An Open Letter to NBC – Part 2

August 13, 2009  |   Filed under: Features  |   Posted by:

(This is a series of open letter to NBC from the writers at TVDoneWright.com.  Part one was written by Tim. Now here is Part Two written by Adam Wright)

Dear NBC,

How you been NBC? Not too well I see. Sitting #4 is a lonely place to be I bet. You know things are bad when The CW is on your heels.

So what are you going to do about it NBC? I’ve been very critical of you these past few years. So what will you do to change my mind this upcoming season?

Five nights of Leno… at 10 pm ET! That’s your plan?

First of all, let’s state the obvious. The network’s track record with new dramas has been awful. The list of failed dramas is long, and painful to read. I say painful because you managed to lose some brilliant dramas, including most recently Kings. Say what you want NBC, you screwed that show up from the start. From not promoting it properly during its premiere, to not promoting it at all, to finally sending it to Saturday nights. It was obvious you gave up on the show before it even had a chance to catch on. And it’s a shame.

I’ve harped about Kings before, so I’ll leave it at that.

But dedicating 1/3 of your primetime schedule to one show, one man, is mind-boggling. Have you not learned from ABC’s mistake a few years back with Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? One show every night is not a plan in the long-run.

And let’s talk about The Jay Leno Show. Is Jay Leno that likable as host to dedicate so much time to him? Personally, I like him, but I won’t be tuning in every night at 10 pm ET. And I know many who can’t stand him. Leno is a polarizing character, which makes this even riskier for the network.

You talk about your research saying that people want comedy at 10 pm ET. Really? Then why didn’t you try it for fun by putting some of your comedies in that time-slot. Why not try The Office or 30 Rock at 10 PM ET, see how much people really want comedy. Frankly, I do not buy it. People will not give up their favourite dramas for Jay Leno.

What makes the situation even worst for you guys is that you are stuck. No matter if it succeeds or not, you have 52 weeks committed to The Jay Leno show. There’s no exit strategy, no “Plan B”. It’s all or nothing. Is it worth the gamble NBC? I hope so in your case.

NBC, I wish you luck for this upcoming season, because God knows you’ll know it. But quite honestly, not even Jay Leno can be your saviour.

Yours Truly,

Adam


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  • Geordie Carragher

    The only person who could feasibly save NBC now is Jerry Seinfeld (Though he’ll never reunite the cast full time [One-offs like Curb Your Enthusiasm exempt]), but even then, it’s still too late in my opinion.

  • b2

    Leno will help NBC. Your forgetting his audience is older so those ppl who dont watch stupid shows such as greys/lost/numb3rs/mentalist will watch him.

  • KD

    Your letter is so much more hopeful and reasonable than I was expecting. Personally, I kind of want them to crash and burn.

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