NBC Releases Summer Schedule

Variety informs us that NBC released its summer TV schedule early this year. The peacock network will air the following shows this summer:

May 29 - The second season of "America's Got Talent" begins. It will begin with a two-hour premiere from 8-10 p.m., run at 8 p.m. on Tuesdays. The new host of the show will be Jerry Springer, who replaces Regis Philbin.

June 13 - "Last Comic Standing" will air Wednesdays at 9 p.m., with a two-hour premiere. Bill Bellamy is the show's new host, taking over for Jay Mohr.

June 18 - "Age of Love," whcih is the only new reality show being aired by NBC this summer. It will be hosted by Kelly Ripa's hubby, Mark Consuelos, on Mondays at 10 p.m. All we know is that it is a romance themed reality show. Although, being mysterious certainly worked for Paradise Hotel.

No firm premiere date - "The Biggest Loser" will premiere in late summer. We do know that the show's new host will be soap star Alison Sweeney who will replace Caroline Rhea.

Update on The Biggest Loser

Last month, Madison reported on Caroline Rhea being replaced as the host of The Biggest Loser. Now, a little more info. Producers are hoping that Caroline's replacement, Alison Sweeney, will attract a more younger audience, and hope that her fan base from her 14 years and counting on Days of Our Lives will follow her.

She seems to be looking forward to the opportunity. "I had a bit of a weight problem when I was a teenager," she says. "Overcoming that on television was one of the most difficult things in my career. So I understand where these people are coming from." On her website, she added, "I am so excited to host the show. It’s such a great concept, and I am so glad to be a part of it. I can’t wait to start shooting! Do you all watch the show? It’s amazing to see how hard the contestants work and how much weight they lose. Truly inspiring."

The fourth season will debut in the Fall.

Bye Bye Caroline Rhea

Sniff, sniff. I'm gonna miss Caroline Rhea in next season's Biggest Loser. Variety reports that she has been replaced by "Days of our Lives" star Alison Sweeney. The fourth season begins taping this spring.

NBC says that Rhea left The Biggest Loser "to pursue other interests." That's Hollywood code for "she got fired" isn't it?

Sweeney will continue to play Sami Brady on Days of Our Lives, as she has done since 1993.

Photo from Variety.