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CBS’ Nina Tassler: TV Violence Conversation Shouldn’t “Devolve Into Discussion Of One Show Vs. The Other” – TCA

By NELLIE ANDREEVA | Saturday January 12, 2013 @ 11:10am PSTTags: CBS, Criminal Minds, Nina Tassler
Nellie Andreeva

Violence on TV has been a major topic during the current TCA press tour, and along with references to the recent massacres in Aurora and Newtown, the discussion frequently included CBS‘ dark and violent serial killer procedural Criminal Minds, which was singled out for its violent content by several network executives, CBSncluding NBC’s Bob Greenblatt. “Look, that’s a much-maligned show,” CBS Entertainment president Nina Tassler acknowledged after the TCA executive session. “I happen to enjoy the show. It’s not for everybody. It’s an adult show. It’s a suspense thriller and a character crime procedural. I don’t let my kid watch it. I do. It’s a genre show and it’s done very well.”

Tassler warned that pointing the finger at individual shows with violent content is not the answer. “I think we’re making a huge mistake here — and I’d say it to Bob to his face — to allow the conversation to devolve into a discussion of one show vs. the other. This is a much bigger issue, and thank God it’s being discussed on the level that it is. It’s really a very personal issue.”

Related: CBS’ Nina Tassler On Pending ‘How I Me Your Mother Mother’ Renewal, Jennifer Esposito’s ‘Blue Bloods’ Exit

Earlier on stage, Tassler noted that “people come to work with a renewed sensitivity, absolutely,” following the Newtown tragedy. But that won’t weigh heavily on CBS executives’ minds when they make pilot decisions. “In looking at our pilots first and foremost it is picking the best material we can,” she said.

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CBS’ Nina Tassler On Pending ‘How I Met Your Mother’ Renewal, Jennifer Esposito’s ‘Blue Bloods’ Exit: TCA

By NELLIE ANDREEVA | Saturday January 12, 2013 @ 10:32am PSTTags: Blue Bloods, How I Met Your Mother, Nina Tassler
Nellie Andreeva

No doubt CBS would’ve liked to announce a ninth season renewal for How I Met Your Mother at TCA today but it didn’t as the network and producer 20th Century Fox TV are still haggling over some license fee deal points. (The pacts with creators/showrunners Craig Thomas and Carter Bays and the cast, including Jason Segel are done.) Things are very close. “I will be happy to report in a very few days (a renewal),” CBS’ Nina Tassler said. “I’m confident and excited that all will be resolved. Almost everything is completed.” As for where the show will go next season story-wise, “(Bays and Thomas) had two CBSplans in place — if they had to resolve this year and or if they came back next year,” Tassler said after the session. “So we’ll sit down and talk to them in about a month about their plans for next year.” She assured that “this would be the end as designed by Carter and Craig.”

Tassler was asked about the network’s reputation of being tough on actors on procedural dramas in light of the recent decision to sideline and eventually drop Jennifer Esposito from Blue Bloods. “Oh, I don’t think we are tougher on our actors,” she said. “We employ them for many, many years. In a situation like this we are sorry to see her go, we tried to resolve it, it didn’t quite work out and we wish her the best.”

Related: CBS’ Nina Tassler: TV Violence Conversation Shouldn’t “Devolve Into Discussion Of One Show Vs. The Other”

CBS gave a rare “shout out” to veteran Rules Of Engagement, which has been used to successfully plug holes on the schedule for most of its run, summoned to do it again this midseason on Mondays where it will replace cancelled Partners. “A show that serves us well, it is the best utility warrior on television.”

Asked whether there is a point where CBS would ask 2 Broke Girls executive producer Michael Patrick King to curb the racy content on the show, Tassler said, “I say to Michael as long as you keep us laughing, and as long as we vet stuff through standards and practices, we’re good. It’s an adult comedy. People enjoy it.”

Tassler spent a long time talking about summer series Under The Dome, a Steven Spielberg-produced adaptation of Stephen King’s novel, which was originally developed for sibling pay cable network Showtime. Read More »

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CBS’ Nina Tassler Skewers Rivals, Says She’s “Optimistic” About ‘HIMYM’ Renewal

By NELLIE ANDREEVA | Sunday July 29, 2012 @ 10:48am PDTTags: CBS, How I Met Your Mother, Nina Tassler, TCA, TCA Wrap-Up
Nellie Andreeva

CBS is known to take shots at its competitors, and the network’s entertainment president Nina Tassler came out swinging this morning. She walked out on stage for the CBS TCA executive session carrying a plush monkey, a jab at NBC, which brought in the monkey from its new comedy series Animal Practice to its TCA presentation and party, where she shared the lion’s share of attention with fellow guest Sarah Palin.

