NBC Moves ‘Seinfeld’ to Aid Lineup

With an eye on the February ratings sweeps, NBC announced a resounding prime-time programming shake-up Monday, with the bulk of changes designed to beef up the struggling network’s once-dominant comedy blocks on Thursday and Saturday nights.

Beginning in February, “A Different World” and “Out All Night” will temporarily leave NBC’s Thursday-night lineup. “Seinfeld,” which has not performed well this season opposite ABC’s “Home Improvement” on Wednesday nights, will move to Thursdays at 9:30 p.m. With the loss of “The Cosby Show” last season and “Cheers” next season, NBC hopes its well-regarded series will keep the network strong on Thursdays.

Meanwhile, “Cheers” will be telecast twice on Thursdays throughout the month, at 8 p.m. and 9 p.m. “Wings” will shift an hour earlier to 8:30 p.m., replacing “A Different World,” which will return March 4 at 8 p.m.

Beginning on Saturday nights in February, the sitcoms “Here and Now” starring Malcolm-Jamal Warner and Norman Lear’s “The Powers That Be” are out.

“Almost Home,” a revamped version of last season’s failed sitcom “The Torkelsons,” will lead off Saturday nights at 8 p.m., followed by “Nurses,” which moves up an hour. “Mad About You,” which was airing Wednesdays after “Seinfeld,” will move to Saturdays at 9:30 p.m. “Empty Nest” will retain its 9 p.m. time slot.

On Fridays, the critically praised “I’ll Fly Away” will leave NBC in February, apparently for good. Beginning Feb. 12, “Out All Night” will move to Friday night at 8 p.m. in its third time-slot change this season, followed by the return of the sitcom “Rhythm & Blues.” NBC will present original two-hour movies or specials from 9 to 11 p.m., starting with “Fallen Champ: The Untold Story of Mike Tyson” on Feb. 12.

Finally, NBC will preview “Homicide: Life on the Street,” from film director Barry Levinson, immediately following the Super Bowl on Sunday, Jan. 31. The following Wednesday, the one-hour detective drama will move to its regular 9 p.m. time period.