NBC Midseason: Kings Finally Coronated

And rounding out the day, NBC has announced its midseason schedule. On Feb. 1, there will be an hourlong edition of The Office, preceded by a large football game. There will be a two-hour Celebrity Apprentice, which presumably will occasionally air "supersized" four-hour episodes and a special 24-hour-long live finale. The Untitled Amy Poehler Project remains the unscheduled Amy Poehler project. And NBC has finally given a premiere date to Kings; the alternate-reality drama will take the time slot of E.R., whose reign will end after lasting seemingly as long as Victoria's. 

The schedule, and show descriptions, after the jump:

MONDAYS (beginning February 2)

8-9 p.m. -- "Chuck" (returns with "3-D" episode)

9-10 p.m. -- "Heroes" (new volume "Fugitives" begins)

10-11 p.m. –"Medium"

WEDNESDAYS

8-9 p.m. -- "Knight Rider" (season finale February 25; new show beginning March 4 to be announced soon)

9-10 p.m. – "Life" (beginning February 4)

THURSDAY (March 12)

9-11 p.m. – "ER" Series Finale

THURSDAY

9-11 p.m. – "KINGS" (two-hour series premiere March 19)

10-11 p.m. – "KINGS" (regular day and time beginning March 26)

SUNDAYS (February 8 and 15)

9-11 p.m. -- "XIII" (original movie event)

SUNDAYS (beginning March 1)

9-11 p.m. -- "Celebrity Apprentice" (special two-hour episodes)

SUNDAY EVENT SPECIALS

6:15-10:30 p.m. – "SUPER BOWL XLIII" (February 1)

10:30-11:30 p.m. (ET) – "The Office" (February 1; broadcast simultaneous to all time zones)

9-11 p.m. – "XIII"  (February 8 and 15)

From executive producer Michael Green (NBC's "Heroes") comes "Kings," a riveting new drama about a modern-day monarchy.  "Kings" is a contemporary retelling of the timeless tale of David and Goliath.  This series is an epic story of greed and power, war and romance, forbidden loves and secret alliances -- and a young hero who rises to power in a modern-day kingdom.  King Silas Benjamin (Ian McShane, "Deadwood") is the well-entrenched king of Gilboa, with its capital in Shiloh, a clean new city that is unspoiled by time or litter.  Silas must deal with the tensions rising between Gilboa and neighboring nation Gath.  When several prisoners of war are taken, a young soldier, David Shepard (Chris Egan, "Eragon"), defies orders and crosses enemy lines to save them.  Unknown to David, the soldier he saves is Jack Benjamin (Sebastian Stan, "The Covenant"), the son of the king.  From that day forth, David's life will never be the same.

Also starring are Susanna Thompson ("Once & Again"), Allison Miller ("Lucy's Piano"), Wes Studi ("Comanche Moon," "Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee"), Eamonn Walker ("Oz") and Dylan Baker ("Spiderman 2").   The series is from Universal Media Studios.  "Kings" is executive-produced by Green, Erwin Stoff ("I Am Legend") and Francis Lawrence ("I Am Legend"), who also directed the pilot.

"XIII" is a high-stakes cat-and-mouse thriller starring Val Kilmer ("The Doors"), Stephen Dorff ("World Trade Center"), Stephen McHattie ("Watchmen") and Jessalyn Gilsig (NBC's "Heroes").  The adrenaline-charged miniseries begins dramatically as the first female U.S. president is shot dead by a sniper during her Veterans Day speech.  Three months later, a wounded man is found tattered in a forest with no memory of his identity. The only clue is a tattoo on his neck -- "XIII."  Could his lightning-fast reflexes and killer instincts betray him as the presidential assassin that the U.S. is desperately searching for?  Submerged in a far-reaching conspiracy, which threatens to overthrow the entire government, XIII's identity becomes the key to unraveling a complex and dangerous secret that will shock and excite.  From the first bullet, this gripping action-thriller will leave audiences gasping for more.  Ted Atherton ("Max Payne"), John Bourgeois ("Burn Up"), Greg Bryk ("ReGenesis"), Lucinda Davis ("Wargames: The Dead Code"), and Caterina Murino ("Casino Royale") also star.  "XIII" is an official Canada/France co-production, developed and produced by Prodigy Pictures and Cipango in association with Power.  Prodigy Pictures' Jay Firestone, Cipango's Edouard Vesinne and Thomas Anargyros and Power's Justin Bodle will serve as  executive producers.  Directed by Duane Clark ("CSI," "Meadowlands), "XIII" is written by David Wolkove ("La Femme Nikita," "Relic Hunter") and Philippe Lyon ("The Trail," "Alive").

"The Celebrity Apprentice" and host Donald Trump will return with two-hour episodes and a dynamic cast of brilliant celebrity business minds.  Last season saw Piers Morgan defeat Trace Adkins to become the first Celebrity Apprentice.  This season, 16 new celebrities will be vying for the coveted title, using all their business savvy as they fight for causes close to their hearts.   Celebrities will be subjected to long hours, grueling mental challenges, personality clashes, and intense scrutiny -- all without the help of their regular support system of agents, managers, and personal assistants.  Ultimately, they will face the judgment of Donald Trump and his advisors in the boardroom, which will include his children (and colleagues), Ivanka Trump and Donald Trump Jr.