Related: CBS’ ‘Vegas’ Vs. ‘Elementary’ And What Makes A Procedural: TCA

“It’s been a TCA full of cell phone announcements from the stage, monkeys, Sarah Palin, renegotiations.  I couldn’t resist,” Tassler said of the TCA events from this past week that also included Fox Entertainment president calling new American Idol judge Mariah Carey during Fox’s executive session. While boasting about CBS’ ratings success (the network finished again as the most watched network and No. 2 in 18-49 to Fox this past season), Tassler took issue with another comment from Reilly who said on Monday that Fox’s reign as the top network among adults 18-49 may come to an end next season when CBS has the Super Bowl and AFC Championship Game. “According to Kevin Reilly ‑‑ thank you, Kevin ‑‑ we’ve just been awarded the 18‑49 crown for next year.  Thanks, Kevin, but I think we’ll try to earn it before we claim it.”

Related: CBS Keeps ‘Elementary’s “Secrets” But Teases Moriarty: TCA

Tassler confirmed that the network is in talks with 20th Century Fox TV and creators Carter Bays and Craig Thomas for a ninth season of veteran comedy How I Met Your Mother. (Tassler’s “pet monkey” wore a HIMYM tie too!) “The show had an incredible year last year,” Tassler said. “We’re having conversations right now about extending it, we want the show to come back next year. We’re still in early conversations, we’re not there yet in terms of resolving the situation, but we’re pretty optimistic.” Talks for a potential Season 9 are starting early because of the concept of HIMYM, which will lead to the reveal of who the mother is, so planning for a final season has to start way in advance. “Craig and Carter have a very strategic wrapup for the show,” Tassler said. Read More »

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CBS In ‘Early Conversations’ For More ‘Two & Half Men’, Nina Tassler On Future Of ‘CSI’ And ’2 Broke Girls’ Vagina Jokes: TCA

By NELLIE ANDREEVA | Wednesday January 11, 2012 @ 11:45am PSTTags: CBS, Nina Tassler
Nellie Andreeva

For a third consecutive spring, the future of Two And A Half Men will be a top priority for CBS brass. Two years ago, the goal was to re-sign star Charlie Sheen; last year, it was finding a way to … Read More »

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HRTS: Broadcast Network Chiefs Reflect On ‘Crazy’ Pitch Season

By NELLIE ANDREEVA | Tuesday October 11, 2011 @ 6:01pm PDTTags: Hollywood Radio & Television Society, HRTS Luncheon, Jennifer Salke, Kevin Reilly, Mark Pedowitz, Nina Tassler, Paul Lee
Nellie Andreeva

We are at the tail end of a TV selling season that saw more bidding wars and production and put pilot commitments than I can remember, and that isn’t lost on the broadcast entertainment presidents. Survivor‘s Jeff Probst opened the discussion at the annual Hollywood Radio & Television Society network chiefs luncheon today by sharing that during his lunch with the executives before they took the stage, everyone was complaining about how crazy and out of whack this pitch season has been. Fox’s Kevin Reilly, who spoke his mind more than anyone else on the panel, quickly jumped in. “(NBC) got cash, (ABC) got competitive against that cash, and we took the bait,” is how Reilly summed up this year’s marketplace. “We all think we were played a little bit. Agents are doing very well this year as a result.” Reilly’s counterparts mostly agreed, though their responses were more measured. “It’s been very, very frantic this year,” CBS’ Nina Tassler said. She blamed media coverage for the increased intensity of the pitch season. “Every single thing that happens is now being reported, from a pitch to speculation on the terms of a deal, and that does absolutely impact the business.” Added NBC’s Jennifer Salke: “I get the email about a media inquiry while the producer is still in the parking lot. That adds to the frenzy.” But it wasn’t all bad this buying season, ABC’s Paul Lee said. “There was also a rush of new energy, with a lot of new people and new ideas; there was lot of ambition in the projects coming in,” he said. Read More »

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TCA: Nina Tassler On Charlie Sheen Fiasco, Ashton Kutcher, ‘CSI’ & ‘Minds’ Spinoff

