Here's proof that NBC still loves "Community" in its all-star Super Bowl commercial.
Judging by this fun video you wouldn't guess NBC was in fourth place.
Showing posts with label NBC. Show all posts
Showing posts with label NBC. Show all posts
Monday, February 6, 2012
'Smash' is NBC's last hope
If you've turned on a television or been to the movies in the past month or so, you've seen ads for NBC's new musical-drama "Smash." The show follows the production of a Broadway musical based on the life of Marilyn Monroe.With an all star cast that includes Anjelica Huston, Debra Messing, Jack Davenport, Brian d'Arcy James, Christian Borle, Megan Hilty and Katherine McPhee, the network is swinging for the fences with this one.
They previewed the pilot on several media platforms and while it's a really great show, it's not as mainstream as it needs to be to attract the audience NBC is hoping for.
Huston is perfect as a successful producer using the show to stay prominent during a messy divorce, Messing and Borle are fun as a composing team who are drawn out of vacation for the show, and Davenport is fantastic as the show's brilliant a-hole director. However, the real stars are McPhee and Hilty as the two actresses fighting to be Marilyn.
McPhee is the young newcomer with a spark, while Hilty is the experienced chorus girl looking to finally be a lead. They both nail their respective parts, though McPhee's character seems a touch more likable.
The series has stellar behind the scenes talent as well with executive producers Craig Zadan and Neil Meron (the guys behind "Chicago" and "Hairspray"), original music by Tony winner Marc Shaiman and executive producer Steven Spielberg.
With all those heavy hitters it's no surprise the show is great. It's one of the best new shows to come along in some time. Acting, writing, production, it's all there.
Unfortunately, the theater storyline may turn off mainstream audiences after the curiosity of the pilot wears off. Viewers don't have to be lifelong theater geeks to like the show, but, it helps.
For non-theater fans like Tim, it may be hard to invest in the show each week to keep tabs on the progress the Marilyn show is making.
With that in mind, NBC should have pulled back on the promotion and been a little less desperate for attention.
I sincerely hope the show is a hit, but if it's not a blockbuster out of the gate, NBC has left themselves no place to go.
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
'The Voice' surprises in second blind auditions
NBC's competition show "The Voice" produced some genuine surprises in part two of the blind auditions.
With each of the coaches having three members of their teams, they were looking to find their last five singers.
The night began with Cherie Oakley trying to impress with Miranda Lambert's "Gunpowder & Lead." Since this is one of my favorite "Rock Band" songs I can tell you it's not easy to sing (apologies to my neighbors). Blake Shelton is engaged to Lambert so this was a risky choice. The song requires a certain amount of attitude and a big voice, Oakley had neither and no one turned around for her.
It's worth noting that Oakley was a very pretty girl who probably could've made it to the Hollywood round of "American Idol" based on her looks, but the blind audition took all the flirting out of the equation.
While the concept is original there were a few times that lackluster performers still made it through.
Sixteen year old Raquel Castro was sweet and talented, but lacked control on Leona Lewis' "Bleeding Love." I was surprised that Christina Aguilera chose her, although working with someone with such a powerful voice may help Castro learn how to control her skills.
I was equally shocked that Julia Mason was able to impress anyone, let alone a talent like Aguilera, with her warbled version of "Mercy." It must have been the same desperation to fill out their ranks that led Cee Lo to pick sister duo Tori and Taylor Thompson. It will be interesting to see if the coaches can really find something in these rough around the edges singers, or if they will be swallowed up by more talented teammates.
In the night's most surprising moment country singer Curtis Grimes couldn't get Shelton to turn around for his own song "Hillbilly Bone," but Cee Lo chose him and said he looked forward to the challenge of writing a country song.
Call me crazy (pun intended) but I like this pairing and can't wait to see how it works out.
In the second most surprising moment of the night, all the coaches hadn't rounded out their teams, so a few of the previous contestants who hadn't made it through got a second chance.
Shelton chose rock/country singer Jared Blake, while Aguilera who regretted not picking Lily Elise earlier, didn't make the same mistake. Levine, who needed two more singers, ended up with Casey Weston and Oakley.
