As one TV season ends, another begins.  Every year the big networks hold their own press events to preview their new programming to advertisers and audiences.  The Upfronts is a time when the networks release program information to the public like the creators, producers, and cast behind their new fall and mid-season shows.  Be sure to look after the break for trailers, synopses, and creator/producer/cast information behind NBC’s upcoming TV lineup.

13 new series :: 7 new dramas (The Event, Chase, Undercovers, Law & Order: Lost Angeles, Outlaw, Harry’s Law, The Cape) – 5 new comedies (Outsourced, Love Bites, Friends with Benefits, The Paul Reiser Show, Perfect Couples) – 1 alternative (School Pride)

3 cancellations :: Heroes, Trauma, The Jay Leno Show

Returning series held for mid-season :: Parks & Recreation, The Apprentice, The Celebrity Apprentice, Minute to Win It

NBC head Angela Bromstad on the Heroes cancellation: “We felt we had satisfied the viewers desire in terms of the show and the length of its run.”  Though Heroes was cancelled, creator Tim Kring and the cast are hoping that NBC gives them a slot to air either a two hour or four hour (stretched across two nights) TV movie to properly conclude the series.  Bromstad says NBC is in talks with Kring about making a TV movie happen sometime next season.

NBC chairman Jeff Gaspin on why Parks & Rec is being held for mid-season: “It was our toughest decision to make.  But to get new comedies on our schedule, Thursday is still the best place to launch.  We expect Parks and Recreation to be back on the schedule Thursday and it’s not any way an indication that we don’t think it’s as good as any other comedy.  We’ve learned from cable that you can wait as long as a year, create more anticipation and not lose any momentum.”

Jesse Alexander’s (Heroes) apocalyptic drama Day One is not being developed.  Bummer.

Drama

The Event: What if there was a cover-up so big that even the President was on a need-to-know basis? And what if some average guy stumbled upon the truth – a secret so powerful it could literally change the course of humanity? You think that guy would stand a chance of survival? From Nick Wauters (The 4400, Eureka) and Steve Stark (Medium) comes a suspense-filled journey where the answers only lead to bigger questions.

Starring Jason Ritter, Sarah Roemer, Scott Patterson, Blair Underwood, Zeljko Ivanek, Taylor Cole, and Laura Innes.  [Mondays @ 9PM]

Chase: From Emmy Award-winning executive producer Jerry Bruckheimer (CSI franchise, The Amazing Race, Pirates of the Caribbean) and Jennifer Johnson (Cold Case) comes a lightning-fast game of cat and mouse that drops you right in the middle of the action. U.S. Marshals Annie Frost (Kelli Giddish, Past Life) likes to stay one step ahead of the outlaws. As far as this cowboy boot-wearing girl is concerned, they can run, but they can’t hide from her forever. Annie has a sharp mind, a big heart, and an attitude to match. Throw in a unique perspective and personal style, and she is the reason you don’t mess with Texas. Jump aboard this rollercoaster ride. It’s all about the thrill of the chase.

Starring Kelli Giddish, Cole Hauser, Amaury Nolasco, Rose Rollins, and Jess Metcalfe.  [Mondays @ 10PM]

Undercovers: From acclaimed filmmaker J.J. Abrams (Star Trek, Fringe, Lost, Alias) and Executive Producer Josh Reims (Brothers and Sisters) comes a one-hour spy drama that proves marriage is still the world’s most dangerous partnership. To put the spark back in their marriage, some couples take a tropical vacation. Not Steven and Samantha. They rejoin the CIA. Now they’re discovering things about each other they never knew. Like which lock-picking technique each prefers, and who killed who, and how well they work together in a hostile environment. With their day jobs and lives in the balance, date night is about to get a lot more exciting. The pilot was written by J.J. Abrams & Josh Reims and directed by Abrams. Abrams, Reims, and Bryan Burk (Fringe, Lost, Alias) are the executive producers.

Starring Boris Kodjoe, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Ben Schwartz, Jessica Parker Kennedy, Carter MacIntyre, and Gerald McRaney.  [Wednesdays @ 8PM]

Law & Order: Los Angeles: There’s a place where crime has reached celebrity status. Welcome to Los Angeles, home of the rich and famous, and the completely unscrupulous. They say this is the place where anyone with the right attorney can get away with murder. We say this is the place that needs some Law & Order. From Dick Wolf, the acclaimed producer of the powerful Law & Order franchise, comes a foray into the glitz, glamour and guilt of Los Angeles. From the tony Beverly Hills to the seedy side of Hollywood, LAPD’s elite Robbery Homicide Division is on the case. Fusing classic ripped-from-the-headlines storytelling with the backdrop of LA, the series delves into the high-profile crimes of the West Coast. These are their stories.