By NELLIE ANDREEVA | Wednesday August 3, 2011 @ 9:30am PDTTags: Ashton Kutcher, CBS, Charlie Sheen, Chuck Lorre, Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior, Nina Tassler, TCA, Ted Danson, Television Critics Association, Two and a Half Men
Nellie Andreeva

CBS Reveals Ashton Kutcher’s ‘Men’ Character’s Name And Background
During TCA’s CBS executive session, the network’s entertainment president Nina Tassler was asked about lessons the network has learned from the  Charlie Sheen debacle that culminated in his public firing. “Oh, where do I begin…,” she said. “What we learned is that we have an extraordinary cast — I was at the table red on Monday — we have extraordinary writers and actors, and there is a great value in hiring an actor like Ashton Kutcher, a talented, funny, gifted actor coming in with tremendous commitment and enthusiasm. What you learn is that the show is brilliantly written, extraordinary produced and you have the opportunity to move forward to create this exciting new character and do a great show.” She later added that Men will be as “smart, irreverent and risque” as it’s ever been. “Standards and Practices is already on high alert.” After the session, Tassler was asked to elaborate on her line from the Q&A that “you could cut the air with a knife” at the Monday table read. “The anticipation was great,” she said. “Hearing an actor utter the first line was a relief.” She also revealed that Men co-creator/executive producer Chuck Lorre opened the table read with what she described as “touching speech.” Read More »

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TCA: CBS Reveals Ashton Kutcher’s ‘Men’ Character’s Name & Background

By NELLIE ANDREEVA | Wednesday August 3, 2011 @ 9:15am PDTTags: Ashton Kutcher, Charlie Sheen, Nina Tassler, Two and a Half Men
Nellie Andreeva

At CBS’ executive session, entertainment president Nina Tassler revealed the name of Ashton Kutcher’s character on Two and a Half Men - Walden Schmidt. He is an “Internet billionaire with a broken heart.” She also confirmed … Read More »

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New ‘Two And A Half Men’ Star Ashton Kutcher Introduced At CBS’ Upfront

By NELLIE ANDREEVA | Wednesday May 18, 2011 @ 2:07pm PDTTags: Angus T. Jones, Ashton Kutcher, CBS Upfront Presentation, Jon Cryer, Nina Tassler, Two and a Half Men
Nellie Andreeva

“Deep cleansing breath,” CBS Entertainment president Nina Tassler said at CBS’ presentation after a very carefully edited clip from Two and a Half Men that featured no trace of former star Charlie Sheen. “It has been a hectic few months for us,” she said. “Just last week, thanks to our new cast member’s tweet, we found out what the square root of 6.25 is,” she said, referring to Ashton Kutcher’s tweet shortly after news of his deal for Men leaked. “We could not be happier to have actor, producer and social-media mogul Ashton Kutcher joining TV’s No. 1 comedy for the past five years. Ladies and gentlemen, for the first time together, the new cast of Two and a Half Men.” Kutcher, joined by co-stars Jon Cryer and Angus T. Jones, walked onstage, all grooving to the theme song of the show. Kutcher looked genuinely happy and came across as likable as he gave unscripted remarks. “It’s awesome, it’s unbelievable to be here,” he said, adding that never in his 13-year career had he received so many congratulatory calls and emails. “You’d almost think I won the lotto … which I kinda did,” he said to laughs. “I got the best job in show business and I’m ecstatic.” Read More »

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Upfronts: CBS Says It Covers All Ad Bases

By DAVID LIEBERMAN, Executive Editor | Wednesday May 18, 2011 @ 2:01pm PDTTags: Advertising, CBS, Leslie Moonves, Nina Tassler

CBS executives tried to have it all in their upfront presentation today, telling advertisers that the network effectively reaches a mass audience, young adults and fans of digital media. CEO Les Moonves said that “the economy continues to rebound” and … Read More »

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‘Law & Order: SVU’ Showrunner Neal Baer Signs Big Overall Deal With CBS TV Studios

By NELLIE ANDREEVA | Tuesday November 23, 2010 @ 5:30pm PSTTags: CBS Television Studios, Neal Baer, Neal Baer CBS Deal, Nina Tassler, TV, TV Deals
Nellie Andreeva

After 16 years at NBC – 5 on ER and 11 on Law & Order: SVU – Neal Baer is heading to CBS. In a competitive situation, Baer has signed a three-year overall deal with CBS Television Studios. The pact, said to be in the high-seven figures, includes development as well as showrunner services. It starts on June 2, a day after Baer’s contract on SVU expires. Baer has been the executive producer/showrunner on SVU since the series’ second season. With him departing and the deals of stars Mariska Hargitay and Christopher Meloni up at the end of this season, the future of the veteran NBC crime drama is in limbo. Read More »

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CBS Gives Full-Season Orders To All 5 Freshman Series: ‘Hawaii Five-0′, ‘Blue Bloods’, ‘Defenders’, ‘Mike & Molly’ & ‘$#*!’