This time Oakley sang Adele's "Rolling in the Deep," which impressed Levine enough for him to push the magic button. This is especially surprising since she seemed to not know many of the words to the song. Though these second auditions were a surprise, contestants are usually told to have two or three songs prepared. Oakley seemed to be flying by the seat of her pants which didn't impress me.
Now that the teams have been chosen, the battle rounds begin. Contestants will sing a duet against each other in a boxing ring shaped stage and the coaches will have to decide who to keep. Helping them with these no doubt tough decisions are industry insiders and legends.
Aguilera has teamed with singer/songwriter Sia, Cee Lo with R&B songstress Monica, Levine with Maroon 5 music director Adam Blackstone and Shelton has enlisted country legend Reba McEntire. Can't wait to see what this eclectic group has to say about the coaches' choices.
In more great news for the show, the ratings rose in its second week. The program garnered a 5.6 share making it first in the 18-49 demographic. However, it still came in fourth in viewers with 12.4 million. That's huge for NBC and bad news for "Glee" and "The Good Wife."
With each of the coaches having three members of their teams, they were looking to find their last five singers.
The night began with Cherie Oakley trying to impress with Miranda Lambert's "Gunpowder & Lead." Since this is one of my favorite "Rock Band" songs I can tell you it's not easy to sing (apologies to my neighbors). Blake Shelton is engaged to Lambert so this was a risky choice. The song requires a certain amount of attitude and a big voice, Oakley had neither and no one turned around for her.
It's worth noting that Oakley was a very pretty girl who probably could've made it to the Hollywood round of "American Idol" based on her looks, but the blind audition took all the flirting out of the equation.
While the concept is original there were a few times that lackluster performers still made it through.
Sixteen year old Raquel Castro was sweet and talented, but lacked control on Leona Lewis' "Bleeding Love." I was surprised that Christina Aguilera chose her, although working with someone with such a powerful voice may help Castro learn how to control her skills.
I was equally shocked that Julia Mason was able to impress anyone, let alone a talent like Aguilera, with her warbled version of "Mercy." It must have been the same desperation to fill out their ranks that led Cee Lo to pick sister duo Tori and Taylor Thompson. It will be interesting to see if the coaches can really find something in these rough around the edges singers, or if they will be swallowed up by more talented teammates.
In the night's most surprising moment country singer Curtis Grimes couldn't get Shelton to turn around for his own song "Hillbilly Bone," but Cee Lo chose him and said he looked forward to the challenge of writing a country song.
Call me crazy (pun intended) but I like this pairing and can't wait to see how it works out.
In the second most surprising moment of the night, all the coaches hadn't rounded out their teams, so a few of the previous contestants who hadn't made it through got a second chance.
Shelton chose rock/country singer Jared Blake, while Aguilera who regretted not picking Lily Elise earlier, didn't make the same mistake. Levine, who needed two more singers, ended up with Casey Weston and Oakley.
This time Oakley sang Adele's "Rolling in the Deep," which impressed Levine enough for him to push the magic button. This is especially surprising since she seemed to not know many of the words to the song. Though these second auditions were a surprise, contestants are usually told to have two or three songs prepared. Oakley seemed to be flying by the seat of her pants which didn't impress me.
Now that the teams have been chosen, the battle rounds begin. Contestants will sing a duet against each other in a boxing ring shaped stage and the coaches will have to decide who to keep. Helping them with these no doubt tough decisions are industry insiders and legends.
Aguilera has teamed with singer/songwriter Sia, Cee Lo with R&B songstress Monica, Levine with Maroon 5 music director Adam Blackstone and Shelton has enlisted country legend Reba McEntire. Can't wait to see what this eclectic group has to say about the coaches' choices.
In more great news for the show, the ratings rose in its second week. The program garnered a 5.6 share making it first in the 18-49 demographic. However, it still came in fourth in viewers with 12.4 million. That's huge for NBC and bad news for "Glee" and "The Good Wife."
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
'The Voice' charms in hyped debut
After hours of promotion and no doubt millions spent on marketing, NBC's new singing competition show "The Voice" premiered last night and the results were surprisingly nice.
I have to admit I was looking forward to the show if for no other reason than to see America discover the hilariously charming Blake Shelton. As a long time country music fan I am well versed on Shelton's razor sharp wit and self deprecating humor.
