NBC to use ‘Hannibal’ to fill void left by ‘Do No Harm’s’ cancellation

NBC’s Thursday-night timeslot at 10:00 p.m. Eastern time is not going to be vacant for very long. After long facing questions as to when their long-awaited “Hannibal” adaptation was going to air, the network confirmed on Thursday that they now have an official premiere date set for the series:April 4 at 10:00 p.m. Eastern time.

For fans of Mr. Lecter, this may be both a reason to celebrate and also a reason to fear at the same exact time. Thursday at 10 have not exactly been a great timeslot for the network over the past several years, as no series has fared particularly well when put in this spot after the network’s low-rated comedy block. Take for instance the last two original series to give it a shot here: “Do No Harm” and “Awake.” Both were pretty much canceled before their first seasons ended, and while “Awake” at least got a chance to finish its run, “Do No Harm” was embarrassingly pulled after just two episodes.

NBC does have quite a bit invested in “Hannibal.” They have a big-name producer attached in Bryan Fuller, and also a name that spawned one of the most-popular horror franchises in movie history. Just based on the premise alone, you have to imagine that this show will launch with better ratings than any new drama on the network this year not named “Revolution.” However, there are still a pair of problems here that need to be overcome.

1. There is a similar show on the air already in “The Following.”

2. They need to find ways to promote the show outside of the network.

Are you eager to see what NBC does with the Hannibal franchise? Be sure to share what you think below! Meanwhile, you can read more on the “Do No Harm” cancellation over at the link here.

Photo: NBC