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NBC has announced their new primetime schedule for 2003-04, adding three new comedies and three new dramas in their line-up, along with some big name stars; Alicia

Silverstone, Rob Lowe, Whoopi Goldberg, Ryan O’Neal, John Laroquette, Christine Baranski, and James Cann. Not bad for a network that already has some of the most popular television shows on the air and has been the number one network among 18-29-year olds three consecutive years and seven of the last eight.

Monday nights will start off with the hit reality series “Fear Factor” (7:00-8:00 p.m., CST) and will be followed by a new fast-paced drama, “Las Vegas” (8:00-9:00 p.m., CST). From Gary Scott Thomas, the writer of “The Fast and the Furious,” comes a story that follows an elite surveillance team in charge with maintaining the security of one of “Sin City’s” largest casinos. James Caan stars as Big Ed Deline, the head of the surveillance team for the Montecito Resort & Casino. Co-starring is Josh Duhamel (“All My Children”) as Danny McCoy, an ex-U.S. Marine and Las Vegas native. Together they deal with card-counting cheaters, costly streaks of random luck and rival casinos stealing their big-money players. If the typical job-related pressures weren’t enough for Big Ed, he recently found Danny in bed with his only daughter. This could be a good series but not really my kind of story, but I’ll hold judgment until I see a press copy.

“Las Vegas” replaces “Third Watch” which moves to 9:00 p.m., to start its fifth season. Hit drama “Crossing Jordan” which currently aired at 9:00 p.m. on Mondays, will return to NBC’s schedule for its third season in January, after series star Jill Hennessy gives birth to her first child. “Crossing Jordan” was voted Favorite New Show of the 2001-02 seasons by Viewers Voice members.    

On Tuesdays, NBC will start out the night with two new comedies “Whoopi” and “Happy Family,” followed by “Frasier” and “Good Morning, Miami” which moves from Thursdays. “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” now in its fifth season will move to Tuesdays replacing “Dateline NBC.”

“Whoopi”(7:00-7:30 p.m., CST) starring Whoopi Goldberg is from the creators and executive producers of “3^rd Rock from the Sun” and “That ‘70s Show.” This is a smart and sassy comedy about ex-diva Mavis Rae (Whoopi), a one-hit wonder who becomes an opinionated “hotelier” running her own small hotel in New York any way she wants.

I’m really looking forward to watching this show; Whoopi has always been a favorite of mine.

Jon Larroquette returns to primetime television when he stars with Christine Baranski as would-be empty-nesters whose twenty-something children just can’t seem to get the hang of flying solo in this adult comedy. This sounds like a fun show to watch but if it is an adult comedy, what is it doing on at 7:30 p.m.?

Remaining completely intact is NBC Wednesday drama lineup, which many critics have hailed as the best night of drama on television. “Ed” starts the night out, followed by “The West Wing” and “Law and Order.”

“Must See” Thursdays will feature the final season of “Friends” at 7:00 p.m., followed by “Scrubs,” “Will & Grace” and a new addition the sexy singles comedy “Coupling.” Based on the British hit of the same name, the series is a hip look at six thirty-something’s living in Chicago who are either involved, formerly involved or looking to become intimately involved with each other. Sounds like this one should be on cable, late at night and could be another “Sex in the City” type of show. Looks like the networks are going to push the limits on sex this year.    

“ER” will finish out the night and has another two-year deal with NBC ensuring that this drama will remain on the air another three years.

Fridays will introduce the new Alicia Silverstone drama, “Miss Match” (7:00-8:00 p.m., CST), created by Darren Starr from “Sex and the City.” Following “Dateline NBC” 8:00-9:00 p.m., CST) is one of the TV critics favorite shows “Boomtown,” which makes the move over from Sundays to Fridays at 9:00 p.m. and carries on the tradition of NBC crime dramas. Vanessa L. Williams (“Eraser,” “Soul Food”) will join the cast of “Boomtown” in its second season.

Alicia Silverstone plays Kate Fox a sharp divorce attorney in her father’s law firm on “Miss Match,” but her real talent is matchmaking, which she considers a hobby until word gets around at how could she is at it. Soon to the dismay of her father, Sid (Ryan O’Neal) and her reluctant legal partner Nick (James Roday), Kate is juggling the conflicting worlds of divorce and true love.

Saturday will remain movie night on NBC with some major theatrical films with a lineup this season that will feature the network television premieres of “Traffic,” “A Perfect Storm” and “Shrek.”

On Sunday “America Dreams” (7:00-8:00 p.m., CST) returns, which is one of my favorite shows, also a big favorite of Viewers Voice members and an excellent series to watch with your family. This is definitely “Must See” TV and if you haven’t watched it please make a point of doing so. Following “American Dreams” is “Law & Order: Criminal Intent” at 8:00 p.m. The new drama “Lyon’s Den,” starring Rob Lowe inherits the Sunday 9:00 p.m. time slot.

Rob Lowe leaving NBC’s “The West Wing” stars in this Washington D.C.-based drama as Jack Turner, the maverick, idealistic son from a political dynasty who must handle the cases and inner workings of a 150-year-old law firm which may or may not be hiding some dark secrets.

That’s the new NBC fall lineup and I’d rather not make any more comments on the new shows until I review the press tapes of them. Then I will let you know more about what my opinion is of them. Just always remember these are my personal opinions and you are the best person to make your own judgments and let your voice be heard.