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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?
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Yeah, so? Why would NBC give free advertising to a competitor on its programming. That’s a no brainer. If the Macy’s parade wants to air and show whatever they want, air it on PBS.
But if they have invited past Idol winners, why start worrying about that now? Because they are desperate and circling the wagons, that’s why. It’s a bunker mentality.
It’s the Macy’s parade not the NBC parade. NBC gets to cover it. I suppose NBC could simply choose not to show that part of the parade as it passes by rather than look so stupid as to disinvite Glee at this late date. But then again, it’s NBC and they are not very smart these days.
Come to think of it if you are thinking competitively it would be the other way around….why would FOX want to boost an NBC event by lending talent from its hit show to a lackluster network like NBC? Maybe because FOX has more class and is less fearful. I don’t know but it all seems very petty to me and that seems to be the way NBC operates now. What a shame.
This is as childish and stupid as Obama refusing to go on Fox for interviews.
Nice try troll, but this has nothing to do with politics.
Fox has a poor track record with promoting shows that deserve it, too. Look at what they did to Firefly! They aren’t all that classy, or brave, either. They lucked into Glee and I hope they treat it better than they’ve done to the shows that’ve come before. NBC is just as bad, and I can’t understand the reasoning behind it.
it’s like NBC doesn’t actually WANT people to watch their sinking ship of a sham network. “Viewers? NO!!! Get them away from us!”
For the record, if I was organizing a parade, I wouldn’t allow GLEE either.
@The Business: aaaaand that’s why no one is asking you to organize one.
Remember when NBC was the #1 network in television? What the hell happened? I bet this year’s Macy’s parade will be the lowest viewed telecast yet so “Glee” isn’t missing anything. They can enjoy Thanksgiving at home now.
What happened to NBC? They gave away their best time slot every weeknight to Jay Leno.
This just makes me love “GLEE” even more. If JZucker’s afraid of it, then of course it’s great!
Does this mean that Leno, Conan and Jimmy Fallon will no longer book guests that work on other networks? Or what about the Today show? Ridiculous!
Wasn’t Fox the only other network that was still allowing their stars to do Leno’s show? I bet this will end that goodwill. Way to go Zucker, moron.
Glee will be close to cancelled by Thanksgiving anyway. What an irritating show.
“Glee” was the first broadcast TV show, picked up for a full season this year…
nope, wrong. Its been given a whole season and very fast.
maybe they’re replacing Glee with the Southland Float..doh
and Spongebob doesn’t air on NBC. Maybe they should puncture the spongebob balloon.
So let me get this straight. Glee is wildly popular. So popular that fans would tune in to see a special routine just for the parade – drawing millions of viewers that might not have watched the parade otherwise, allowing NBC to up advertising prices and promote it’s own shows in between. And they’re turning that down? Where’s the business downside to that?
If NBC were really smart they’d have Glee work their parade into the storyline for Glee to balance things out. Of course that would take balls and brains…
that’s a great idea
Since, NBC wants only their network stars represented, the parade will be limited to two floats this year, one for The Office and the other for Monday Night Football.
NBC is still deciding whether 30 Rock will qualify.
Oh, and there will be a large Jay Leno balloon kicking off the parade an hour and a half earlier than usual.
You do mean Sunday Night Football, which is an NBC telecast, correct? Monday Night Football is an ESPN broadcast.
And no one will be watching!
The Parade has become too celebrtiy orientated for my taste! I quit watching it years ago
Some things need to be “bigger” than the network on which they air. The Emmys, for example, celebrate every network on one network’s air. Personally, I can’t stand parades and I’d rather drink antifreeze than have to watch one, but this type of predatory production by NBC (”Nothing But Crap”) is so typical of the mindlessness by which that once great network is now being run.
Someday, business school case work will focus on Jeff Zucker and what a supreme asshole he is and how he ran a brilliant creative network straight into the ground. And yet he still survives.
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.
You are so right. But nobody is listening.
So NBC won’t put out any fresh programming and they pout when someone else does?
When is Zucker going to get the axe? It’s SO long overdue.
Ironic, just a couple nights ago I saw NBC air some public service commercial that not only featured stars from other networks but highlighted said networks, and one of them was Fox.
Why is this stupid on NBC’s part? This site is wildly slanted against NBC. I understand that they’re not the best network, but why would they give another network’s show exposure? Sounds like standard business practices.
Because they do all the time. Late night shows often book other networks’ stars. And the Thanksgiving Day parade always does. In other words, denying Glee is not standard business practice at all. So NBC gets even more bad press from this, and a lost opportunity to have Glee’s young fans actually tune into their network. Objectively, it’s a clear boneheaded move.