By NELLIE ANDREEVA | Thursday October 21, 2010 @ 3:15pm PDTTags: $#*! My Dad Says, Blue Bloods, CBS, CBS Ratings, Hawaii Five-0, Mike & Molly, Nina Tassler, TV, TV Series Orders
Nellie Andreeva

UPDATE: I hear the orders to $#*! and The Defenders are for 6 additional episodes and 3 scripts, while the 9-episode back order to Mike & Molly may be expanded to 11.

PREVIOUS: CBS is not monkeying around, handing out today full-season orders to all of its freshman series: dramas Hawaii Five-0 and Blue Bloods, dramedy The Defenders and comedies Mike & Molly and $#*! My Dad Says. No big surprise here given the fact that those happen to be the five most-watched new series of the season and 3 of them, Hawaii, Mike & Molly and $#*! also rank as the top three new series in adults 18-49. The solid showing by the five freshmen helped CBS win the opening 4 weeks of the season for the first time. ”Everything has clicked so far this year—from development in January, to scheduling in May, to production over the summer, to marketing and publicity in the fall,” CBS Entertainment president Nina Tassler said. Hawaii is averaging 14.2 million viewers and a 4.1/11 in 18-49 and also ranks as the most DVR’d TV program, adding some 3.4 million viewers Read More »

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‘Glee’ & ‘Modern Family’ Win Humanitas Prizes, CBS’ Nina Tassler Gets Roasted

By NELLIE ANDREEVA | Thursday September 16, 2010 @ 3:30pm PDTTags: Glee, Modern Family, Movies, Nina Tassler, Steve Levitan, Temple Grandin, The Good Wife, TV
Nellie Andreeva

Feature Precious, series Glee, Modern Family, The Good Wife and Nurse Jackie and movie Temple Grandin were among the winners at the 36th Humanitas Prizes awarded today at a luncheon in Beverly Hills. The monetary prizes recognize writers whose work “entertain, engage and enrich the viewing public.” Geoffrey Fletcher won the feature film category for Precious, competing in a field that included Oscar winner The Hurt Locker. Read More »

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Showrunner Ken Sanzel Exits ‘Blue Bloods’ After Creative Tension With Tom Selleck

By NIKKI FINKE, Editor in Chief | Thursday August 5, 2010 @ 9:41pm PDTTags: Blue Bloods, Blue Bloods Writers, CBS Blue Bloods, CBS Studios, Ken Sanzel, Mitchell Burgess, Nina Tassler, Robin Green, Tom Selleck

EXCLUSIVE: I learned this morning that Tom Selleck hasn’t been accepting the scripts which CBS’ Blue Bloods executive producer Ken Sanzel has been giving him. So a standoff developed over character vs procedural visions for the series, summarized to me as “creative tension”. By midday, Sanzel was still staying with the show. No more. Insiders just emailed me that the former New York cop told the staff late today that he is leaving. There’s no exit date yet. “He’s a stand-up guy; he won’t leave the network or studio hanging,” a network source explains. “Simply creative differences. It happens. He was brought in after the pilot as a showrunner to set the show up. We often do this for pilots picked up to series that have great writers but who haven’t run shows before.” Now, to replace Sanzel, Selleck wants to find ”his guy” who must also meet with studio/network approval. Unfortunately this turmoil is especially embarrassing because it’s executive produced by Leonard Goldberg, a CBS Corporation board member.

