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NBC leaves Thursday night comedies alone, another season cometh

By April MacIntyre Mar 7, 2010, 5:05 GMT

01/20/2010 - Amy Poehler - Academy of Television Arts and Sciences\' 19th Annual Hall of Fame Induction - Arrivals - Beverly Hills Hotel - Los Angeles, CA, USA © Tommaso Boddi / PR Photos

Thursday night comedies on NBC are preserved intact for another season.

Angela Bromstad, President, Primetime Entertainment, NBC and Universal Media Studios announced the Thursday-night comedies - "30 Rock" (9:30-10 p.m. ET), "The Office" (9-9:30 p.m. ET) and the freshman series "Community" (8-8:30 p.m. ET) are Thunder-Cat go for the 2010-11 season. 

The returning programs join the previously announced "Parks and Recreation" (Thursdays, 8:30-9 p.m. ET) that also will return for next season.

"We are happy to give these early pickups to these critically acclaimed, incredibly funny comedies," said Bromstad. "As a result, we look forward to continuing our rewarding partnership with the respective creative teams and talented show-runners for '30 Rock,' 'The Office' and 'Community' as they all consistently deliver quality shows."

First-year comedy "Community" is scoring in ratings as the cast, led by Joel McHale, continues to marinate each episode, getting better and better.

Currently in its sixth season, "The Office" is reaping the rewards of the cast having relationships, getting married and having babies.

The introduction of guest star Kathy Bates as Sabre's CEO is a great thorn in the side of Dunder Mifflin's erstwhile crew, led by Steve Carell.

Currently in its fourth season, "30 Rock" is Emmy and two-time Golden Globe winner Tina Fey's baby as she and Golden Globe winner Alec Baldwin (Jack) hold court.  Fey is variety show producer Liz Lemon and Emmy and Alec Baldwin is top network executive Jack Donaghy.  Also starring are Tracy Morgan, Jane Krakowski, Scott Adsit, Jack McBrayer, Judah Friedlander and Keith Powell.

"Parks and Recreation," starring Amy Poehler (NBC's "Saturday Night Live"), is a production of Deedle-Dee Productions and Universal Media Studios.  Along with Greg Daniels (NBC's "The Office") and Michael Schur ("The Office"), Howard Klein and David Miner also serve as executive producers for the series.