CHICAGO (thefutoncritic.com) -- NBC has made the first major programming move of the 2003-04 season as the Peacock network will move its Monday drama "Third Watch" to Fridays at 10:00/9:00c beginning October 31. In its place on Mondays, NBC has scheduled the new reality series "Average Joe." The news was announced via press release yesterday.

Here's how NBC describes the show:

In the dramatic new unscripted relationship series, former beauty queen and NFL cheerleader Melana Scantlin arrives in Palm Springs to live in a multi-million dollar estate high atop a hill, where she awaits the arrival of 16 Prince Charmings to win her heart. What she doesn�t know is that the men she will meet are not handsome princes, but are actually "Average Joes" - guys with great hearts, but admittedly average looks, ranging from 5-foot-2 to 6-foot-8 and weighing up to 360 pounds, some even describing themselves as 'nerds' and 'geeks.'

Kathy Griffin ("Suddenly Susan") hosts the series, which was originally supposed to bow this summer but ended up being held for the 2003-04 season. "Joe," a production of NBC Studios and Krasnow Productions, kicks off Monday, November 3 at 10:00/9:00c.

As for "Third Watch," the veteran drama will take over for the hiatused "Boomtown" on Friday night. NBC insists "Boomtown" is not canceled however production has not resumed on the series, which has completed only six episodes this season.

Meanwhile in other NBC news, the Peacock has scheduled its highly-touted telefilm "Saving Jessica Lynch" for Sunday, November 9 at 9:00/8:00c. The network also announced that the first 40-minutes of the telefilm will air without commercial interruption "due to the compelling nature of [the] story." NBC also plans to broadcast it in widescreen.