(The folks at TVDoneWright.com wanted to vent their feelings about NBC’s new strategy for this coming fall. Part 1 of this series will be written by Tim Wilkins)
To NBC,
I grew up on some great NBC shows, back in their ‘glory days.’ Remember “Blossom” on Monday nights? I loved that little show. Yea, I watched “Alf” too. I never said I was a TV snob. I like to be entertained, bottom line. I loved “Golden Girls” on Saturday nights. I remember the “A-Team.” Yet, what’s the last big NBC show I watched? Hmm, that’s a hard one. Somewhere along the line, NBC has become a shadow of its former self. Now, we have 2 hour blocks of “The Biggest Loser” or “Celebrity Apprentice.” Ugh, no thanks!
Recently, during the TCA press junket, NBC was touting its new fall schedule and all I could think of was,” this is it?” I am looking forward to “Chuck” returning, but that’s not until March. “Heroes” is still entertaining somewhat. I missed the first season and started at the 2nd. I watched “Medium” for Angelica Houston and then NBC cancelled it. Now CBS has ’saved’ “Medium”, which by TV standards, had more viewers than some of the other NBC offerings. Doesn’t make sense does it? It’s like they don’t even appreciate what shows they do have. What gives?
This summer, NBC offered the train wreck that was “I’m A Celebrity… Get me out of here!” with a cast of celebrities I found lacking. I refused to watch. I wanted to catch up on “Merlin”, but NBC only has certain episodes available on their website. So there’s no starting from the beginning with that one. Is no one paying attention at NBC? Hell, even their one daytime soap, “Days of our Lives” has been unavailable on-line until this week. What the hell? I am not watching NBC at all. No wonder they’ve turned off the lights and no one is home. I think they’ve given up or are resting on their laurels.
During the TCA, NBC president Angela Bromstad said, “I think NBC has fallen short in the past couple of years.” Jeez, do you think? It feels more like a decade to me. Bromstad went on to say, “that NBC’s goal was to create the best comedies and the best dramas that could attract a broad audience and Emmys.” Wow, when does NBC plan on starting this? This season?
Lets see what NBC is offering us this coming fall. On Mondays, we get “Heroes” followed by “Trauma” and “Jay Leno.” I have no interest in “Trauma” and “Jay Leno.” Count me out. On Tuesdays, we get “The Biggest Loser” for 90 minutes and then “100 Questions” and “Jay Leno” (again.) Count me out on Tuesdays completely. I can’t imagine sitting through two hours of bad reality TV and then follow that with “Jay Freaking Leno.” Ugh, no thanks. The biggest loser here will be the TV viewer who chooses to ask themselves 1 question later: why did I sit through that line up?
On Wednesdays, NBC is offering us “Mercy”, “L&O:SVU”, and “Jay Leno.” Another medical show? I’m asking for mercy now and this is only the third day of their fall schedule. I’ll skip Wednesdays. Moving on to Thursdays, we have what use to be ‘must see tv.’ When I think NBC and Thursdays, I think “Friends,” “The Cosby Show,” “Cheers,” and “A Different World.” We have ”SNL Week End Update”, followed by ”Parks and Recreation,” “The Office,” ”30 Rock” and “Jay Leno.” Okay, here NBC shows promise. These are good comedies and they’ll have “Community” which I do want to check out. So NBC has a shot at a Thursdays in my opinion. Yet, Thursdays is one of the best nights for TV fans with many more options.
On Fridays, we have the original “L&O,” “Southland,” and ”Jay Leno.” I’m not a fan of “L&O” or “Southland.” So again, not for me on NBC and Fridays. Saturdays are one of the worst nights on TV on any channel. That said, NBC is offering us, “Dateline,” “Trauma” (repeats), “L&O:SVU” (repeats). Oh, that will attract an audience. This is where I roll my eyes in exasperation. Finishing up on Sundays, we have football in the fall. Well, that’s the one thing that will attract an audience, sports fans.
So, what does all of that add up to? Not much for me on NBC. If the network is wanting to get a bigger piece of the audience pie, they’ll need to offer us something more. The only reason I can think of why NBC would show “Jay Leno” for 5 nights a week is to save money and put that money into their development budget. These new fall shows are not gathering much buzz and quite frankly, I’m more excited about other network’s offerings.
NBC, you’re on notice. You say one thing and do another. I hope you use this time to rethink your decision and look hard at your TV schedule. Build on things that are working and replace the crap when it’s cancelled with some new fresh TV offerings. Put that saved money from “Jay Leno” into the development budget and get to working on new shows. I do not have cable and I only have the 5 networks to choose from at this time. With NBC, I sometimes only have 4.
I guess my point is this: I don’t watch alot of NBC, bottom line. And with this fall schedule, they can expect even less from me and other viewers looking for entertainment. With NBC, the state of network TV is in definite trouble. If this is the future, then I don’t want to see it.
- Tim
NBC did not give Medium away. CBS took it. It is produced by CBS television. They took it back. Know your facts !!
@Josh
Actually, NBC cancelled it to cut costs. CBS opted into buying their show. Yes, “CBS Television” produces it, but NBC could of renewed it. They didn’t. They didn’t want it, they didn’t want to spend on it.
I wouldn’t say CBS “Saved” it, but they did picked up a great show.
If you think CBS was offering a fair deal to NBC you have no idea how this works. It was on the CBS schedule the moment NBC did not pick it up …………. ( because CBS was raping them with the higher licence fee ) they knew NBC would pass. They stole the show………. Anyway. I happen to love Southland. L&A, not so much. Jay Leno will be the death or rebirth of the network.