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NBC has axed Southland… I hear Trauma is next because of its ridiculouly excessive $3 million pricetag an episode. (When I screened the show, I was rooting for the helicopter to kill off every character…) My NBC insiders are letting Angela Bromstad off the hook, saying “she picked the best of shit” from Ben Silverman’s failed development. “This is the last gift that keeps on giving from Ben Silverman.” The insiders are even going so far as to give up on the rest of the primetime schedule for their network. “There’s nothing watchable the rest of the year.” Even midseason and spring of 2010? “Nothing watchable the rest of the season,” I’m told. “Maybe Jerry Seinfeld’s The Marriage Ref will work, but he’s not even in it. This is not a fun place to be right now. And we committed to Jay Leno on the air for 2 years because he was worried we’d have an itchy trigger finger. It’s an embarrassment for all of us. Maybe he’ll get fed up — he’s not right now — and then we can re-negotiate.” This is beyond sad. It’s the destruction of a brand.
Editor-in-Chief Nikki Finke - tip her here.
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A what point will the affiliates rise up?
This is really sad. Who knew it would take so little to destroy the house that THE COSBY SHOW, CHEERS, FRASIER, A DIFFERENT WORLD, THE GOLDEN GIRLS, FRIENDS, WILL & GRACE, FAMILY TIES, ER, MAD ABOUT YOU, & SEINFELD (to name a few) built.
Maybe they should look into developing new sitcoms. No, I don’t mean half hour, single camera comedies. I mean sitcoms. There is nothing wrong with teh idea of a sitcom, just the talent of the writers apparently.
Sitcom, you are absolutely right. Sitcoms are not a terrible thing. I think the reason why people crap on them is because the mediocre ones seem to get better ratings. OR because shows that started off good and/or excellent became mediocre/terrible, e.g. ‘Roseanne’.
Mercy might be next. It is not doing well either.
Remember, for this NBC canceled “Life” and ordered only 13 episodes of “Chuck.”
Ben Silverman alone does not bear responsibility. Hollywood is filled with talent. There are many producers and writers who could have put low-cost and original programming based on characters a broad audience would like on the air for NBC. This is a team achievement at NBC.
Yeah it’s funny that the middle management in network and studio development at NBC — the geniuses who passed on shows like House, Desperate Housewives and The Mentalist — don’t ever get brought up in discussions like these. I’d love to see some of those names named in a forum like this.
Ask any producer/creator of virtually any hot show on a competing network what their NBC meetings were like for the same show they’re now running and they’ll tell you horror stories about the NBC suits.
This season will be a true test of the brand because NBC has paid through the nose for some major pieces of development — JJ Abrams’ new drama and the Prime Suspect remake. It’s going to be funny to see NBC screw those shows up.
Nikki is dead right about the destruction of a brand, but who is actually perpetrating that destruction? Not the viewers…not Ben Silverman (who still get a producer credit on the network’s two highest rated series!)…it’s the EXECUTIVES.
Jeff Zucker definitely deserves the lion’s share of the blame.
NBC :CALL ME: I’ve got some “good” show ideas for you. Obviously the people you’ve been dealing with are idiots. You need to talk to someone new.
Damn.. I was really looking forward to Southland. What are the executives at NBC smoking?
Wasn’t Star Trek on NBC in the 60′s?: “She’s dead, Jim.”
GE: “Take my network, please.”
You must be one of Leno’s comedy writers, right?
“Too dark and gritty for broadcast television.” There’s an embarrassment of riches, and then there’s just plain embarrassment. Please, Comcast, anybody; buy NBC, kick the Zucker regime out and start from scratch. This is the World Championship Wrestling of prime time networks in its mismanagement and utter denial of reality.
what about Parenthood?
As long as they continue to renew Chuck, I don’t care in the slightest what they do with the other timeslots.
Oh they’ll keep renewing it… They’ll just never air them…
That’s how they roll…
Then give us back LIFE
I agree. LIFE was SO good and drew decent ratings (esp. compared to what they’re getting this season). I’m glad they renewed Chuck but that’s the only good decision they’ve made this year.
“Too dark and gritty”???!!! Are you fucking kidding me? The only thing dark and gritty about Southland was the static when my cable went out in the middle of the show. That, my friends was some pretty damn entertaining static.
“Coming next fall to NBC: “Test Pattern”.
Honestly, if Southland is too dark for people, the only things lighter are cartoons and the disney channel. Come on people!
To me, this sounds like just desserts: NBC which owns Syfy, killed off no end of good genre programming for the sake of crappy wrestling shows.
IN my opinion, this is just what they deserve.
Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha.
NBC has only 8 hours of scripted programs scheduled next week. That’s for the entire week folks. Hopefully the death of NBC will mark the beginning of a new investment to writers. The reality / talk show format is easy, mindless garbage and NBC is paying the price for it. We’re in the midst of a huge shift in media and this will be just the first card to fall. Interesting times.