Casting TBA.  [Wednesdays @10PM]

Outlaw: Starring Emmy Award winner Jimmy Smits (NYPD Blue, West Wing), Executive Producer John Eisendrath (Alias, Felicity) brings us a drama that isn’t afraid to speak truth to power. Few jobs are guaranteed for a lifetime, and a Supreme Court appointment is one you just don’t quit. Unless you’re Cyrus Garza (Smits). A playboy and a gambler, Justice Garza always adhered to a strict interpretation of the law. Until he realized the system he always believed in was flawed. Now, he’s quit the bench and returned to being an attorney. Determined to represent “the little guy,” he’s using his inside knowledge of the justice system to take on today’s biggest legal cases. And making plenty of powerful people unhappy along the way.

Starring Jimmy Smits, David Ramsey, Ellen Woglom, Carley Pope, and Jesse Bradford.  [Fridays @ 10PM]

Harry’s Law: Starring Academy Award winner Kathy Bates (Misery, About Schmidt), Emmy Award-winning creator David E. Kelley (The Practice, Boston Legal) brings his unique storytelling to a series about fate, and the people it brings together. Harriet (Bates), Matthew and Malcolm couldn’t be any more different. Harriet is a curmudgeonly ex-patent lawyer. Matthew is a recently fired high school teacher. And Malcolm is a young man trying to figure out life. When these three unexpectedly cross paths, they realize they’re all looking for a fresh start. Now, the most unlikely of people are starting a law practice in the most unlikely of places, a rundown shoe store. Imagine the walk-in clientele.

Starring Kathy Bates, Ben Chaplin, Brittany Snow, and Aml Ameen.  [Premieres mid-season]

The Cape: From the visionary team of Gail Berman and Lloyd Braun comes an imaginative adventure about a dad who would do anything to protect his family. Officer Vince Faraday was a good cop trying to clean up a corrupt city. Framed for murder and left for dead, he suddenly found himself separated from his wife and son and forced into hiding. Now, inspired by his son’s favorite comic book hero, he’s taking the law into his own hands, and playing a deadly game of chess with the powerful kingpin who framed him. With the hope of one day reuniting with his family, The Cape is sending a loud message to all criminals… run.

Starring David Lyons, James Frain, Jennifer Ferrin, Ryna Wynott, Summer Glau, Keith David, and Dorian Missick.  [Premieres mid-season]

Comedy

Outsourced: From writer Robert Borden (The Drew Carey Show) and director Ken Kwapis (The Office) comes a comedy where cultural differences are a novelty. Mid America Novelties sells products like whoopee cushions, foam fingers, and wallets made of bacon. Yes, this is the stuff upon which the American way of life is built, but try explaining that to someone who lives on the other side of the world. Well, that’s exactly what Todd Donovan must do when he’s sent to run the company’s call center in India. Talk about culture shock, and not just for Todd’s employees. While Todd has to teach them how to make the up-sell to the Deluxe Twin Beer Helmet, he’s going to have to adapt as well. Like in a country where cows are sacred, perhaps you don’t order a double cheeseburger. Wish him luck. Or as they say in India, Saubhagya.

Starring Ben Rappaport, Rizwan Manji, Sacha Dhawan, Parvesh Cheena, Rebecca Hazlewood, Anisha Nagarajan, Diedrich Bader, and Jessica Gower.  [Thursdays @ 9:30PM]

Love Bites: Cindy Chupack (Sex and the City) and Working Title Films (Love Actually, Bridget Jones) bring us a series about love, and all the crazy things it makes us do. Like pretending to be a virgin to get a guy interested. Or competing with your fiancée’s favorite bedroom toy. Or actually being in the position to take advantage of the “celebrity exemption list,” and join the mile high club at the same time! Irreverent and poignant, Love Bites pulls back the curtain to expose modern romance – in a way you’ve never seen before.

