Former MTV Networks Programming Chief Joins Oprah’s OWN As CEO

COMMENTS (9)

• As a black woman I am proud of Norman from a business standpoint, but I cannot get behind her program choices at MTV. My only hope is that she took this past year to re-evaluate some of her decisions and will start anew at OWN.

  Comment by Blackout — Thursday January 29, 2009 @ 10:54am PST  Reply to this post

• Why all the disparaging comments about the shows she developed at MTV? It’s not like she was an exec at Bravo or HBO trying to create “art”. MTV wanted hits and she created them. Good for her.

  Comment by anonymous — Thursday January 29, 2009 @ 12:15pm PST  Reply to this post

• Let’s not forget that when Oxygen launched in 2000 it was touted as Oprah’s and look at what a bat-shit crazy network THAT has become. Bad Girls Club? It’s like those 51 Minds shows (Flavor of Love/Rock of Love) without the LOVE and without ANY SUBSTANCE.

  Stupid bitches beating each other up? Maybe for the numskull viewers.

  I hope to god that OWN can have programming of substance that is also entertaining. Doesn’t have to be vapid to be entertaining.

  Comment by Oxygen was supposed to be Oprah's too! — Thursday January 29, 2009 @ 12:19pm PST  Reply to this post

• She is as solid as a rock and a great choice. Good luck, Christina.

  Comment by An observer — Thursday January 29, 2009 @ 12:55pm PST  Reply to this post

• looks like she’s smart enough to know mtv is a place of the past and will never be big again

  Comment by Anonymous — Thursday January 29, 2009 @ 1:48pm PST  Reply to this post

• Brian Graden is also to blame for those shows.

  Comment by Coral — Thursday January 29, 2009 @ 2:47pm PST  Reply to this post

• Reality/Alternative programming is cheap to produce but you still have to spend money and effort on crafting a good show w/decent ratings.

  The best of luck to Christina, keep entertaining but as the other commenters, please balance out the reality w/original programming.

  Just look at AMC, FX, USA, TNT…And look at where your old bosses are still stuck in the past, or even compare Lifetime to Oxygen.

  “Creative and Original” will outlast everytime over “Cheap and Easy”.

  Comment by P. Lee — Thursday January 29, 2009 @ 3:39pm PST  Reply to this post

• MTV needs to shut it’s doors. It is irrelevant at this point. Behind the times in all media.

  Thank you.

  P.S. Is that Rod Assia guy still there? What a dope.

  Comment by anhonestAnswer — Thursday January 29, 2009 @ 5:14pm PST  Reply to this post

• Reasonable people can reasonably disagree on what constitutes a “good” or even “enjoyable” show.

  But just looking at things from a business perspective (and leaving personal taste out of it for a minute):
  “The Surreal Life” begat “Strange Love” which begat “Flavor of Love” which begat “I Love New York” which begat “Real Chance of Love” and (separately) “Rock of Love” which begat “I Love Money,” “Charm School” the forthcoming “Daisy of Love.” And most if not all of these shows ran for at least two seasons.

  Again, from a purely-business standpoint, it is an amazing mind that created a product which could spawn so many ancillary products that keep drawing in viewers over and over again. In fact, I cannot think of another example of so many derivative shows coming from one originator.

  Just saying…whatever your taste is, is your personal taste. But enough people keep tuning it to keep the machine going and MANY P.A.’s, grips, technicians, camerapeople, writers, directors and producers employed. Which should count for something in this economy.

  Comment by gotmyjd2003 — Thursday January 29, 2009 @ 5:28pm PST  Reply to this post