NEW YORK (AP) -- NBC is making big changes to its prime-time lineup for Thursday -- the night it used to own in the era of "must-see TV" -- by instituting a two-hour comedy block led by "My Name Is Earl."

Banished from the night, and temporarily off the air entirely, is "Joey," the spinoff that lost all of the energy and most of the viewers from "Friends."

Thursday's announcement represents NBC's attempt to recapture its magic on what is the most lucrative night of the week in television advertising. Through "The Cosby Show,"Cheers," "Seinfeld" and "Friends," NBC dominated Thursdays for nearly two decades, but CBS' combination of "Survivor" and "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" now rules.