By now the concept is clear, singers take part in a blind audition and the coaches don't competitors until they push a button which swings their chair around and choose them for their team. The other coaches include Adam Levine, Cee Lo Green and Christina Aguilera.
The show started with a fantastic rendition of Gnarls Barkley's "Crazy" featuring the four superstars. I'm wondering if this will be an ongoing theme, because I'd love to see Shelton singing "Genie in a Bottle" or Cee Lo taking a crack at "Hillbilly Bone."
What was refreshing about the show was that it wasn't mean spirited and the coaches seemed genuinely excited at the prospect of their various choices. I also really enjoyed the chemistry among the four stars. Though they come from different backgrounds, I could see Shelton and Cee Lo hanging out and it won't be long before rumors pop up about Levine and Aguilera.
Apparently I'm not the only one who enjoyed it, because the ratings were phenomenal. The program garnered 11.8 million viewers and improved throughout the night. It beat "Glee" head to head from 9-9:30 p.m. and was the top show in the 18-49 demographic.
With "American Idol" feeling more stale and over produced every week and "The X Factor" not starting until fall, "The Voice" could become a dark horse contender to the reality competition crown.
Contestant highlights:
I have to admit I was looking forward to the show if for no other reason than to see America discover the hilariously charming Blake Shelton. As a long time country music fan I am well versed on Shelton's razor sharp wit and self deprecating humor.
By now the concept is clear, singers take part in a blind audition and the coaches don't competitors until they push a button which swings their chair around and choose them for their team. The other coaches include Adam Levine, Cee Lo Green and Christina Aguilera.
The show started with a fantastic rendition of Gnarls Barkley's "Crazy" featuring the four superstars. I'm wondering if this will be an ongoing theme, because I'd love to see Shelton singing "Genie in a Bottle" or Cee Lo taking a crack at "Hillbilly Bone."
What was refreshing about the show was that it wasn't mean spirited and the coaches seemed genuinely excited at the prospect of their various choices. I also really enjoyed the chemistry among the four stars. Though they come from different backgrounds, I could see Shelton and Cee Lo hanging out and it won't be long before rumors pop up about Levine and Aguilera.
Apparently I'm not the only one who enjoyed it, because the ratings were phenomenal. The program garnered 11.8 million viewers and improved throughout the night. It beat "Glee" head to head from 9-9:30 p.m. and was the top show in the 18-49 demographic.
With "American Idol" feeling more stale and over produced every week and "The X Factor" not starting until fall, "The Voice" could become a dark horse contender to the reality competition crown.
Contestant highlights:
- Patrick Thomas showed some nice control on a difficult country song, Tim McGraw's "Live Like You Were Dying" and obviously chose Shelton as his coach.
- Frenchie Davis returned to the spotlight with a blazing version of Katy Perry's "I Kissed a Girl" and ended up on Aguilera's team.
- Married couple Josh and Nicole, who are called Elenowen, chose Shelton after a sweet rendition of "Falling Slowly" from the film "Once."
- Rebecca Loebe put a new twist on Nirvana's "Come as You Are" making jazzy and haunting. She decided to go with Levine over Aguilera.
- Sixteen year old Xenia sang a beautiful version of "Breakeven" and chose Shelton over Cee Lo.
- Beverley McClellen closed the show with a blistering "Piece of My Heart" and ended up on Aguilera's team.
Friday, April 15, 2011
Will Ferrell debuts on 'The Office'
Last night Will Ferrell made his debut as the new boss on "The Office" and he fit right in with the quirky, ridiculousness that is Dunder-Mifflin.
As expected Michael had a problem with Deangelo Vickers' changes and handled it in the childish way one would expect.
Ferrell and Steve Carell worked great together, like two old friends who know each other so well they don't speak in fully formed sentences. The scene where they go back and forth about how Erin should answer the phone was so uncomfortably funny. The cold open felt like a hilarious improved skit between two pros.
Obviously, Ferrell will be a temporary boss, but he fits in so well with the team I hope they're able to bring him back after his initial run ends.
The subplot involved the rest of the crew trying to make a good impression on Deangelo. Jim and Pam talking about Cece non-stop, Kelly and her meet cute and Andy doing over the top physical comedy were all great ways to fold Deangelo into the eccentricities of the office.
