NBC Pulls 2 Comedies From Fall Lineup

Faced with the prospect of putting new comedies on against established sitcoms on ABC and CBS, NBC has decided to re-program its Friday night lineup for fall, benching the two series it had planned for 8 to 9 p.m. and substituting two half-hour reality programs.

“Glory Boys,” starring David Keith and Bill Nunn as buddies reunited many years after their high school friendship, and “The Powers That Be,” a series about a U.S. senator and his family that had a brief run this spring, were taken off the schedule but will still air during the 1992-93 season, NBC said.

NBC judged them to be the odd shows out against ABC’s 8-9 p.m. duo of “Family Matters” and “Step by Step” and CBS’ “Golden Palace” (formerly “The Golden Girls”) and “Major Dad.”

Instead, NBC will challenge Fox in the reality genre. While Fox programs “America’s Most Wanted” from 8 to 9 p.m., NBC will serve up “Final Appeal: From the Files of ‘Unsolved Mysteries’ ” at 8 and “What Happened?” at 8:30.

Warren Littlefield, president of NBC Entertainment, called the move a tactical one Thursday, explaining that, “We know from the past performance of reality in that time period that we will improve dramatically the lead-in for our two-hour dramatic block beginning at 9 p.m. with ‘Round Table’ and ‘I’ll Fly Away.’ ”

“Final Appeal: From the Files of ‘Unsolved Mysteries’ ” comes from the producers of NBC’s “Unsolved Mysteries,” will be hosted by Robert Stack and will present what the network describes as “in-depth investigations” into “unexplained disappearances, medical miracles, lost loves and unclaimed fortunes.”

“What Happened?” will investigate the causes of “intriguing disasters and catastrophes.” Ken Howard will host.