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Those morons at Jeff Zucker’s company have stepped in it yet again. It’s bad enough NBC can’t get anyone to watch its piss-poor network primetime shows, but now NBC is making sure the American public can’t watch other networks’ shows as well. The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade is known for annually including “cultural touchstones of the moment” in its broadcast, from every American Idol winner since the 2nd season (a Fox show) 
to the stars of High School Musical (a Disney Channel show). Not a peep out of parade broadcaster NBC. But then, a month ago, the parade producers (who aren’t part of NBC) invited this season’s hot Fox show Glee castmembers to march and perform during the parade. ”They wanted us to have the cast ride a float down the parade route and do a number at the end,” a 20th Century TV exec tells me. ”Late last week, we confirmed that the Glee cast was able to participate, and we began to talk choreography.” But, on Thurday, the studio received a call from the parade producers disinviting the show. “They called all mortified and apologetic. They said that after conversing with NBC they had to withdraw the invitation because NBC was forcing them to. According to the NBC people, the parade was not going to promote a Fox show on their air.” The parade producers acknowledged to 20th TV that NBC has never vetoed a single act booked in the past. Funny thing is, Glee airs opposite NBC’s Law & Order: Special Victims Unit; that’s hardly the same demographic. So what the hell is NBC’s problem?
Editor-in-Chief Nikki Finke - tip her here.
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Here is the thing. In the past, Macy’s has had a cross section of productions on the parade route and NBC didn’t object. Now one of this season’s hottest shows is on another network and Macys has invited them to perform in the parade yet NBC vetoes it. Gee I guess NBC is scared about their ratings. Where was that urgency a few years ago. The truth is that, with Glee, FOX has a merchandising bonanza on their hands that nets them trillions in revenue that would enable Rupert to buyout the 10 PM hour so the network can air dramas in that slot and still have enough left over to develop expensive yet more revenue generating programming for FOX.
As for the rest of the parade, drop the balloons, acts, and themed floats and just let Santa arrive.
For the record though, I wouldn’t be surprised if Macy’s tried to acquire NBC Universal.
If NBC were smart, they would keep the Glee cast because its current hit status would help draw some eyeballs to the parade — not that the parade probably needs any ratings help, but NBC does, particularly because they will be able to use the parade to plug their crapfest of a schedule. Oh well.
A couple of years ago I attended a taping of the Leno Show along with a recording artist who was appearing on that particular episode. One of the guests on that program was Fox hyena Bill O’Reilly. While waiting for the taping to begin, I sat in the Green Room and overheard a small group of NBC execs discussing how they could make O’Reilly’s appearance as uncomfortable as possible. While one of Bill’s PR flacks attempted to give signed copies of his book to anyone within earshot (producers, grips, etc.), every single one of these people ignored him and went about their business. When the time came for Bill to appear, they bumped his segment back and put on a zookeeper instead. O’Reilly’s publicist went ballistic backstage. When he finally went on, Leno, to his credit, grilled him to no end. It was beautiful. I will always give NBC props for that…
Props for being rude, stupid and uninformed. Sounds like the facist entertainment industry.
PS: O’Reilly goes on to mega ratings and mega book sales, Jay and NBC in the crapper. Glad that worked so well for NBC.
Oh, that’s classy.
How many bad decisions can a person make in a row?
NBC = cultural tombstone
Glee is not a hit. It will never make it to a second season.
It may be not a hit with you but it does respectable numbers and makes money on it’s downloads. It’s popular with the kids that’s what counts. Go to business school Hellllooo.
Ummmm, really? I have no idea what rock you’ve been hiding under, but Glee is a smash hit. Four songs on the Billboard charts and a ratings coup.
You must be one of the few Southland lovers. Ignorance is bliss.
I actually would have watched this whole thing if there was a performance from the cast of Glee. What are these peacocks smoking? Well, if they’re not watching glee, it’s clearly not peacock…
We know you don’t like Zucker ( not personally just his NBC moves).
I saw Glee one time. It has its moments, so does the Macy’s parade. Personally I prefer the Hawaii parade, its so cold on Turkey day in the Midwest.
By Friday I’m sure Glee will be back in the parade so that point will be moot.
As for NBC Zucker can save NBC in three ways.
First, hire me.
Secondly, carve a niche of Latin shows like Chico and the Man, Burn Notice and the George Lopez show. With the largest demographic in America NBC can carve into Univision’s market.
Third put some black people on TV that reflects today’s reality. I mean Fox beat Obama to the White House. NBC had Cosby, Miami Vice etc. Friends had its moment, so did Cosby. Blend the two create something interesting like Sisters but with a Two and half men flavor.
