8 p.m. Central. "Law and Order: SVU" moves back to the 9 p.m. Central hour, which is a good thing for that show; the time change had hurt its ratings. It'll air at 9 p.m. on Wednesdays. The bottom line here? Dick Wolf is saving NBC's bacon. His shows fill up two of the five hours formerly occupied by Jay Leno's failed prime-time experiment. The roster of what now occupies that hour (at least this spring on NBC): "L&O," "Parenthood," "L&O: SVU," "The Marriage Ref" and "Dateline."The other broadcast networks are going to plotz when they see this. Fox and CBS, sorry, but your schedules are doomed, doomed, I tell you!

The network's schedule, with a night-by night rundown of what's on when, is below. 

        NBC PRESENTS POST-WINTER OLYMPICS PRIMETIME SCHEDULE BEGINNING MARCH 1


        New Premiere Dates Set for “Parenthood” (March 2) and “The Marriage Ref” (March 4); New Series Join the Lineup Including “Who Do You Think You Are?” (March 5) and “Minute to Win It” (March 14); “Friday Night Lights” Returns April 30


UNIVERSAL CITY, Calif.January 14, 2010NBC unveiled its new post-Winter Olympics primetime program schedule today.  The new drama series “Parenthood” will premiere on Tuesday, March 2 (10-11 p.m. ET) and the comedy panel series “The Marriage Ref” from Jerry Seinfeld will premiere Thursday, March 4 (10-11 p.m. ET) after its sneak preview on Sunday, February 28 (10:30-11 p.m. ET) following NBC’s coverage of the Closing Ceremony of the Winter Olympics.

In addition, the new alternative series “Who Do You Think You Are?” from Lisa Kudrow will premiere Friday, March 5 (8-9 p.m. ET) and the new game show “Minute to Win It” joins the lineup on Sunday, March 14 (8-9 p.m. ET).  Also, “Friday Night Lights” will begin a new broadcast season on NBC on Fridays (8-9 p.m. ET) starting April 30 after “Who Do You Think You Are?” concludes its run.

The long-running series “Law & Order” continues its 20th season debuting on a new night with a two-hour telecast (9-11 p.m. ET) on Monday, March 1 before settling into its regular time period the following week, Monday, March 8 (10-11 p.m. ET).  “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” will move to Wednesdays at 10-11 p.m. (ET) beginning March 3.  Encore episodes will air at 9-10 p.m. (ET) followed by original episodes (10-11 p.m. ET).  “Trauma” returns to the schedule Monday, March 8 (9-10 p.m. ET).

“Parenthood” is a one-hour drama inspired by the box-office comedy hit of the same name that debuts Tuesday, March 2 (10-11 p.m. ET).  The re-imagined and updated production introduces audiences to the large and colorful yet imperfect Braverman family and features an all-star cast that includes Lauren Graham, Peter Krause, Craig T. Nelson, Erika Christensen, and Bonnie Bedelia among others.  Serving as executive producers are Oscar winners Ron Howard and Brian Grazer (“A Beautiful Mind,” “Frost/Nixon”), Jason Katims ("Friday Night Lights")who wrote the pilot episodeand David Nevins (“Friday Night Lights,” “Arrested Development”).  Emmy Award winner Thomas Schlamme ("The West Wing") is the director and executive producer of the pilot.  "Parenthood" is from Imagine Television and Universal Media Studios.

"The Marriage Ref"which has a special sneak preview following the Closing Ceremony of the Winter Olympics on February 28is NBC's new comedy panel series about the unpredictable and hilarious institution commonly known as marriage.  It features comedian/actor Tom Papa, who was personally selected by executive producer Jerry Seinfeld to host and serve as the "marriage ref."  The show will premiere in its regular slot on Thursdays (10-11 p.m. ET) beginning March 4.

"The Marriage Ref" is produced by Seinfeld's Columbus 81 Productions and Ellen Rakieten Entertainment. Seinfeld, Ellen Rakieten ("The Oprah Winfrey Show"), Shed Media's Nick Emmerson ("Supernanny") and Jennifer O'Connell ("Supernanny"), Al Berman ("The Biggest Loser Live Finale," "The Celebrity Apprentice Live Finale"), Howard West ("Seinfeld") and George Shapiro ("Seinfeld") serve as executive producers.  International distribution is by Endemol.

