That's still the case to a degree, but the network is staggering its debuts over several weeks. "The West Wing" won't return until late October in an effort to keep the series rerun-free for the entire season.

Only two new series -- the computer-animated comedy "Father of the Pride" and cop show "Hawaii" -- will debut the week following the Olympics, when NBC will also be covering the Republican National Convention. NBC's other new entries, "Joey," "LAX" and "Medical Investigation," will open the week of Sept. 6.

NBC Entertainment president Kevin Reilly told reporters at the TV Critics Association press tour Saturday (July 10) that he's holding back "The West Wing" until Oct. 20 in part because a real-life presidential debate is scheduled for a Wednesday in October. He doesn't want to debut the show in September then have to pull it for a week soon after its premiere.

NBC plans to air "The West Wing" without repeats in 2004-05. The limited-run series "Revelations" will take its spot on the schedule for several weeks early in 2005.

NBC's premiere schedule for the season is as follows (all times Eastern, new shows in bold):

Monday, Aug. 30

8 p.m. "Fear Factor"
9 p.m. "Hawaii" (preview)

Tuesday, Aug. 31

8 p.m. "Last Comic Standing" (new cycle)
9 p.m. "Father of the Pride"
9:30 p.m. "Scrubs"

Wednesday, Sept. 1

8 p.m. "Hawaii" (regular time-period premiere)

Monday, Sept. 6

9 p.m. "Las Vegas"
10 p.m. "LAX"

Thursday, Sept. 9

8 p.m. "Joey"
8:30 p.m. "The Apprentice" (90 minutes)
10 p.m. "Medical Investigation" (preview)

Friday, Sept. 10

10 p.m. "Medical Investigation" (regular time-period premiere)

Thursday, Sept. 16

8:30 p.m. "Will & Grace"

Friday, Sept. 17

9 p.m. "Third Watch"

Tuesday, Sept. 21

10 p.m. "Law & Order: SVU"

Wednesday, Sept. 22

10 p.m. "Law & Order"

Thursday, Sept. 23

10 p.m. "ER"

Sunday, Sept. 26

8 p.m. "American Dreams"
9 p.m. "Law & Order: Criminal Intent"
10 p.m. "Crossing Jordan"

Wednesday, Oct. 20

9 p.m. "The West Wing"