Lawrence.com

New York — NBC is counting on "Weakest Link" host Anne Robinson to abuse contestants twice a week, and chef Emeril Lagasse will star in a comedy about his life.

NBC unveiled a new fall schedule Monday that includes three new comedies, three new crime-fighting dramas, no more movies on Sundays and no XFL.

The seven broadcast networks present their schedules to advertisers this week. NBC has been third behind ABC and CBS this season, but first among the 18-to-49-year-old demographic that advertisers want. It's heavily revamping its Sunday, Monday and Tuesday schedules to attack weak spots.

"Emeril," which will air Tuesdays, is a behind-the-scenes look at the chef who has created his own empire at the Food Network. "Think 'Home Improvement' and put Emeril into it in a workplace comedy, and that's what the show will be," NBC Entertainment President Jeff Zucker said.

NBC is taking a page from ABC's playbook by scheduling "Weakest Link" twice, on Sundays and Mondays. ABC airs "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire" four nights a week, though it is expected to cut back on the frequency next fall.

"Weakest Link" has done well this spring, but isn't nearly the cultural phenomenon that NBC had hoped.

Zucker acknowledged that he told a reporter recently he wished he had the courage to schedule "Weakest Link" only once a week.

But since there's evidence audiences burn out on these shows quicker than they would for comedies or dramas, he said: "We want to take advantage of its success now before it's too late."

NBC said it will also offer a half-hour syndicated version of "Weakest Link" in the fall of 2002.

Except for the game show and "Dateline NBC," the network is turning Sundays and Mondays into drama nights. The second spinoff of "Law and Order," called "Law and Order: Criminal Intent," will air Sundays.

The new "Crossing Jordan," which will air Monday, stars Jill Hennessy as a crime-fighting medical examiner � an idea reminiscent of CBS' "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation."

"The Weber Show," "DAG" and "The Fighting Fitzgeralds" were all canceled.

NBC will also abandon its long-running Sunday night movie; feature films have been doing poorly in the ratings on broadcast networks. "We had to step up and say this isn't working anymore," Zucker said. "This genre is over."

Saturday will be NBC's movie night, now that the low-rated XFL football league is defunct.

Zucker said NBC was holding back a handful of reality shows, including the game show "Dog Eat Dog," for midseason scheduling.

A much-anticipated comedy starring former "Seinfeld" regular Julia Louis-Dreyfus is also planned for midseason.

The three other new shows NBC will premiere in the fall:

l "Inside Schwartz," a comedy that stars Breckin Meyer as a sportscaster whose thoughts and fantasies are revealed in conversations with real-life sports figures. It was given a coveted slot following "Friends" on Thursdays.

l "Scrubs," a comedy about a medical intern.

l "UC: Undercover," a drama about an elite Justice Department unit that goes undercover to arrest lawbreakers.