Look for Tim and I to discuss this more on the next episode of "Inscaped."
As expected Michael had a problem with Deangelo Vickers' changes and handled it in the childish way one would expect.
Ferrell and Steve Carell worked great together, like two old friends who know each other so well they don't speak in fully formed sentences. The scene where they go back and forth about how Erin should answer the phone was so uncomfortably funny. The cold open felt like a hilarious improved skit between two pros.
Obviously, Ferrell will be a temporary boss, but he fits in so well with the team I hope they're able to bring him back after his initial run ends.
The subplot involved the rest of the crew trying to make a good impression on Deangelo. Jim and Pam talking about Cece non-stop, Kelly and her meet cute and Andy doing over the top physical comedy were all great ways to fold Deangelo into the eccentricities of the office.
Look for Tim and I to discuss this more on the next episode of "Inscaped."
Friday, April 8, 2011
I still love John Krasinski even though he's a Red Sox fan
When I saw this video, I fell off the couch laughing.
You see I'm a hardcore, serious Yankees fan, so this was too funny.
You see I'm a hardcore, serious Yankees fan, so this was too funny.
Monday, September 27, 2010
The nightmare is over, NBC fires Zucker
There's a scene at the end of "The Wiz" where the evil witch has been killed and all her slaves celebrate by breaking into the upbeat "Everybody Rejoice (Brand New Day.")
Now that news has broken on Jeff Zucker's imminent departure, that must be how it is at NBC this morning.
The man who single-handedly ran the network into the ground and made it an industry laughingstock is finally being fired.
Let's take a quick look at NBC under Zucker's reign of terror.
Bottom line, this guy is the definition of failing upwards. Without him at the helm maybe NBC can once again have a fighting chance at relevancy. Of course the fact that he's getting $30 million in severance is deplorable, but I suppose we should just be happy the nightmare is over.
I'm doing a little happy dance just thinking about the possibilities. "Everybody Rejoice!"
Now that news has broken on Jeff Zucker's imminent departure, that must be how it is at NBC this morning.
The man who single-handedly ran the network into the ground and made it an industry laughingstock is finally being fired.
Let's take a quick look at NBC under Zucker's reign of terror.
- The Jay-Conan debacle.
- The destruction of "Heroes."
- The continued airing of "The Apprentice."
- The loss of "Southland."
- Awful Olympics coverage (he shares blame with Dick Ebersol)
- He ruined the hilarious "Coupling."
- Constantly greenlights terrible shows like "Outsourced."
- Canceled "Law & Order" after 20 years without a proper sendoff.
Bottom line, this guy is the definition of failing upwards. Without him at the helm maybe NBC can once again have a fighting chance at relevancy. Of course the fact that he's getting $30 million in severance is deplorable, but I suppose we should just be happy the nightmare is over.
I'm doing a little happy dance just thinking about the possibilities. "Everybody Rejoice!"
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
NBC - 'Never Been Cheaper'
So now that Leno is out of primetime, NBC announced some of its "new" shows starting soon...
Funny stuff.
A remake of "The Rockford Files."
A remake of "Prime Suspect." Cue Stephanie getting pissed.
A new undercover spy show from JJ Abrams.
A new legal drama from David E. Kelley.
A relationship reality show from Jerry Seinfeld.
And maybe another "Law and Order" in the works... possibly Los Angeles. Abbreviate the city and take away "and Order." Got it?
No wonder "Heroes" creator and showrunner Tim Kring still has a job. No one at NBC likes new, creative ideas.
Funny stuff.
A remake of "The Rockford Files."
A remake of "Prime Suspect." Cue Stephanie getting pissed.
A new undercover spy show from JJ Abrams.
A new legal drama from David E. Kelley.
A relationship reality show from Jerry Seinfeld.
And maybe another "Law and Order" in the works... possibly Los Angeles. Abbreviate the city and take away "and Order." Got it?
No wonder "Heroes" creator and showrunner Tim Kring still has a job. No one at NBC likes new, creative ideas.
Monday, January 11, 2010
NBC's Leno-Conan conundrum
So NBC is planning to take Leno off of 10 p.m. and move him to 11:35 p.m. for a half hour and then start Conan at 12:05 a.m. and Jimmy Fallon at 1:05 a.m.
