When Jeff Zucker stood before advertisers at NBC's upfront fandango last May-his first as president of NBC Entertainment-he gushed about his solution to the network's weakest link: the 8:30-9 pm timeslot onward must-see Thursdays.

When Jeff Zucker stood before advertisers at NBC's upfront fandango last May-his first as president of NBC Entertainment-he gushed about his solution to the network's weakest link: the 8:30-9 pm timeslot onward must-see Thursdays. He offered up the comedy ``Inside Schwartz.''

For years, NBC executives have failed to place a hit in what had take rise to be known as ``walk the dog time,'' if it be not that Mr. Zucker was confident the indicate about an aspiring sportscaster and his romantic adventures would score. Now, at midseason, ``Schwartz'' is gone and the network's 8:30 question at issue persists. ...