Ben Silverman, NBC’s co-chairman of entertainment and Universal Media Studios, announced his first NBC lineup the other day in New York, six weeks ahead of his competitors.  Silverman has promised to “bring sexy back” to the network, and by that, we guess, he means a new calendar year that is 65 weeks long.  Silverman is beginning his programming season this summer and extending it all the way to the end of next year. This is how it will work.

The most hyped show of the early 2009 season is NBC Kings Royal Kingdom of Gilboa

NBC PRIMETIME SCHEDULE FOR WINTER 2008-09

*New programs in bold

MONDAY
8- 9 p.m.    “Chuck”
9-10 p.m.    “Heroes”
10-11 p.m.   “The Philanthropist”

TUESDAY
8- 9:30 p.m.     “The Biggest Loser: Couples”
9:30-10 p.m.    “Kath & Kim”
10-11 p.m.       “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit”

WEDNESDAY
8-9 p.m.           “Knight Rider”
9-10 p.m.         “Deal or No Deal”
10-11 p.m.       “Law & Order”

THURSDAY
8- 8:30 p.m.      “My Name Is Earl”
8:30-9 p.m.       “30 Rock”
9- 9:30 p.m.      “The Office”
9:30-10 p.m.     “The Office” spinoff
10-11 p.m.        “ER”/”The Celebrity Apprentice”

FRIDAY
8-9 p.m.           “Deal or No Deal”
9-10 p.m.         “Friday Night Lights”
10-11 p.m.       “Life”

SATURDAY
8-9 p.m.            “Dateline NBC”
9-10 p.m.          “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” (Encores)
10-11 p.m.        “Law & Order” (Encores)

SUNDAY
7-8 p.m.            Specials/”Dateline NBC”
8-9 p.m.            Specials/”Merlin”
9-10 p.m.          Specials/”Medium”
10-11 p.m.        Specials/”Kings”

NBC PRIMETIME SCHEDULE FOR SUMMER 2009

*New programs in bold

MONDAY
8-9 p.m.           “American Gladiators”
9-10 p.m.         “America’s Toughest Jobs”
10-11 p.m.       “Dateline NBC”

TUESDAY
8-9 p.m.           “Most Outrageous Moments”
9-10 p.m.         “America’s Got Talent”
10-11 p.m.       “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” (Encores)

WEDNESDAY
8-9 p.m.           “Shark Taggers”
9-10 p.m.         “America’s Got Talent” (Results Show)
10-11 p.m.       “Law & Order” (Encores)

THURSDAY
8- 8:30 p.m.    “The Office” (Encores)
8:30- 9 p.m.    “The Office” spinoff (Encores)
9-10 p.m.       “Last Comic Standing”
10-11 p.m.       “The Listener”

FRIDAY
8-9 p.m.           “Chopping Block”
9-11 p.m.         “Dateline NBC”

SATURDAY
8-9 p.m.           Drama Encores
9-10 p.m.         Drama Encores
10-11 p.m.       Drama Encores

SUNDAY
7-8 p.m.           “Dateline NBC”
8-9 p.m.           “Monk”
9-10 p.m.         “Nashville Star”
10-11 p.m.        NBC “Kings” (Encores)

NBC Kings Royal Kingdom of Gilboa — “Kings” is an  exploration of the timeless David vs. Goliath struggle. The show is set in a modern metropolis under siege, where the fighting has gone on for too long and cost far too many lives. When David Shepherd (Christopher Egan, “Resident Evil: Extinction”), a brave young soldier, rescues the king’s (Golden Globe winner Ian McShane, “Deadwood”) son from enemy territory, he sets events in motion that will finally bring peace. David is thrust into the limelight, earning the affections of women — including the king’s daughter. When he’s promoted to captain, he becomes the reluctant poster boy for hope. But for David, the line between his allies and enemies will blur as the power players in the kingdom go to great lengths to see him fall. Sebastian Stan (”Gossip Girl”) also stars. “Kings” is a production of Universal Media Studios; Michael Green (NBC’s “Heroes”) is the executive producer.  Francis Lawrence (”I Am Legend”) is the director and executive producer and Erwin Stoff (”I Am Legend”) also is executive producer.