Wow, there are so many things wrong with that plan I almost don't know where to begin.
How about we start with the fact that Leno isn't funny. That's right I said it, he's not funny. Everyone seems to be looking for reasons why the show failed. Well let me tell you, it's because it's a bad show.
The jokes aren't funny, the sketches are lame and Leno is a terrible interviewer. The only reason his ratings were strong in the past is because NBC had a better primetime lineup and he always booked big name guests.
Now that the shine has come off of NBC it has exposed Leno's show for the subpar program it has always been.
Once you take Leno out of the equation you need to address the Conan side of this. If I were Conan I would already have FOX or ABC or even HBO on the phone. NBC has treated him terribly during this entire situation starting with the fact that they never really seemed to want to give him "The Tonight Show" to begin with. Maybe they should have just paid him off back then and left their late-night lineup alone.
However, they give him "The Tonight Show," he packs up his family and moves them to California only to have NBC say "oh by the way we're giving Jay a nightly show at 10 and you're still not No. 1."
That's ridiculous.
And now they're still coddling Jay at Conan's expense by shuffling the decks yet again. It's like NBC has a checklist of ways to mess up this situation and they're checking them off one at a time.
Make bad scheduling decisions, check. Treat talent terribly, check. Do everything publicly in an awkward manner, check.
The other casualty of this ridiculousness is Jimmy Fallon, whose show is starting to find its rhythm and has gotten consistently better since its premiere. How will his ratings hold against the increasingly popular Craig Ferguson and established Jimmy Kimmel.
At this point NBC should let Leno go off and enjoy retirement and try to salvage their relationship with Conan because he is the future of their late-night brand, and it's time they started acting like it.
Wow, there are so many things wrong with that plan I almost don't know where to begin.
How about we start with the fact that Leno isn't funny. That's right I said it, he's not funny. Everyone seems to be looking for reasons why the show failed. Well let me tell you, it's because it's a bad show.
The jokes aren't funny, the sketches are lame and Leno is a terrible interviewer. The only reason his ratings were strong in the past is because NBC had a better primetime lineup and he always booked big name guests.
Now that the shine has come off of NBC it has exposed Leno's show for the subpar program it has always been.
Once you take Leno out of the equation you need to address the Conan side of this. If I were Conan I would already have FOX or ABC or even HBO on the phone. NBC has treated him terribly during this entire situation starting with the fact that they never really seemed to want to give him "The Tonight Show" to begin with. Maybe they should have just paid him off back then and left their late-night lineup alone.
However, they give him "The Tonight Show," he packs up his family and moves them to California only to have NBC say "oh by the way we're giving Jay a nightly show at 10 and you're still not No. 1."
That's ridiculous.
And now they're still coddling Jay at Conan's expense by shuffling the decks yet again. It's like NBC has a checklist of ways to mess up this situation and they're checking them off one at a time.
Make bad scheduling decisions, check. Treat talent terribly, check. Do everything publicly in an awkward manner, check.
The other casualty of this ridiculousness is Jimmy Fallon, whose show is starting to find its rhythm and has gotten consistently better since its premiere. How will his ratings hold against the increasingly popular Craig Ferguson and established Jimmy Kimmel.
At this point NBC should let Leno go off and enjoy retirement and try to salvage their relationship with Conan because he is the future of their late-night brand, and it's time they started acting like it.
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
'Sha na na na, sha na na na...' again
It was announced today (by many sources, read it in at least five Web sites) that Ben Silverman, who is in charge of NBC is leaving to do... something else.
To be frank I stopped caring after the sentence that said he was leaving.
I have been screaming it for months that he needed to go. NBC is basically in the toliet ratings and creative wise. Most of its new shows were horrible. "Kath and Kim" anyone?
Ugh, now I'm gonna have nightmares.
NBC hasn't done anything great, other than "Saturday Night Live" in a long, long time. Yes, "Heroes" I am looking at you.
I am a firm believer that if your company is doing horrible in the ratings and the content of the shows is beyond weak that the person is charge should be fired. But, NBC has been keeping him for months while it loses tons and tons of money.