Let’s create bridges to expand the TV audience.
- Guess Appearances
-Cross promotion
- Shared revenue
And for the haters, No this is not a Jerry McGuire moment.
Comment by 8movies5plays —
None produced, non covered. Better change your thinking if you want to make it in this town.
The Macy’s parade is in New York City, not the midwest.
Just because “Burn Notice” is filmed in Miami doesn’t make it a Latin show.
Jeffery Donavan is of Irish descent.
Gabrielle Anwar is from England & her father is from India.
Bruce Campbell is of Scottish descent.
None of them are Latin & a few guest actors that are doesn’t make it so!
How, pray tell, is Burn Notice a Latin show?!
Maybe it’s because GLEE has completely sucked since the pilot
Since the NBC version of the parade only seems to consist of those staged performances I watch the actual parade on CBS. I want to see the marching bands and the balloons – not lip synching D Listers.
The parade takes place on a public street & can be broadcast by any TV station or network that wants to.
Neither NBC or Macy’s owns Fifth Ave.
I’m really surprised Fox isn’t making a big stink & possibly even a lawsuit over this.
If Comcrap buys NBC & keeps Zucker, the net won’t even make it to 2012, when the Earth is scheduled to end!
Greg said: “Big picture: there is no accountability to be had here and it’s all quite tragic given that so many people’s lives are negatively affected by decisions rooted in selfish, short-term profit motivation.”
Yep, that sums up how nearly all hiring, firing, and buying decisions are made in Hollywood in tv and features both.
As for NBC, nice way to let the world know how desperate and scared they are.
That’s absurd. I LOVE Glee! There’s just something about musicals…
They need to invite the cast of Mad Men, since that is the last time period that the Macy’s parade was culturally relevant.
It seems to me it should be up to Macy’s as to who is invited and who is not.
Be that as it may, NBC has a way of snatching defeat out of the jaws of ratings victory…
Very sad. Zucker should retire.
To the Glee haters who posted on this blog I guess it’s a good thing you don’t progran TV. Glee is a money maker for FOX and apparently I-tunes. I reference you to this article http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/12/business/media/12glee.html?_r=1&partner=rss&emc=rss
Frankly, I’m astonished at how quickly these random posters pound out the first diminished thought that comes to mind, whether it directly relates to the topic at hand. This isn’t about whether “Glee” is a hit or not; it concerns the petty action by a network to dis-invite the cast of a show on a competing network. This, despite the fact that the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade has always featured floats, balloons and cast members of programs not on NBC. Certainly, this action by Zucker and company make NBC look small, vindictive and petty. But while not appearing in the parade will have virtually no influence on “Glee”‘s chances of long-term success, the biggest question now is: Will NBC Be Consistent? Will they now ban stars of EVERY other program from competing networks?
I personally am looking forward to the L&O:SVU number at the parade. I hear they’re going to have serial rapists, some handcuffed women AND a pedophile all doing a dance number. Can’t wait! This of course will be behind THE OFFICE float…
I’m disinviting Zucker from my birthday party.
For starters, let’s spell Thursday correctly folks. This whole thing really depends on their contract, if Macy’s was dumb enough to allow NBC to rule their show, then it’s their problem to deal with for next year or whenever the contract gets renewed, now if they are a partner in the show, it’s true they shouldn’t give out free advertising, but they could still give them a shot at being the parade, just cash in like NBC may or may not have been doing for years, very simple solution folks
BECAUSE HE IS AN IDIOT.
I feel a bit foolish to admit this, but I am 29 year old male and I probably would have recorded the thanksgiving day parade just to watch the Glee performance. Lea Michele is an absolute star… And so would the women who i live with, in their 20′s.
We are the prime advertising demo… Why would you turn that audience down? Very shortsighted…
Really now, Why must everything be political. NBC should relax and not worry about all this stuff. Shouldn’t the bottom line be entertaining those watching and making this a happier world to live in? Think about it. And… Jealousy of another network will not increase anyones ratings. Just work hard and create enjoyable shows for your watchers and the rest will fall into place. Right?
So Chill and lets enjoy our time on this earth.
Glee creator Ryan Murphy says he gets why NBC asked Macy’s to pull the cast of his Fox show out of its Thanksgiving Day parade:
“I completely understand NBC’s position, and look forward to seeing a Jay Leno float,” he told EW.com.
Stupid, greedy, and vicious executive squabbling/backstabbing will never end. I’m just sorta thankful there’s still GOING to be a Macy’s parade-considering they were teetering on going under.