NBC Pushes J Lo’s ‘World of Dance’ Debut to Align With ‘AGT,’ Buy More Time for Marketing

NBC has pushed the series premiere for Jennifer Lopez’s “World of Dance” from May 8 to May 30. A top network executive told TheWrap that the move is all about creating a better and more consistent launch platform for a series they have high hopes about. Plus, this buys the peacock more time to market its hopeful hit.

The move also allows “World of Dance” to stay on Tuesday nights throughout its run and not switch over from Monday after three weeks, which was NBC’s original plan. Summer’s No. 1 network also likes the idea of launching “World of Dance” out of the season premiere of the mighty “America’s Got Talent.”

This way, “Midnight, Texas” gets to stay in one time slot, too — and a Monday at 10 p.m. is a pretty good night as far as the final hour of primetime goes. Otherwise, the scripted freshman show would have needed to find a new spot for the back end of the summer. That’s an issue no longer.

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Here’s NBC’s new summer launch schedule:

TUESDAY, MAY 30

8pm AMERICA’S GOT TALENT Premiere (previously announced)

10pm WORLD OF DANCE Premiere (new date)

THURSDAY, JUNE 22

8pm HOLLYWOOD GAME NIGHT Premiere (new date)

9pm THE WALL Premiere (new time)

10pm THE NIGHT SHIFT Premiere (new time)

MONDAY, JULY 24

10pm MIDNIGHT TEXAS Premiere (new date)

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In addition to Lopez, Derek Hough and NE-YO will also serve as judges on the dancing competition. Jenna Dewan Tatum will host the program, as well as mentor the dancers. The 10-episode series hails from Universal Television Alternative Studio and Nuyorican Productions.

“Midnight, Texas” stars Fran?ois Arnaud as Manfred, a charming, powerful psychic who can communicate with spirits and finds safety in Midnight, surrounding himself with both human and supernatural allies.

The town is also home to Bobo (Dylan Bruce), proprietor of Midnight’s local pawn shop; Fiji (Parisa Fitz-Henley), a witch who owns the local wiccan shop; Olivia (Arielle Kebbel), a mysterious assassin with a weapon for every occasion; Joe (Jason Lewis), an angel who knows all of Midnight’s secrets, having been around for millennia; Lemuel (Peter Mensah), a wise vampire with a long history in Midnight; Creek (Sarah Ramos), an aspiring writer with big dreams who learns her family is harboring a deep secret; and Rev. Emilio Sheehan (Yul Vazquez), who can’t resist the pull of a full moon.

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