NBC reveals that Harry Connick, Jr. will have multi-episode arc on ‘Law & Order: SVU’ and that ‘Community’ will return

NBC Entertainment Chairman Robert Greenblatt appeared at Friday’s Television Critics Association Press Tour and dropped two big nuggets of news for the struggling network. The network revealed that singer Harry Connick, Jr. will appear in a multi-episode arc of Law & Order: SVU, and also revealed that Community will be back...eventually.

Entertainment Weekly reports that Connick, Jr. will play Assistant District Attorney David Haden who will be assigned to a case that Mariska Hargitay’s Olivia Benson is working on. Sparks begin to fly between David and Olivia as David develops into her love interest. “As the case develops, so does their relationship,” the network said in its press release. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Greenblatt noted that this is the first time that Olivia has been given a love interest.

In the same press release, Hargitay called the casting a “home run on so many levels,” adding, “The show is very fortunate to have Harry’s extraordinary talent, and I’m lucky because I get to work with my friend. I think Olivia couldn’t have asked for a better companion to take her through a new stage in her life and career.”

Greenblatt also confirmed that Hargitay will not be leaving the show like former co-star Chris Meloni did before this season started. Hargitay says that she is having “too much fun” to leave.

As for Community, E! News reports that Greenblatt admits that the network handled the show wrong by not making it clear enough to fans of the Joel McHale-starring show that it would return after a mid-season break. Although he did not specify when the show would return, he did say that "it will definitely be back later this spring." Greenblatt also failed to commit to a fourth season for the show.

Finally, Greenblatt also confirmed that Alec Baldwin has signed on for a seventh season of 30 Rock.

As for the overall performance for the network, Greenblatt said that NBC just had a “really bad fall,” according to The Wrap. He acknowledged failures like Prime Suspect and The Playboy Club, but showed confidence in the new drama, Smash, and the return of The Voice.