Sanzel, a longtime Numb3rs showrunner, was handpicked by CBS and CBS Studios to executive produce with creators Mitchell Burgess and Robin Green, who continue with the show. ”Ken is a real take-charge tough guy and everyone knows it. They begged  him to take the show. He was reluctant to do it. And Selleck was not crazy to have Ken imposed on hm. But Ken was doing the network bidding thanklessly,” an insider tells me. Sanzel’s vision was for a compelling crime procedural, whereas Selleck wanted softer character exploration. Sanzel knew the network was behind him. But Selleck wanted to be in charge of the show.  “Too many cooks,” one of my insiders explains. “They love him at CBS. But Selleck realized it’s not the show he thought he was in. Ken calls Nina Tassler and says, ‘What do you want to do?’ And she says, ‘Let me talk to Tom.’” Today, it became clear to me it was just a matter of hours before Sanzel left the show. ”Not bail on them in one day. Just saunter off peacefully,” a source tells me. “If we were to count up every single show where there’s creative friction between actors and producers, we’d have a number like the census bureau.” Read More »

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TCA: Networks Answer Diversity Questions

By THE DEADLINE TEAM | Sunday August 1, 2010 @ 3:21pm PDTTags: ABC My Generation, Gays, NBC Outsourced, NBC Undercovers, Nina Tassler

Diane Haithman is contributing to Deadline’s TCA coverage.

At this 2010 TCA, the issue of depicting diversity on shows has become a key talking point as the broadcast networks present their new programming to the media. First, it was CBS’ Nina Tassler admitting she was disappointed with her outlet’s track record” on depicting gay and … Read More »

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TCA: Notes From The CBS Exec Session

By NELLIE ANDREEVA | Wednesday July 28, 2010 @ 9:42am PDTTags: Hawaii Five-0, Julie Chen, Nina Tassler, Sara Gilbert The Talk, Steve McPherson, TCA, TCA Nina Tassler, The Talk, Two and a Half Men
Nellie Andreeva

CBS is first up at TCA, so the network’s entertainment president Nina Tassler was the first to get the Steve McPherson question this morning. Asked to comment on McPherson’s exit from ABC yesterday, she said: “Dammit, he got out of … Read More »

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It’s Official: ‘Chaos’ Picked Up To Series At CBS For Midseason

By NELLIE ANDREEVA | Wednesday July 21, 2010 @ 7:15pm PDTTags: 20th Century Fox TV, Brett Ratner, CBS Chaos, Chaos Actors, Chaos Pickup, Chaos Production, CIA Drama Pilot Chaos, Dana Walden, Freddy Rodriguez, Gary Newman, James Murray, Nina Tassler, Tim Blake Nelson, Tom Spezialy, Tom Spezialy Drama Chaos
Nellie Andreeva

Back From the Dead: CBS’ ‘Chaos’ Is Alive!

CBS eyeTom Spezialy’s CIA drama pilot Chaos completed its remarkable comeback with a midseason series order at CBS. The network and producing studio 20th Century Fox TV just closed a deal for … Read More »

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Back From The Dead: CBS ‘Chaos’ Is Alive!

By NELLIE ANDREEVA | Tuesday July 20, 2010 @ 12:20pm PDTTags: 20th Century Fox TV, Brett Ratner, CAA, CBS TV Studios, Chaos, Chaos Actors, Chaos Pickup, Dana Walden, Freddy Rodriguez, Gary Newman, Nina Tassler, Tom Spezialy
Nellie Andreeva

EXCLUSIVE: I hear the CBS pilot Chaos has sprung back to life in the past 24 hours. This is the latest twist to the story of the 20th Century Fox TV-produced CIA drama pilot, which was close to a midseason pickup by CBS but the deal ultimately fell apart on … Read More »

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Primetime Pilot Panic: ‘Moonlight’ Not On CBS Fall Schedule But Not Dead; Show Lobbying For Back 13-Episode Order

By NIKKI FINKE, Editor in Chief | Monday May 12, 2008 @ 2:21pm PDTTags: CBS, Moonlight, Networks, Nina Tassler, Studios, TV, Warner Bros. TV, WBTV

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The news just came in to me from my sources…. “They’re fighting for a back 13 at mid-season, but Moonlight is definitely not on the fall schedule. But it’s not dead, either. Insiders tell me the sticking point is … Read More »

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Primetime Pilot Panic: CBS Rejects Geena

By NIKKI FINKE, Editor in Chief | Saturday May 10, 2008 @ 11:30pm PDTTags: CBS Pilots, Exit 19 Pilot, Networks, Nina Tassler, Studios, TV, TV Pilots

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It didn’t help that Nina Tassler is a longtime best pal of Exit 19 star Geena Davis because I’m told the CBS drama pilot (CBS Paramount TV / ABC TV Studios) is DOA. Sheesh, what are friends for? But I hear the script wasn’t … Read More »

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