NBC will unleash a mix of new and returning shows -- including a heavy dose of unscripted programming -- in the early months of 2008.

The new, strike-adapted slate includes the return of "Medium" to Monday nights, the previously announced creation of a "Law & Order" block on Wednesdays and game shows on Monday, Wednesday and Friday nights. The network has also scheduled a reality show called "The Baby Borrowers" to take the place of "American Gladiators" in February.

As is the case with the other networks, NBC's strike schedule looks substantially different than the one it was planning at the start of the 2007-08 season. For one thing, there's no set Sunday-night schedule for the early weeks of the new year. Instead, four of the first six Sundays of the year will feature a rotation of specials, including the premiere of "Gladiators" on Jan. 6 and the Golden Globe Awards the next week.

The Thursday schedule is in flux a little as well. NBC's press release notes that there will be new episodes of "Scrubs" after the new year, but the schedule lists only unspecified "NBC comedy series" at 8 and 8:30 p.m. on Thursdays.

"Medium," meanwhile, will debut at 10 p.m. ET Monday, Jan. 7, moving into the the spot currently occupied by "Journeyman." Oscar winner Anjelica Huston will have a recurring role on the show this season as a woman who strikes up an unusual professional relationship with Allison (Patricia Arquette).

Here's NBC's first-quarter schedule:

Monday
(Effective Jan. 7)

8 p.m. "American Gladiators"
9 p.m. "Deal or No Deal"
10 p.m. "Medium"
Note: "Baby Borrowers" replaces "American Gladiators" on Feb. 18

Tuesday
(Effective Jan. 1)

8 p.m. "The Biggest Loser"
10 p.m. "Law & Order: SVU"

Wednesday
(Effective Jan. 9)

8 p.m. "Deal or No Deal"
9 p.m. "Law & Order: Criminal Intent"
10 p.m. "Law & Order" (two-hour premiere at 9 p.m. Jan. 2)

Thursday
(Effective Jan. 3)

8 p.m. Comedy series
8:30 p.m. Comedy series
9 p.m. "Celebrity Apprentice"
10 p.m. "ER"
Note: "Lipstick Jungle" replaces "ER" on Feb. 7

Friday
(Effective Jan. 4)

8 p.m. "1 vs. 100"
9 p.m. "Friday Night Lights"
10 p.m. "Las Vegas"

Sunday specials: "American Gladiators" premiere Jan. 6, Golden Globe Awards Jan. 13, "The Guinness Book of World Records - Live" Jan. 20, "Top 100 Most Outrageous Moments" Feb. 10