Of course Silverman's hands are all over this season so it might take a while to see the full effects of him leaving. Maybe by midseason NBC can start turning around.
The new guy in that position, Jeff Gaspin, has a lot of work ahead of him. On the plus side Gaspin has been managing the cable networks like USA and Bravo. So he already has a few extra points on his side with me.
To be frank I stopped caring after the sentence that said he was leaving.
I have been screaming it for months that he needed to go. NBC is basically in the toliet ratings and creative wise. Most of its new shows were horrible. "Kath and Kim" anyone?
Ugh, now I'm gonna have nightmares.
NBC hasn't done anything great, other than "Saturday Night Live" in a long, long time. Yes, "Heroes" I am looking at you.
I am a firm believer that if your company is doing horrible in the ratings and the content of the shows is beyond weak that the person is charge should be fired. But, NBC has been keeping him for months while it loses tons and tons of money.
Of course Silverman's hands are all over this season so it might take a while to see the full effects of him leaving. Maybe by midseason NBC can start turning around.
The new guy in that position, Jeff Gaspin, has a lot of work ahead of him. On the plus side Gaspin has been managing the cable networks like USA and Bravo. So he already has a few extra points on his side with me.
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
The new NBC
Earlier in the week NBC held their upfronts presentation and it seems like they're trying to find a way to get back on track.
In addition to already announced favorites like "Heroes," "Friday Night Lights" and "Law & Order: SVU," they have picked up four new dramas and two new comedies for the fall season.
NBC will also broadcast the Winter Olympics in early 2010 and those always bring in big ratings.
And of course there is the highly anticipated 10 o'clock Jay Leno show, that will be eerily familiar to the 11:35 Jay Leno show.
Unfortunately, they have yet to make a decision on "Chuck" and have decided to cancel "Life," so it's not all good news.
Dramas:
"Day One" is a miniseries about how a group of people survive after a disaster destroys the world. I enjoyed this show the first time, when it was called "Jericho."
Desperate to replace the irreplaceable "ER," NBC has two separate medical dramas in the works. "Mercy" is about nurses, while "Trauma" focuses on paramedics. Neither one sounds very original, so we'll just have to wait and see what happens.
"Parenthood" is based on the Steve Martin movie and stars Peter Krause and Maura Tierney in the lead roles. It has a good pedigree so it gives the network something to be hopeful about.
Comedies:
"100 Questions" follows a woman as she answers 100 questions about love that leads her to reexamine her past loves so she can figure out what she wants. From "Ex-List" to "Being Erica" these shows always make women look like desperate loons, so I'll pass.
Chevy Chase stars with "The Soup's" Joel McHale in "Community" about the wacky goings on at a community college. I'll watch Joel McHale read the phone book, so I'll definitely give this familiar sounding premise a chance.
Not really a new show is "Saturday Night Live: Weekend Update." This is an extension of something they did during the election and I'm not sure if it can hold up without a central theme driving it. Will anything be so crucial that they can't wait until Saturday to make fun of it.
NBC has their work cut out for them if they plan to return to their former glory. The new season is just the first step in a long journey.
In addition to already announced favorites like "Heroes," "Friday Night Lights" and "Law & Order: SVU," they have picked up four new dramas and two new comedies for the fall season.
NBC will also broadcast the Winter Olympics in early 2010 and those always bring in big ratings.
And of course there is the highly anticipated 10 o'clock Jay Leno show, that will be eerily familiar to the 11:35 Jay Leno show.
Unfortunately, they have yet to make a decision on "Chuck" and have decided to cancel "Life," so it's not all good news.
Dramas:
"Day One" is a miniseries about how a group of people survive after a disaster destroys the world. I enjoyed this show the first time, when it was called "Jericho."
Desperate to replace the irreplaceable "ER," NBC has two separate medical dramas in the works. "Mercy" is about nurses, while "Trauma" focuses on paramedics. Neither one sounds very original, so we'll just have to wait and see what happens.
"Parenthood" is based on the Steve Martin movie and stars Peter Krause and Maura Tierney in the lead roles. It has a good pedigree so it gives the network something to be hopeful about.
Comedies:
"100 Questions" follows a woman as she answers 100 questions about love that leads her to reexamine her past loves so she can figure out what she wants. From "Ex-List" to "Being Erica" these shows always make women look like desperate loons, so I'll pass.
