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Prime, Chuck: NBC's Pickup News for Next Year

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It wasn’t quite the dramatic blitz of announcements that Fox had for us the other day, but NBC‘s 2011–12 schedule is starting to take shape. Among the new series ordered for next season are Smash, a musical described as a kind of grown-up Glee (we’ll see if that’s a contradiction in terms) and the remake of Prime Suspect with Maria Bello. The network also has a pair of new comedies starring Whitney Cummings and Christina Applegate, according to the Hollywood Reporter, and more announcements are yet to come as the network holds its upfront for advertisers on Monday.

In returning-show news, low-rated but intensely followed spy comedy Chuck is reportedly getting 13 episodes next season, with a full-season order likely for Parenthood as well. Much remains up in the air, though, such as the fate of not-quite-cancelled shows like Harry’s Law and Outsourced; the fate of buzzed-about pilots like the 1960s Playboy drama; and whether new hit The Voice will be expanded to two hours, to three, or just allowed to run all the way through the night until it hits the beginning of the Today show.