Washington Post - According to Lisa de Moraes over at the WPost, Jeff Gaspin, NBC Universal Television Entertainment Chairman, "stunned the Hollywood community" last Thursday by announcing that they've changed their minds about that whole "programming to profit margins" strategy they've been failing at pursuing the past few years. In other words, they're gonna stop making cheap ass creatively vacant shows just to make money and try to go back to being a network known for quality again. Well there's an idea!
They must have seen some of the numbers Medium's getting over at CBS. Ah, NBC. We all knew the network was going to have a hard time adjusting after Friends left the airwaves, but dang! It's been almost five years! The Washington Post story was followed yesterday by a Page Six article titled "A Leno Letdown" that talks about NBC affiliates shitting bricks because Jay's bad ratings are killing the local news shows that follow. Hard not to feel bad for Jay. The guy could have just retired and gained five hundred pounds and driven a different car every day, but he loves the work. It would be sad to see him go out with a whimper after years of busting his ass. That said, it's nice to see that NBC's finally admitting that they're at least kind of ashamed of themselves for trying to slowly turn their network into an English speaking Telemundo.
For years, NBC was the leader in quality programming. They gave us some of the best shows in television history and filled the archives with classics. Can they get that magic back? And what will it take?
Comments (6)
I wonder if this means NBC will reconsider cancelling (the outstanding) Southland...
1 of 6 | Posted by cattyfan | Posted on October 27, 2009 7:28 AM
as long as we're bringing back brilliant shows NBC canned because they suck, i vote for studio 60 and the black donnellys.
2 of 6 | Posted by baymenxpac | Posted on October 27, 2009 9:07 AM
when i say 'they' i mean the network. not the shows. the shows were incredible. the morons in charge of the shows' fate...not as much.
3 of 6 | Posted by baymenxpac | Posted on October 27, 2009 9:08 AM
I find it quite nice that Leno is on every night - I don't watch him at all - and it frees up one hour of tv where I am not in a DVR dilemma.
4 of 6 | Posted by TinkerbellAPixie | Posted on October 27, 2009 9:52 AM
It was reported last week that "Southland" was close to finding a new home at TNT. It had already shot 6 episodes of it's 2nd season before it got the axe from NBC. The deal is not completed yet, but looks likely. Makes me wonder, with this new news, if NBC can still hang on to it.
I agree with Tink, I love Jay at 10pm. I never watch him either.
5 of 6 | Posted by chooch850 | Posted on October 27, 2009 10:11 AM
What's it going to take? Balls...and that's the one thing NBC has been sorely lacking for a while. I understand that the economic model upon which television is built is shaky at best, but if you don't give good shows a chance before canceling them you've got no shot at all.
6 of 6 | Posted by suedisco | Posted on October 27, 2009 2:02 PM