“Who Do You Think You Are?” premieres Friday, March 5 (8-9 p.m. ET) and gives viewers an up-close and personal look inside the family history of some of today’s most beloved and iconic celebrities.  Among the celebrities featured are Matthew Broderick, Lisa Kudrow, Spike Lee, Sarah Jessica Parker, Susan Sarandon, Brooke Shields and Emmitt Smith.  Ancestry.com is NBC’s official partner on the series.  From executive producer Kudrow (“Friends,” “The Comeback”)in conjunction with her production company Is or Isn’t Entertainment and the U.K.’s Wall to Wall productions“Who Do You Think You Are?” is an adaptation of the hit BBC television documentary series created and executive-produced by Alex Graham.

“Who Do You Think You Are?” is produced by Wall to Wall productions (a Shed Media Company) in association with Is or Isn’t Entertainment.  Alex Graham and Lucy Carter from Wall to Wall and Lisa Kudrow, Dan Bucatinsky and Don Roos from Is or Isn’t Entertainment are the executive producers.  Bryn Freedman is the co-executive producer.

All-American chef and television personality Guy Fieri ("Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives") will host NBC’s new game show “Minute to Win It” as it debuts on Sunday, March 14 (8-9 p.m. ET).  Fieri will serve as master of ceremonies and will lead competitors through a series of simple, yet nerve-wracking games that can reward them a $1 million prize.  Over eight one-hour episodes, competitors will face 10 challenges that escalate in level of difficulty using everyday household items.  Each game has a 60-second time limit and failure to finish the task on time will eliminate the contestant.  At various points throughout the game, the contestant can walk away with the money earned up to that pointbut it'll take nerves of steel to complete all 10 tasks to win $1 million.
 
“Minute to Win It” is produced by Universal Media Studios with Friday Television. Craig Plestis, Tim Puntillo (NBC's “Identity”), Mattias Olsson and Jock Millgardh serve as executive producers.

The new post-Olympics program schedule grid follows (all times ET); new series are in upper case.

MONDAYS
8-9 p.m.“Chuck”
9-10 p.m.“Trauma” (beginning March 8)
10-11 p.m. -“Law & Order” (returns March 1 with two-hour episode, 9-11 p.m. (ET); resumes in regular time slot March 8)
 
TUESDAYS
8-10 p.m.“The Biggest Loser”
10-11 p.m.“PARENTHOOD” (premieres March 2)

WEDNESDAYS
8-9 p.m.“Mercy”
9-10 p.m.“Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” (encores beginning March 3)
10-11 p.m.“Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” (originals beginning March 3)

THURSDAYS
8-8:30 p.m.“Community”
8:30-9 p.m.“Parks and Recreation”
9-9:30 p.m.“The Office”
9:30-10 p.m.“30 Rock”
10-11 p.m.“THE MARRIAGE REF” (premieres March 4; sneak preview February 28)

FRIDAYS
8-9 p.m.“WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE?” (premieres March 5; “Friday Night Lights” returns on April 30)
9-11 p.m.“Dateline NBC” (begins March 5)

SATURDAYS (all beginning March 6)
8-9 p.m.“The Biggest Loser” (encore episode)
9-10 p.m.“Law & Order” (encore episode)
10-11 p.m.“Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” (encore episode)

SUNDAYS (all beginning March 14)
7-8 p.m.“Dateline NBC”
8-9 p.m.“MINUTE TO WIN IT” (premieres March 14)
9-11 p.m.“The Celebrity Apprentice” (season premiere March 14)

Related:

What NBC has to do once Conan leaves

Conan slams NBC execs on "Tonight Show"

Leopards seeing double?
The 2010 Kenyan Premier League (KPL) kicks off on February 20. The league curtain-raiser will be the Super Cup clash between 2009 KPL champions, Sofapaka, and Football Kenya Limited (FKL) Cup winners, AFC Leopards, on February 6.
Geroge Clooney, MTV working on Haiti telethon
Telethon is in the works.
Paperback Nonfiction Bestsellers For Jan. 14

Chelsea Handler puts your embarrassing memories to shame in Are You There, Vodka? It's Me, Chelsea, which debuts on the list at No. 12. Also new to the list is Food Matters by New York Times food critic Mark Bittman, at No. 13.