Chevy Chase stars with "The Soup's" Joel McHale in "Community" about the wacky goings on at a community college. I'll watch Joel McHale read the phone book, so I'll definitely give this familiar sounding premise a chance.
Not really a new show is "Saturday Night Live: Weekend Update." This is an extension of something they did during the election and I'm not sure if it can hold up without a central theme driving it. Will anything be so crucial that they can't wait until Saturday to make fun of it.
NBC has their work cut out for them if they plan to return to their former glory. The new season is just the first step in a long journey.
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
When you're right, you're Tim
So, "Heroes" was last night.
And I was totally right!
The "Heroes" people ripped off "Exiles" and had Matt make Sylar believe that he is Nathan, after killing Nathan in a really anti-climatic way.
LAME.
I, personally, will not be watching the show again. Unless they fire Tim Kring and replace him with Bryan Fuller.
And I was totally right!
The "Heroes" people ripped off "Exiles" and had Matt make Sylar believe that he is Nathan, after killing Nathan in a really anti-climatic way.
LAME.
I, personally, will not be watching the show again. Unless they fire Tim Kring and replace him with Bryan Fuller.
Monday, April 27, 2009
New episode up... and a 'Heroes' thought
So, this morning I told Stephanie that I had figured out a few ways that "Heroes" might end tonight.
1. Sylar kills Nathan. Sylar morphs into Nathan, Matt then mindscrews Sylar into thinking he's really Nathan. I only say this because it's been done to death in comics before, so it's perfect for "Heroes" to steal and try to pass off as original.
2. Matt gets zapped by Ando, increasing his powers 100 fold and makes the entire world forget there are such things as people with abilities.
Stephanie laughed at me saying those were the worst ideas ever.
That means they'll probably be used.
Friday, April 24, 2009
Editor's note
Friday's are usually "Viewpoints On..." days.
Well, I am very sick. Won't get into it, but me being on camera wouldn't be a good thing. So we are postponing filming until Monday.
We'll have a lot to talk about, including reviews of "Obeserve and Report" and, hopefully, "The Soloist."
One news item we probably won't get around to is that NBC has scaled back "Heroes" season next season from 25 to 18 or 20. This is either a move to get another show to air, because of the Leno crap, or that they are sick of "Heroes," like most of us are.
Also, check back Monday for my prediction of how this season will end. Hint: I am thinking of the worst way possible. Mostly because I know that's how they think.
Well, I am very sick. Won't get into it, but me being on camera wouldn't be a good thing. So we are postponing filming until Monday.
We'll have a lot to talk about, including reviews of "Obeserve and Report" and, hopefully, "The Soloist."
One news item we probably won't get around to is that NBC has scaled back "Heroes" season next season from 25 to 18 or 20. This is either a move to get another show to air, because of the Leno crap, or that they are sick of "Heroes," like most of us are.
Also, check back Monday for my prediction of how this season will end. Hint: I am thinking of the worst way possible. Mostly because I know that's how they think.
Thursday, April 23, 2009
NBC - Tim's view
NBC is broken.
Not like "My bike is broken and I need a need chain," but like broken United States banking system broke.
Most of its ratings are in the toliet. Every night the shows on NBC are being trounced by the other networks. Remember when television was referred to as "The Big Three?" Well, NBC is now No. 4.
And the people behind NBC don't seem to care. Quotes from NBC head Jeff Zucker have him saying they probably won't be No. 1 again.
What?
Really?
If you are not in the business to try to be No. 1 every night, then something is wrong. Then this Jay Leno taking five hours of primetime each week business.
Leno won't be No. 1 in the ratings. NBC will be lucky to even beat the CW network. Hey, that "America's Next Top Model" crowd is crazy loyal.
My advice. Fire Zucker. Fire Ben Silverman who is in charge of programming.
Then fire Tim Kring.
Not like "My bike is broken and I need a need chain," but like broken United States banking system broke.
Most of its ratings are in the toliet. Every night the shows on NBC are being trounced by the other networks. Remember when television was referred to as "The Big Three?" Well, NBC is now No. 4.
