Oh, baby! NBC looked sharp in its first Thursday of the post-primetime Leno era.

While the Peacock finished third for the night, it actually won the 9 and 10 p.m. hours with, respectively, "The Office" and "The Marriage Ref." The baby-ish hour-long edition of "The Office" beat "Grey's Anatomy" for the first time ever in the adults 18-49 demo, while "Marriage Ref" beat dramas on ABC and CBS.

"The Office" (4.7/12) got an expected boost (27 percent, to be precise) from the delivery of the Halperin kid ("Everybody likes babies," one network wag predicted earlier this week). The NBC comedy beat both ABC's "Grey's" (4.0/11) and CBS's very mortal (but still up 17 percent from its last original) "CSI" (3.7/10), according to Nielsen. Fox was fourth with "Kitchen Nightmares" (3.3/9).

With "Office" averaging a 4.9 in its final half-hour, "Marriage Ref" was able to score a 3.4/10 at 10, winning the hour vs. "The Mentalist" (3.2/9) and "Private Practice" (2.7/8).

Yes, "Ref" was down about 30 percent from its post-Olympics preview (4.9/14). And, like the other shows in the hour, it dropped at 10:30 p.m. It also got a big boost from an hour-long "Office" lead-in; the lower-rated "30 Rock" returns next week (though a Madonna guest visit could help inflate numbers for "Ref" next week).

But: "Ref" won the friggin' timeslot, people. Given that NBC was brain-dead in this hour just a month ago, with Jay Leno averaging a 1.6, doubling the time period average is a very good thing. It's not "Undercover Boss"-holy crap-we've-got-a-big-hit good, but it's got to make today a good day at NBC. Actually, it's not a good day at NBC: It's a great day.

The real question is where "Ref" settles in, particularly once curiosity about the show wears off. If NBC can keep the show anywhere above a 2.5 rating, it'll be back next season.

In any case, the reason this is all good news for NBC: It's more evidence that the network didn't mortally wound itself with the Leno-at-10 disaster. It lost precious time developing new hits, and created a PR nightmare. But the last few days have proven that viewers are still willing to check out its wares, no matter how abused they may feel by the Peacock.

As for the rest of the night, the 8 p.m. hour was all messed up thanks to the carpet-bagging "American Idol" (6.5/19), which won with the results show. Its number was the same as last week, despite the absence of the Olympics, and down about 10 percent from last season. Nonetheless, it was enough to boost Fox to a Thursday win overall.

"Survivor" (3.8/11) was second, up a tad from last week, and the highest rated show on CBS Thursday (again).

NBC's "Community" (2.3/7) and "Parks & Rec" (2.3/6) were flat from their last originals. We'll take flat, though those of you who didn't watch this week's "Community" missed a very, very funny hour. (Indulgent side note: If this show isn't renewed, NBC will be a NoJoe Zone next fall. We mean it. And if you don't think we can hold a grudge, ask somebody at CBS about "Swingtown".)

 
NBC summer tentpoles "America's Got Talent" and "Last Comic Standing" will return in early June, part of the network's extensive summer schedule.

"AGT" gets a two-hour bow on Tuesday, June from 8-10 p.m. It will also air Wednesdays from 8-10 p.m. The Tuesday edition of "AGT" will face ABC's "Wipeout" starting June 22.

"Last Comic," meanwhile, will anchor Mondays. After a two-hour premiere from 8-10 on June 7, it will air Mondays at 9 p.m. That's the night new lower-cost drama "Persons Unknown" makes it debut, airing Mondays at 10 p.m.

NBC has also settled on a launch date for long-delayed sitcom "100 Questions." It will appear on Thursday, May 27, replacing "Parks and Recreation" for six weeks in the 8:30 p.m. timeslots.

The network cut the episode order of "Questions" from 13 to 6, and it's very unlikely the show will be extended beyond its limited run.

Other NBC summer highlights:

--"Law & Order: Criminal Intent" gets its summer window on NBC starting Sunday, June 20 at 10 p.m. It will also get another Saturdays at 8.

--"Friday Night Lights," as previously announced, is set to air Fridays at 8 p.m., starting April 30 and running through July.

--The Wal-Mart - sponsored movie "The Jensen Project" will air Friday, July 16 at 8 p.m. -- just in time for back to school shopping season!

--NBC has slotted an infomercial for the new Harry Potter attraction at Universal Studios Florida for June 6. The Macy's 4th of July special is also back.

No word yet on premiere dates for unscripted series "Losing It with Jillian Michaels" and the Tony Robbins project. Both are tentatively slotted to air sometime in the summer.

UPDATED 8:55 PM PST

The Emmys are going live from coast-to-coast.

Confirming weeks of speculation, NBC now says this year's TV honors will be seen as-they-happen in all parts of the country -- rather than tape-delayed to the west coast. The move follows a successful live-to-the-country broadcast of the Golden Globes last month.

The last time the Emmys were live to the west coast was in 1976, when the show aired at 9 p.m. in the east and 6 p.m. in the west.

As previously announced, the Emmys will take place early this year: Sunday, Aug. 29. That's because of NBC's commitment to Sunday football.

The 62nd annual awards could also be the last to be unchallenged by a major TV-only awards show. The Paley Center for Media is studying the idea of launching an alterna-Emmys.
 

Looks like ABC is moving forward with plans to put "Dancing With the Stars" on ice. Literally.

BBC Worldwide Productions spilled the beans Thursday to international trade paper C21, though the project's not really news. We toldja about it last October. At the time, however, the project wasn't officially greenlit (read: cast).