Starring Becki Newton, Jordana Spiro, and Greg Grunberg.  [Thursdays @ 10PM]

Friends with Benefits: From executive producers Brian Grazer (Parenthood, Arrested Development), director David Dobkin (Wedding Crashers) and writers Scott Neustadter and Michael H. Weber ((500) Days of Summer) comes a comedy about five single friends, and how far they’ll go for each other. Dating is difficult. In fact, many times it’s so uncomfortable that you have to look for creative ways to unwind after an unsuccessful night out. Ben, Sara, Hoon, Aaron and Riley are a group of close friends who do just that. After a bad date, they turn to each other for moral (and sometimes physical) support. Hey, what are friends for? Set in Chicago, this comedy offers an honest look at the complexity of finding “the one,” and the things one must do to survive along the way.

Starring Ryan Hansen, Danneel Harris, Fran Kranz, Jessica Lucas, and Ian Reed Kessler.  [Premieres mid-season]

The Paul Reiser Show: Paul Reiser’s back on television and he’s playing… Paul Reiser. From Jonathan Shapiro (Boston Legal) and Paul Reiser (Mad About You) comes a comedy based on Reiser’s real-life experiences. Paul plays himself, an ex-TV star who’s searching for his next big gig. As Paul waits for that day to come, he spends time with his family and a group of guys who still think they’re 25. It’s all fine, as long as he doesn’t get caught doing something embarrassing that ends up on TMZ. Paul Reiser’s been named one of the greatest stand-ups of all time. And as funny as he is on stage, he’s even funnier at home.

Starring Paul Reiser, Ben Shankman, Andrew Daly, Amy Landecker, Omid Djalili, Duane Martin, Koby Rouviere, and Brock Waidman.  [Premieres mid-season]

Perfect Couples: From Jon Pollack (30 Rock) and Scott Silveri (Friends) and director Andy Ackerman (Seinfeld, The New Adventures of Old Christine) comes a comedy about three couples keeping the spark alive. Let’s be honest, there’s no such thing as a perfect couple. It might look that way to someone on the outside, but behind closed doors, it’s a whole different story. Dave and Julia are the “average” couple. They go to work, go to sleep, and try to find some time together in between. Vance and Amy are the “too much passion” couple. When they’re not throwing things at each other, they’re locking themselves in the bedroom. And Rex and Leigh are the “expert” couple who are too busy giving other couples advice to focus on their own relationship. Perfect couples, now that’s an oxymoron.

Starring Kyle Howard, Christine Woods, David Walton, Mary Elizabeth Ellis, Hayes MacArthur, and Olivia Munn.  [Premieres mid-season]

Alternative

School Pride: How much better would children do in a school that they’re proud of? Let’s find out. Studies show that beautiful schools result in higher scholastic achievement, and we’re putting that theory to the test. Each week, we empower an entire community as we renovate a rundown school and watch as its pride grows. Every episode features touching personal stories of children, parents and teachers experiencing the amazing transformations of their school grounds and athletic fields. Surprise celebrity appearances and seeing it all happen against the clock add drama to this inspirational show. From Denise Cramsey (True Beauty, Extreme Makeover: Home Edition), Cheryl Hines (Curb Your Enthusiasm) and Warner Horizon comes an uplifting makeover series that aims to transform America’s educational system.

The “Spirit Team” cast includes Tom Stroup, Kym Whitley, Jacob Soboroff, and Susie Castillo.  [Fridays @ 8PM]

2010-11 NBC Schedule (“*” denotes new show)

MONDAY
8-9 p.m.  Chuck                     
9-10 p.m. The Event*       
10-11 p.m. Chase*       

TUESDAY
8-10 p.m.  The Biggest Loser
10-11 p.m. Parenthood 

WEDNESDAY
8-9 p.m.  Undercovers*
9-10 p.m.  Law & Order: Special Victims Unit               
10-11 p.m. L&O:  Los Angeles* 

THURSDAY
8- 8:30 p.m. Community              
8:30-9 p.m. 30 Rock
9-9:30 p.m. The Office    
9:30-10 p.m. Outsourced*   
10-11 p.m.  Love Bites*    

FRIDAY
8-9 p.m.  Who Do You Think You Are?*/School Pride*     
9-10 p.m.  Dateline NBC            
10-11 p.m. Outlaw* 

SATURDAY
Reruns

SUNDAY       
7- 8:15 p.m. Football Night in America      
8:15-11:30 p.m. NBC Sunday Night Football

SUNDAY (beginning March 2011)
7-8 p.m. Dateline NBC
8-9 p.m. Minute to Win It
9-11 p.m. The Celebrity Apprentice

[Via NBC; EW; IGN]