No, they are not “standard business practices.” This article actually mentions a couple of other non-NBC shows that have been included in the past. Other parades, such as the Rose Parade, and countless award shows do not have this policy. And yes, it is stupid. There are viewers who would have tuned in to see Glee in the parade who otherwise might not, and they may not be massive in number, but at this point, I think NBC could use any new viewers they can get.
You’re missing the issue. The issue is NOT why would NBC give another network’s show exposure.
Rather, the issue is: why would NBC (or in this case, an agent thereof) INVITE another network’s show to participate in a televised parade, and then DISINVITE them after the fact.
It’s not being biased to say they’re making themselves look stupid because the right hand doesn’t appear to know what the left is doing.
This site is slanted against stupidity, which NBC has shown for the last 5 years. The bottom line is that NBC is overestimating the significance of the parade. It’s not like being on the parade is somehow going to make Glee a monster hit.
“…..why would they give another network’s show exposure? Sounds like standard business practices.”
By that reasoning, why would they air the Emmy awards?
Or any late shows?
This coincides with the White House declaring war on Fox News. Since NBC is state-run, I guess it doesn’t have to worry about viewership. How much tax-payer money is GE getting for its continuing propaganda?
The sad thing is that you little Drudge-bots actually believe stuff like this. Shouldn’t you be more upset that your precious Fox News never bothered to admit that there were no WMD in Iraq?
I love how you’ve turned it into something political when none exists. Now run along and go back to listening to Limbeck for your next talking point.
If NBC is staterun, I’ll eat my hat! FOX however never got a fact straight in its entire broadcasting life! Here’s an idea! Let’s stop taking sides and find out who really is telling the truth our there!
It really is about the truth,and I can tell you, I was a FOX fan until I caught Fox in some of the worse lies going. I’m not talking about one lie, I’m talking dozens of lies!
I been to other countries and they lie to their people too! I want the truth from my networks, sure wish FOX felt that way about it!
I got tired of being taken for a mindless fool, now I watch the BBC!
Hey Rush… stick to your low rated radio ‘rant’ show and keep popping those ‘pain’ killers. This has nothing to do with your right wing Marxist/Leninist conservative politics. Oh and, GE received zero taxpayer funded moneys… do your homework.
NBC used to be so classy. Now they are like the class bully that everybody in the class finally ignores. All Huff and Puff.
Glee would of been a nice fit for the Parade. What NBC is gonna put on a rip off show like Glee called Choir?
It’s over NBC you lost, it hurts.
but they can use this hot new hip show to promote all their hot new hip show- oh i get it now. zucker’s got GLEEness envy
Funny thing NBC…you’ve allowed “Family Guy” to have a Stewie balloon in the parade for years, so you feel threatened because there’s a show that actually works for a parade like this and you won’t allow them because they’re competitive?
That’s kind of an arbitrary thing to decide, isn’t it?
Yeah, but Underdog aired on NBC.
How come nobody ever wants to remember what a great job Zucker did with the Today Show? Huh? Huh?
I don’t think he’s really wearing that hat.
The NBC hatred is really getting old…
I would agree. This almost smacks of “Bash NBC because NBC made a decision.”
In the end, who cares? They cover the parade. They can decide what is in it and what isn’t. At this point, they can do whatever they want and we can decide.
I’d love to know what NBC did to piss off this site, but it’s just kind of ridiculous. Are they the most competent of networks? By no means, but for cryin’ out loud, the venom wasted on NBC is nuts.
Brilliant move. Now all the other networks need to do is put their foot down and tell all their stars not to do the Jay Leno show. Who’s he going to interview, the couch? Kevin Eubanks? Toilet Plungers? Might as well because NBC will be in the crapper. I might have actually dragged myself out of bed early to watch the parade if the cast of Glee would have been in it….now not a chance in hell. Macy’s should have the balls to tell NBC to shove it; I’m sure plenty of networks would jump at the chance to show a television classic parade!
There will always be stars to interview, remember movies, big media companies that own studios want their stars out plugging their movies. At the end of the day who has made more money for the stockholders. The artsy networks or the networks that put on cheap programming? With NBCU’s cable channels and NBC I’ll bet on NBCU rather than 1st place CBS or FOX and 3rd or 4th place ABC. Right now ABC is standing very close to 4th place, and with all there expensive one-hour dramas sucking up money like a Hummer sucks up gas, it’s a wonder they will make anything.
