It was NBC’s turn to lay out a strategic plan for its short- and long-term future at the Television Critics Association Press Tour in Pasadena yesterday.
   The message from the network most under attack by the competition came down to this: Stick with program franchises that work, hold onto the few new shows that hold promise, and, like every other network, sign up whatever reality show you can find. 
    Among NBC’s announcements: It has gone into production on "Law & Order: Criminal Intent," the third show in the franchise from Dick Wolf, for fall 2001.
   It has committed early to a second season of its modestly performing but award-winning new drama, "Ed," from David Letterman’s production company, Worldwide Pants.
    A miniseries called "Steve Martini’s The Judge" is in production. And the network is encouraged by the first outing on Tuesday of "Three Sisters," which held onto 93 percent of "Frasier’s" audience.
    NBC has at least five unscripted shows in the works, including the XFL football games, which premiere next month.
   The shows factor prominently in NBC’s strategy for several reasons.
    For one thing, the unscripted program genre, which includes everything from game shows to reality shows, is an area that NBC has come under fire for not capitalizing on, as ABC did with "Millionaire" and CBS did with "Survivor."
   The presence of Jeff Zucker, the newly installed entertainment president who replaced ousted Garth Ancier, was symbolic of NBC’s unwillingness to sit idle in that arena for much longer.
    There is also a looming possibility that a Screen Actors Guild and the Writers Guild of America strike could wipe out production on scripted shows by the fall (See story three).
    And unscripted shows are a bit like the internet at this point; nobody’s willing to miss out on the next big thing, even though the next big thing is looking more questionable with each new entry in the genre.
    ABC’s "The Mole," which had moderate ratings on Tuesday, was the latest example of a hyped unscripted show that generated only a lukewarm response from viewers.
   NBC expects some of its unscripted programs to be ready by next spring. They include, "Weakest Link," a game show from the United Kingdom, which the network will share with its sister network, Pax.
    "On the Cover" is a quiz show about popular culture, which NBC will do in conjunction with its NBCi internet site.
    And Endemol, the Dutch production-company behind CBS’s "Big Brother," has two reality shows – "Now or Neverland" and "Sweet Revenge" – in the works.
    Meanwhile, NBC West Coast president Scott Sassa announced that ABC has given permission to Jim McKay, who has hosted 11 Olympics, to host the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City with Bob Costas.
    The network also renewed its highly successful daytime drama, "Passions," for a third season. And "Just Deal," a Saturday morning dramedy intended for teens, was picked up for 13 additional episodes.
    Perhaps the biggest unanswered question, no doubt intended to generate some buzz, will be answered in the next few days.
   That is, what show will NBC air after "Friends" to go head-to-head with CBS’s "Survivor II?" The network has put the "Weber Show" on hiatus through the February sweeps.
    "Friends" will utilize big-name guest stars, like Susan Sarandon and Jason Alexander, as it has done successfully in years past to boost viewing during the upcoming sweeps.

-Kevin Downey is a staff writer for Media Life.

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