It might be mindless garbage but that mindless garbage is beating and coming close to beating the mindless scripted dramas on ABC, at a much lower cost.
Can you say The Forgotten, Eastwick, both tied or lost to Leno. He’s not going away, maybe when the writers get that through their thick heads they will learn something. Tuesday night was a great example of how an cheap program can beat a high priced one. NBC – ABC.
But cheap Leno and other cheap programming gets much lower advertising revenue. So, a good part of your logic doesn’t hold.
Additionally, when you have a scripted hit, the long-term revenue is awesome. This fact, along with what used to be the love of creating quality, interesting shows, is what drove Hollywood.
But then you get GE involved, which has no creative interests — just money interests, and the Wall Street driven mentality of short-term returns for hungry shareholders in order to justify large paychecks for management … Leno and all the other crap on NBC was born. Wall Street is not into risk right now, and Hollywood is the ultimate risk-taking business — a disconnect.
Furthermore, while the other studios may not be run nearly as corporate as GE’s NBC, they all suffer from variations of it. The “suits” make more and more of the creative decisions than ever before. I’ve heard casting director after casting director complain about how they used to be able to make most casting decisions, but now there are more than a dozen suits who have to confirm everything down to a non-speaking co-star. Show decisions are increasingly based on precedent and models, not necessarily the writing or the creativity. Nearly all the independent production houses are gone. NBC, CBS, ABC all make shows for each other — talk about inbreeding. Show creators have to become magicians to get attention and get something green lit. The allowance of these studios to become monopolies of content and distribution is going to become their downfall because in reality they need to have fostered creative independence to supply them with the content, choice, and quality they desperately need.
yes Jay is on at 10 but by no means is NBC driven by “reality/talk-show formats.” Out of all the major networks besides CW, NBC has the smallest reality department and programming. NBC’s resistance to jump on the reality bandwagon and stick to its guns of comedy/mature drama is probably the reason it is in last place. NBC stood its ground when everyone else changed and is now changing, not necessarily in the right direction. But the main problem isn’t the programming, it’s that no one is watching NBC. Basically every show on every network is exactly the same, it’s just large scale migrations that occur cyclically every year according to what’s hot that season. It’s not AMC, people. It’s broadcast television.
Still, NBC has, without a doubt, the funniest comedies on network television. But, no one is watching and America is full of idiots. Which begs the question…how IS Leno doing so poorly?
First off, what is the NBC insider complaining about Leno for at this point? While I’m not a fan of him taking up 5 hours of prime time either, at this point NBC needs him to fill up the schedule. If they cancel Mercy and Trauma along with Southland, that’s a HUGE chunk of prime time real estate, and they really don’t have much to fill it with.
Hopefully at this point they bring back Chuck earlier than they intended, and give it the back 9. It might not be a ratings barnburner, but it’s pretty solid and has a fiercely loyal fan base. It also has a marquee sponsor willing to stick by the show, and plenty of product placement opportunities in the Buy More set.
Journeyman, Moonlight and Life. All good and original programming. But they killed all the good shows for the same old stuff that gets regurgitated on every network. Cop show number 500, medical drama number 2000. It’s just sad.
I’m adding to my own (prior) post!.. I forgot one of my favorite nets. FX Oops ..so,maybe,but like someone else observed, they’ve got a boatload of new series..but it’s possible.
Moonlight was on CBS
Also, what about letting the terrific Medium go to CBS? Hello??Nobody here has mentioned The Office, or Emmy darling, 30 Rock..surely SOMEONE finds them watchable?! I also heard Parks & Recreation is funny but I haven’t seen it, personally..
It’s really the drama area that is on life support, there..saw one episode of Mercy..just average..Trauma? don’t care..boring..
I have been a L&O fan but really..it’s time to put it out to pasture already.even though I like Anthony Anderson…even SVU, which I loved for years is tired..
I was looking forward to Southland..Admire their determination to set it up elsewhere..Lets play a fun game: who will buy SOUTHLAND?:-)
CBS? Nope.. no room for another cop/crime show
ABC? HM..doesn’t feel much like an ABC show..not a ‘soap’ ala Housewives or Bros & Sisters..or a sci-fi thriller/soap (Lost, FlashForward)…their one ‘cop’ show is CASTLE (which actually would be compatible w/BONES!)
FOX?? Hm..maybe..IF they had 10:00 programming ..speaking of which why DOESN’T Fox have 10pm programming by now?!Guess those Fox news junkies gotta have their 10 oclock fix..
TNT? might’ve worked but it’s too close to DARK BLUE and doubt Michael wants to piss off Jerry.
USA very unlikely..not ‘jokey’ enuf
not in the Showtime zeitgeist- BROTHERHOOD was terrific, but it was odd man out amongst the dark comedies and historical soaps..and they never promoted it properly
HBO,hmm.. maybe, but they’ve got to roll out TREME, BOARDWALK EMPIRE, etc and re-define their drama brand..surely not a fit w/TRUE BLOOD, is it?!