Now, apparently, it is. No word yet on scheduling.

Read our orginal story right here.

Martha Stewart and Mark Burnett are teaming up again, joining forces on a possible reality series dubbed "Help Me, Martha!"

The eight-episode project will be announced today at a Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia upfront event in New York. No network for the series has been announced yet, though Stewart recently has inked agreements with Hallmark and Ion.

Per Team Martha, "The hour-long program will feature Martha Stewart and a new cast of home and lifestyle experts tasked with solving some of life's most difficult challenges in and around the home, at work or at play. The episodes will focus on everything from planning last-minute parties and home transformations to averting wedding disasters."

Drat. We'd like to see Martha working to overturn wrongly convicted white-collar criminals. Alas.

Burnett and Stewart will exec produce. They've worked toghether before on the syndicated "Martha Stewart Show" (headed to Hallmark, sans Burnett) and the ill-fated "Apprentice: Martha Stewart."

"Working with Martha on this new series was a natural evolution from our experience with 'The Martha Stewart Show,'" Burnett said in a statement released by MLSO. "It was clear to us that if we were going to go into people's homes and transform their lives that we had to do it with the help of experts who are the best in the business. And the best resource for that kind of talent is definitely Martha Stewart and the members of the MSLO family."

Burnett is in LA today pitching a new project with Sarah Palin.

Some summer premiere dates are rolling in, including return engagements for "Drop Dead Diva" and "Wipeout."

Lifetime Thursday said first-year dramedy "Diva," from producers Craig Zadan and Neil Meron, will have its season two premiere Sunday, June 6 at 9 p.m. Paula Abdul is back in a recurring role (she's got to pay the rent somehow!) while "So You Think You Can Dance" choreographer Keith Diorio will put together a dream dance sequence for the premiere.

Josh Berman created and exec produces "Diva."

Meanwhile,  ABC has set Tuesday, June 22 for the return of stunt spectacular "Wipeout." Episodes will air at 8 p.m.

Before that, on May 31, "True Beauty" is back for a second season; it will air at 10 p.m., right after "The Bachelorette."

UPDATED 11:45 A.M. PST

"American Idol" put a big dent in ABC's Wednesday sitcoms while NBC's "Law & Order: SVU" got a big boost from its move back to the 10 p.m. slot -- and Oprah proved to be nothing special with her pre-Oscar chat show.

"Idol," although down from last year's similar show, averaged a still-mighty 8.5/23 in adults 18-49, easily dominating the night.

But the two-hour performance special sapped away viewers from ABC's comedies in a big way. At 8:30 p.m. "The Middle" (2.1/6) was down 28 percent from its season-best Feb. 10 score., while "Modern Family" (3.5/9) was off 15 percent from its last original. At 9:30, "Cougar Town" (2.4/6) dipped 11 percent and continues to struggle to hold on to its lead-in.

The news wasn't any better for CBS's comedies. "The New Adventures of Old Christine" (1.7/5) was down 26 percent from its last first-run outing and tied a repeat of "Modern Family." At 8:30, "Gary Unmarried" fell 17 percent.

Dramas proved to be a bit more competititve against the "Idol" express.

CBS's "Criminal Minds" averaged a 3.6/9, just 3 percent below its Feb. 10 first-run score.

And NBC's "SVU" aired a two-hour special that earned a 2.7/7 from 9-11 p.m. Showing the benefits of having a 10 p.m. timeslot, "SVU" grew from a 2.2 rating at 9 p.m. to a 3.0 by 10:30 p.m., a 36 percent gain within the time period.

During the 10 p.m. hour, "SVU" finished in a virtual tie for the lead with CBS's "CSI:NY," which squeaked out a demo in with a 3.1/9 (down 9 percent from Feb. 10, when it faced the now-dead "Jay Leno Show."

The big head-scratcher of the night: ABC's Oprah Winfrey Oscar special managed a mere 1.3/4 at 10 p.m. That's down 19 percent from the last first-run "Ugly Betty," a show that's been canceled.

Might be time for the O to start doing the interviews herself rather than having celebs love each other.
 

Sarah Palin and Mark Burnett are shopping an Alaskan-themed unscripted series to networks this week -- but at least one broadcaster is already likely to pass on the project.

The former vice presidential candidate and Alaska governor pitched a concept for a "Planet Earth"-style series to ABC, CBS and Fox within the past 24 hours, network insiders confirmed Wednesday. But one of those outlets has already indicated it won't be biting.

ABC has decided the project isn't a right fit and won't be pursuing it, a person familiar with the network's reaction to the pitch told TheWrap.

Details of the Palin-Burnett idea, first reported by Entertainment Weekly's Lynette Rice, remain a bit murky -- particularly the extent to which Palin and her family would be on-camera. The magazine indicated the series would mirror Discovery's "Planet Earth," with the focus on Palin's Alaskan homeland.

ABC's disinterest in the project isn't surprising given what's known of the concept, which seems to lack the sort of big idea or hook generally needed for a broadcast network reality show. And while Palin has a solid base of conservative fans, giving a possible 2012 presidential contender a primetime forum a year or so before campaigning is likely to begin for the GOP nomination could invite all sorts of headaches for a host network.

Palin and Burnett could have more luck at a cable network, with a host of outlets -- from Travel Channel to Discovery -- logical homes for a nature-themed series. But the combination of Burnett and Palin probably wouldn't be cheap, possibly forcing Burnett to scale down the scope of the idea.

NBC executives will meet with Palin and Burnett Thursday, EW said.