Rockefeller Center in NYC was the scene for NBC/Universal’s launch of the upfronts last night. As you walked along the red carpet past the crowds looking for stars, you certainly felt like you were at some sort of Hollywood gala.

The event was a complete departure from previous years – no presentation, but lots of interactive booths with all NBC holdings represented. The set-up was geared to make you walk through many different areas before arriving at centre ice, the scene of the big party and bar. The Gladiators were there, and Iron Chef had a spot, as did Bravo, LXTV and most of the cast of Heroes.

NBC News had a live political poll going, and at 6:28 pm, Obama was winning with a full 50% of the attendees’ votes, while McCain had 29% and Clinton 20%. There were bands, footballs and video screens talking about ‘innovative client-based solutions,’ ‘cross-platform opportunities’ and, my favorite, ‘Let’s tell a great story together.’ The mood seemed pretty good. As John Dobin of Mediacom NYC said, ‘This is cool, quick and easy, way better – a big cocktail party.’

Chris Schembri, VP media services at AT&T, said the new format was ‘interesting,’ but there seemed to be a disconnect with content. Certainly the HD room, showing upcoming Universal releases, was interesting. But it made Chris feel the network was weak on completed TV content because of the writers’ strike.

The rink at Rockefeller Center was the end of the tour and the site of the main bar – a sea of black suits (me included), all looking pretty happy with cocktails in hand, eating some pretty good food. NBC maintained the event was not really an upfront, as it released its schedule weeks ago, already cut a deal with Canwest and has been having client negotiations for weeks. With all that done, one senior NYC TV ad exec said afterwards, ‘I’m still wondering what the point of that was.’

Today it’s ABC and CW, and word is these launches will be much more traditional than what NBC staged yesterday.

Helena Shelton is EVP/director of trading at Toronto-based MediaCom.

NBC’s 52-week Schedule

Monday
8:00 pm Chuck
9:00 pm Heroes
10:00 pm MY OWN WORST ENEMY

Tuesday
8:00 pm The Biggest Loser: Families (90 minutes)
9:30 pm KATH & KIM
10:00 pm Law & Order: SVU

Wednesday
8:00 pm KNIGHT RIDER
9:00 pm Deal or No Deal
10:00 pm Lipstick Jungle (new day)

Thursday
8:00 pm My Name is Earl
8:30 pm 30 Rock
9:00 pm The Office
9:30 pm The Office/SNL THURSDAY NIGHT LIVE (special editions of Saturday Night airing for three weeks leading up to the US presidential race)
10:00 pm ER (final season – 19 consecutive episodes)

Friday
8:00 pm CRUSOE
9:00 pm Deal or No Deal (new day and time)
10:00 pm Life (new day)

Saturday
8:00 pm Dateline
9:00 pm Knight Rider (repeat)
10:00 pm Law & Order: SVU (repeat)

Sunday
7:00 pm Football Night in America (to 8:20 pm)
8:20 pm Sunday Night Football

MID-SEASON

Monday
8:00 pm Chuck
9:00 pm Heroes
10:00 pm THE PHILANTHROPIST

Tuesday
8:00 pm The Biggest Loser: Couples (90 minutes)
9:30 pm KATH & KIM
10:00 pm Law & Order: SVU

Wednesday
8:00 pm KNIGHT RIDER
9:00 pm Deal or No Deal
10:00 pm Law & Order

Thursday
8:00 pm My Name is Earl
8:30 pm 30 Rock
9:00 pm The Office
9:30 pm THE OFFICE SPIN-OFF
10:00 pm ER (Celebrity Apprentice)

Friday
8:00 pm Deal or No Deal
9:00 pm Friday Night Lights
10:00 pm Life

Saturday
8:00 pm Dateline
9:00 pm Law & Order: SVU (Repeat)
10:00 pm Law & Order (repeat)

Sunday
7:00 pm Specials/Dateline
8:00 pm Specials/MERLIN
9:00 pm Specials/Medium (new day and time)
10:00 pm Specials/KINGS

SUMMER 2009

Monday
8:00 pm American Gladiators
9:00 pm AMERICA’S TOUGHEST JOBS
10:00 pm Dateline

Tuesday
8:00 pm Most Outrageous Moments
9:00 pm America’s Got Talent
10:00 pm Law & Order: SVU (repeat)

Wednesday
8:00 pm SHARK TAGGERS
9:00 pm America’s Got Talent (results show)
10:00 pm Law & Order (repeat)

Thursday
8:00 pm The Office (repeat)
8:30 pm The Office Spin-Off (repeat)
9:00 pm Last Comic Standing
10:00 pm THE LISTENER

Friday
8:00 pm CHOPPING BLOCK
9:00 pm Dateline (two hours)

Saturday
8:00 pm Drama Encores
9:00 pm Drama Encores
10:00 pm Drama Encores

Sunday
7:00 pm Dateline
8:00 pm Monk
9:00 pm Nashville Star
10:00 pm Kings (repeats)

Descriptions of New Shows

COMEDY

Kath & Kim
Based on the hit Australian sitcom. A divorced woman finds her life turned upside down when her daughter leaves her husband and moves in. Molly Shannon and Selma Blair star.

Untitled spin-off of The Office
A single-camera comedy series spun-off from The Office (details have yet to be confirmed).

DRAMA

Kings
In a modern metropolis, a brave young soldier (Christopher Egan) rescues the king’s son (Ian McShane) from enemy territory in an attempt to bring peace.

Knight Rider
The classic 1980s series about a man and his indestructible car is revived. Justin Bruening stars; former ‘A’ list actor Val Kilmer is the voice of the new KITT car.

The Listener
Produced in Canada. A young man who can read people’s thoughts finds himself acting upon them. Thirteen episodes have been ordered.

Merlin
In the mythic city of Camelot, two ambitious young men (Colin Morgan, Bradley James) who become legends hope to live up to their family’s high expectations.

My Own Worst Enemy
A middle-class efficiency expert (Christian Slater) living a boring life in the suburbs and an operative who speaks 13 languages share one thing in common – the same body. But when the carefully constructed wall between the two breaks down, they are thrust into unfamiliar territory.

The Philanthropist
An iconoclastic billionaire looks for ways to distribute his wealth and help people by using all of his resources, regardless of the risk.

Crusoe
Based on the classic Daniel Dafoe novel, a castaway faces ongoing challenges as he and his native friend struggle to survive on a deserted island.

NON-SCRIPTED

America’s Toughest Jobs
In this new reality competition with a large cash payoff, daredevils, cut-throat competitors and risk takers travel across America on an extended adventure that will test physical moxie and mental stamina.

Chopping Block
Celebrated chef and restaurateur Marco Pierre White (UK’s Hell’s Kitchen) will offer hopeful chefs/restaurateurs working as couples a chance to compete in America’s greatest restaurant challenge.

Shark Taggers
The Department of Fish and Game’s volunteer shark tagging program is the focus of this new reality series.