FX..maybe, if as someone said, they didn’t just pick up three new drama series..but at least it’s a tonal fit..
So now we come to the most likely choices:
AMC-Respectful of top showrunners..big on critically acclaimed niche shows..a good bet A&E..they need a scripted hit,(The Cleaner-gone, The Beast, rip Patrick-gone) and a Wells ‘get’ would be good for them
Starz which is really not on most people’s radar but maybe this could help? Longshot..
so there you are..my bet: AMC or A&E whoever pays the freight.! Curious what you think, Nikki.
ANyway, when NBC is doing this to someone as powerful(WGA prez anyone?) and talented as John Wells, you KNOW they don’t give a rat’s ass about scripted over there..its bottom line bottom line cost efficiencies blah blah blah..so sad..Angela has got her work cut out for her.
I like her…I wish her luck.
You are right. I meant to say Medium. That’s what I get for posting when I’m sleepy.
My teenage daughter still has her Moonlight posters on her bedroom wall. It was a cult favorite.
Parenthood easily looked like one of the most promising shows of the current slate, but who know when it will be coming out. They’d be lucky if they actually produce episodes this year, thanks to the difficulty of finding a good female lead (latest rumor is Lauren Graham, who luckily shouldn’t be too expensive, thanks to the relative failure of her feature career).
Of the shows NBC has in development:
- 100 Questions: Can’t see it being a hit, too generic, and covers much of the same ground as many of the comedy endeavours CBS has made of late.
- Breakthrough with Tony Robbins: Might tap into the Biggest Loser crowd, but I wouldn’t count on it. Audiences are getting sick of these lifestyle shows.
- Day One: Basically cancelled. Unless it has amazing ratings in its mini-series run, it’s too expensive a proposition for NBC.
- Marriage Ref: Probably NBC’s best new show, which isn’t saying much. The Seinfeld name doesn’t carry what it used to. Has a chance of doing well, but I’d be surprised if it was a breakout hit.
- Persons Unknown: Might do well if it can tap into the Flash Forward crowd, but I wouldn’t hold my breath.
- Sing Off: Didn’t NBC learn their lesson with Clash of the Choirs? Glee isn’t rating that well to prompt a resurgence of interest in this arena.
- Who Do You Think You Are?: This actually gets my vote as NBC’s most promising new show. That said, I’m not expecting anything above niche ratings. Local productions have done very well in the UK and Australia, but we’ll see whether US audiences have the same level of interest (they won’t). Probably would have been a better pickup by Bio or A&E.
Wasn’t Angela Bromstad at the programming helm when NBC green-lit the show as well as season 2? True she didn’t develop it, but she produced it. Oh, and Trauma. Oh, and Mercy….
I realized recently there is not much on NBC that I want to watch. I do not understand the Jay Leno programming choice. Aren’t his numbers sink? Who at the network thought- the numbers are sinking, let’s double down?
And to be permanently replaced by Dateline, soft porn docs to be turned into MSNBC weekend upchuck. Yuck. Too bad. Maybe CBS can save Southland the way it saved Medium. Trauma sucks. But Southland?
The network has a well written, acted and directed new series, “MERCY” featuring a srong feamle lead. Reminds me of a Brandon type of show, like “Hillstreet Blues”. Also, NBC has the 2010 Olympics which will be a ratings winner and drive a lot revenue. Leno is fighting the good fight and will have some nights that cannot compete against the top shows. Overall his numbers hold up even when compared to the competition, without successful lead-ins. To those at NBC who do not find it “fun”, go and stand in the unemployment lines like millions of Americans who are jobless and homeless are wondering how are they going to put food on a table and feed their kids.
You need to re-read Nikki’s post. She’s quoting an NBC insider, someone who works there. They find Leno an embarrassment. They want him to re-negotiate. That means, they want to pay him off to go away. He’s not gonna get a chance to compete, he’s toast. Probably around May.
Fire your darn executives “deveopling” and giving notes on these crap fests. Whoever oversees Heroes and Day One needs to go. It’s like amateur hour over there. Who cares if someone works hard if they don’t give good hopes. They are clearly out of touch with what audiences want.
Or good notes for that matter.
“Too dark and gritty for broadcast television.”
Excuse me? This wasn’t The Shield on NBC.
I really liked LIFE. The redhead actor was really fun to watch, even so the story line got low and lower. All the actors in TRAUMA are… yeah, the helicopter crash could have saved us, your so right. I was super disappointed. Could only watch the first one, then got sick. What is it with NBC? Heroes was great for 1 1/2 seasons. Now it looks like heroes gone Carnivale (in case someone can remember this great hbo programming) but only halve hearted. You sit and watch and think they only try to kill time, so you ff to the action, thank you tivo. In case of trauma, there is not even watchable special effects. Next time do a series about an american (formerly drunken doctor) body snatcher in Bangkok or Goa. There you have some original programming, jerks. Nobody wants that fake emotion of fake problems any more. Trauma is sooo fake.