This NBCU/Zucker is really getting pathetic. It’s about money people, if you want quality watch PBS and donate
My first thought was – Glee is a “gay-friendly” series. Maybe advertisers are threatening to pull advertising if NBC helps promote a show like that?
Right, because there are no gays on tv. Most shows have gay characters already.
Does this mean no Bart Simpson balloon too?
Really NBC is the first network to die. I’m not understanding how Zucker keeps his job. I also do not understand why advertisers buy time on that crappy network. I could hear the words come out of Zuckers mouth “There will be no Glee on NBC.” How prophetic and pathetic.
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.
1) Anyone who thinks Glee isn’t coming back for a 2nd season is a moron.
2) To the person who thought it would get cancelled by Thanksgiving: the show’s been given a full-season order, and today it was announced that a post-season summer tour, a la Idol, is in the works, given the show’s popularity.
3) Networks not wanting to promote each other’s programming is the lead story of the day? Um…duh?
4) Having Idol as a part of the parade is different than Glee. Idol is a worldwide juggernaut. Glee, no matter its demographic, is a show that is beating an NBC stalwart. Yes, the Leno programming is responsible for SVU losing its audience, but NBC isn’t moving Leno, so it is not going to promote Glee.
5) This site is gaining a lot of steam lately, which is awesome. The clear hatred of NBC, though…hmm. It’s not as much tired as it is embarrassing at this point. Very Perez Hilton. It’d be nice if this site continued to separate itself from garbage like that.
Good thing the grown-up networks don’t act like this, otherwise the only shows NBCU performers could get on would be NBC shows. Letterman and Kimmel have people on from Fox and other networks.
I like 8movies5plays’ idea. BRING BACK CHICO & THE MAN!
But not a reboot or a remake or anything like that. Rerun the original series of CHICO & THE MAN in primetime.
That’ll be even CHEAPER than THE JAY LENO SHOW, so profits will REALLY soar for NBC!
CHICO & THE MAN reruns on primetime NBC: it’ll be ZUCKERTASTIC!
I would care more if GLEE were better.
NBC is just so desperate for any good pub they can receive right now as this is just the beginning of a MAJOR collapse waiting to happen to them if GE or whomever is going to own this network don’t rid themselves of THE most hated man in the business and that’s Jeff ‘I’m a Stupid Little Putz” Zucker and his cronies who are flushing this network into the toilet. I still believe a 5th place finish is not out of the woods just yet, IF CW gets their crap together and gets rid of Dawn Ostroff.
To be honest, I usually loathe NBC and their inane decisions, but I am on their side with this one. Glee is a trite and infuriating show. The characters are completely ridiculous and annoying. Rather than using the lyrics from other artists, why can’t they use some originality and write their own lyrics? I understand they were inspired by American Idol, but inspiration doesn’t mean replication. Perhaps NBC foresaw this train wreck in the works and didn’t want to promote a show that isn’t worthy of promotion.
Ya GLEE “sucks” but it gets millions of viewers how funny is that? Oh and it DID get picked up for a second season. Don’t bash it because you don’t like it. Everyone has their own opinion ranting on an article makes you seem childish. I love the show.
It is a great hit with high schoolers — I know because my daughter and all her friends in H.S. LOVE that show.
Wait, I thought it was ABC and CBS that didn’t want their stars appearing on Leno ( http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-ct-leno1-2009oct01,0,72323.story ) … now NBC doesn’t want Leno to book stars from rival networks? Nice mutually assured destruction, guys.
You know, I wonder how the meetings at the Fox/NBC-owned Hulu is handling that lapse in judgment. Glee makes NBC some coinage, at least on the Hulu side, so why not give the fake glee club some airplay on a national telecast? Sure beats Broadway segments.
the Macy’s parade also features PBS characters (ie Kermit, Elmo, et al). Seems shortsighted to can the GLEE folks.. it’s a great, fun, show … one of the best on TV at the moment.
I’m reading all this with “glee!”
In addition to the several points already made about how bad this descision was on NBC’s part, I’d like to note that since the news of the rejection has been made public here and on other sits, it has gotten to a point where Glee will probably have more press from being the only invitee ever given a rejection than they would have if they’d been one of many floats in the parade.
Another reason not to watch NBC. I’ll miss Law and Order.
I don’t watch NBC except for Sunday Night Football – a wanna-be of Monday Night Football – replete with a Woman trying to pull off their version of Hank Williams Jr’s introduction to Monday Night Football and missing it a nauseating mile. I only watch Sunday Night Football on my PVR so I can skip over their introduction- Lord they can’t even copy well.
I’ll probably PVR the MACY’S (not NBC’s_) Thanksgiving parade so I can skip all their commercials.