NBC shakes up Undateable, plans to air live on both coasts for the rest of season 3

After successfully airing live shows on both the east and west coasts when it premiered on Oct. 9, NBC’s Undateable has announced it will continue to do so throughout the rest of the season, starting with tonight’s episode. The decision marks a change-up, as the plan for season three was previously to air it live on the East and then tape-delayed for other parts of the country, according to Variety.

Undateable wasn’t always a live show. In fact, the prior to season three, the only live episode was the penultimate episode of season two, which featured a variety of guest stars, including Ed Sheeran, former Scrubs cast members, Kate Walsh, and Scott Foley. Show creator Adam Sztykiel and executive producer Bill Lawrence apparently decided they wanted more of the live format. To that end, the most recent season premiere aired live on each coast, with the thought being that they would double up on live shows for special episodes.

“It depends on our mood, the casts mood,” Lawrence told Variety at the first table read for the season. “It doesn’t cost us that much more money for special hourlong ones so we’ll still do it, but half-hour ones, we won’t.” The planned format returned for the Oct. 16 episode, but they quickly changed their minds.

Along with going live, Undateable has been getting fans involved by using Periscope on a daily basis and sharing behind-the-scenes looks at the set each Friday that episodes are filmed.  While ratings aren’t exactly through the roof — last week’s episode averaged a 0.9 same-day rating in the 18-49 demo — the show has been doing well on social media. The Undateable Twitter account shared today that it’s Friday’s most tweeted show.

Cheers to making #UndateableLive Friday’s #1 tweeted show! On LIVE tonight on both coasts at 8p. https://t.co/LiIsVbfoqu

— Undateable (@NBCUndateable) October 23, 2015

Catch Undateable — live — on Fridays on NBC at 8/7 c.