Reports: 'Up All Night' Switching to Multi-Cam Format

Comedy to take midseason hiatus, return with five new episodes

By Andrea Morabito -- Broadcasting & Cable, 10/29/2012 5:55:42 PM

Sophomore NBC comedy Up All Night will be switching from its current single-camera format to multicamera at midseason, according to multiple reports.

The series starring Christina Applegate, Will Arnett and Maya Rudolph will reportedly finish taping its 11^th episode next week in single-camera and then take a three-month hiatus to convert its stage for a multicamera format. Production on five new episodes in slated to resume in February, bringing its season two order to 16 episodes.

Up All Night's hiatus will open up a hole on NBC's schedule on Thursday at 8:30 p.m., potentially for the fourth season of Community, which remains without a return date.

NBC entertainment chairman Bob Greenblatt told Variety that the network and executive producer Lorne Michaels decided to switch the format to multicam "to infuse the show with more energy" in front of a live audience. Season-to-date, Up All Night is averaging a 1.3 rating with adults 18-49.

Greenblatt said the change was also done to show "we're committed to the multicam form," which the network has done with Whitney and Guys With Kids in an attempt to broaden the appeal of its comedies.