‘Law & Order,’ ‘Chicago’ NBC Franchises Set January Returns

NBC has set premiere dates for the early part of 2024, and the network will roll out several of its biggest scripted shows a few weeks ahead of its rivals.

With production ramping up following the end of the SAG-AFTRA strike, NBC will have a fairly tight turnaround between the start of filming and the returns of several of its shows. Second-year comedy Night Court — which continued production after season one wrapped last spring and did some filming before writers went on strike in May — and new series Extended Family (which filmed off-cycle and has a full season finished) will premiere Dec. 23 following a Saturday afternoon NFL game, then move into their regular homes starting Jan. 2. That’s more than a month earlier than the announced return of any scripted series on other broadcasters; ABC’s comedies The Conners, Not Dead Yet and Abbott Elementary are set to premiere on Feb. 7.

The network’s two biggest nights of scripted programming, the Chicago and Law & Order franchises, are also set to return in January. The former will debut Jan. 17, while all three Law & Order shows are set for the next night, Jan. 18. The six-episode final season of La Brea, also filmed before the strikes, is slated for Jan. 9.

First-year dramas Found and The Irrational will finish their seasons in January and February. On the unscripted front, NBC will premiere America’s Got Talent: Fantasy League — featuring favorite acts from past seasons of AGT and other Got Talent shows worldwide — on Jan. 1, and game show Deal or No Deal Island on Feb. 26 along with the spring edition of The Voice.

NBC will announce its post-football Sunday lineup later. The network has yet to set dates for the remaining episodes of Quantum Leap and Magnum P.I. and new seasons of Lopez vs. Lopez, Weakest Link, Password and That’s My Jam.  

NBC’s winter premiere dates are below. All times are ET/PT unless noted.

Saturday, Dec. 23
8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT: Extended Family (follows NFL game)
8:30 p.m. ET/5:30 p.m. PT: Night Court

Monday, Jan. 1
8 p.m.: America’s Got Talent: Fantasy League

Tuesday, Jan. 2
8 p.m.: Night Court (regular time)
8:30 p.m.: Extended Family (regular time)

Tuesday, Jan. 9
9 p.m.: La Brea (final season)
10 p.m.: Found (first of final two episodes)

Wednesday, Jan. 17
8 p.m.: Chicago Med
9 p.m.: Chicago Fire
10 p.m.: Chicago PD

Thursday, Jan. 18
8 p.m.: Law & Order
9 p.m.: Law & Order: SVU
10 p.m.: Law & Order: Organized Crime

Friday, Jan. 19
8 p.m.: Transplant (new time)

Monday, Jan. 29
10 p.m.: The Irrational (first of final four episodes)

Monday, Feb. 26
8 p.m.: The Voice
9:30 p.m.: Deal or No Deal Island