And the people behind NBC don't seem to care. Quotes from NBC head Jeff Zucker have him saying they probably won't be No. 1 again.
What?
Really?
If you are not in the business to try to be No. 1 every night, then something is wrong. Then this Jay Leno taking five hours of primetime each week business.
Leno won't be No. 1 in the ratings. NBC will be lucky to even beat the CW network. Hey, that "America's Next Top Model" crowd is crazy loyal.
My advice. Fire Zucker. Fire Ben Silverman who is in charge of programming.
Then fire Tim Kring.
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
How to fix NBC part 3
I understand that NBC with all its problems was reluctant to let Jay Leno go. However, they made a serious mistake when they decided to keep Jay around and give him the 10 p.m. time slot.
First of all, it limits the number of hours available for primetime programming. Secondly, it draws the focus away from Conan O'Brien, who was finally about to get his shot at the big chair. Finally, it forces Leno to compete with legitimate ratings juggernauts like the "CSI" franchise and cable hits "Burn Notice" and "South Park."
Leno has never really been known for producing a quality comedy program, so without the prestige and name recognition that comes with being the host of "The Tonight Show," his chances of success seem shaky.
They could have decided to use the time and money spent developing another talk show on improving and restructuring their primetime operations.
This is a risky gamble for NBC and in the long run I feel it may prove to be a costly and unsuccessful one.
First of all, it limits the number of hours available for primetime programming. Secondly, it draws the focus away from Conan O'Brien, who was finally about to get his shot at the big chair. Finally, it forces Leno to compete with legitimate ratings juggernauts like the "CSI" franchise and cable hits "Burn Notice" and "South Park."
Leno has never really been known for producing a quality comedy program, so without the prestige and name recognition that comes with being the host of "The Tonight Show," his chances of success seem shaky.
They could have decided to use the time and money spent developing another talk show on improving and restructuring their primetime operations.
This is a risky gamble for NBC and in the long run I feel it may prove to be a costly and unsuccessful one.
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
How to fix NBC part 2
With the end of "ER," "Heroes" and "The Office" are undoubtedly NBC's franchise shows. They are the glue that is holding the network together.
They are extremely popular shows that inspire catchphrases, merchandise and lots of next day watercooler talk. They can be at once brilliant and ground-breaking.
Unfortunately, they are not at the top of their game right now, so I've come up with a few ways to fix each show and get them back on track.
"Heroes"
"The Office"
They are extremely popular shows that inspire catchphrases, merchandise and lots of next day watercooler talk. They can be at once brilliant and ground-breaking.
Unfortunately, they are not at the top of their game right now, so I've come up with a few ways to fix each show and get them back on track.
"Heroes"
- Get rid of Tim Kring. While he may be the man that created this world, he is not a sci-fi writer and the show suffers from his lack of expertise in the genre. Make Bryan Fuller the official show runner and let Kring cash his giant paycheck.
- Kill Sylar. As spectacular as Zachary Quinto is, it's time for a new villain to shake things up. Since it's "Heroes" I'm sure they could find a way to bring back David Anders or perhaps bring on someone completely new to shake things up. Besides, once "Star Trek" comes out Quinto will be headed for bigger and better things anyway, so why not send him off with a bang.
- Kill a few people and keep them dead. The show has no suspense value at all, because no one ever stays dead.
- More HRG and Angela, less Claire, Nathan and Peter. I know they want to appeal to a younger demographic but HRG and Angela could be the catalyst to tell the compelling story of the beginning of the company.
- While I'm fans of the actors, Matt and Mohinder have become useless so they should get rid of them.
- Finally, keep the light-hearted fun of Hiro and Ando, because they provide a glimmer of light in an otherwise dark show.
"The Office"
- Drop the Michael Scott Paper Company storyline and bring everyone back to Dunder-Mifflin where they belong. There's no shame in admitting that a story didn't work and then correcting the mistake.
- Idris Elba is a fantastic dramatic actor but his character doesn't fit well within the confines of this goofy group. Even worse he makes Jim look bad and Jim is the regular world's connection to this wacky office.
- More Jim and Pam romance. Their sweet courtship provides a nice balance to the rest of the office's craziness.
- Finally, turn the focus away from corporate politics and back to office shenanigans, it's what made us start watching to begin with and why we love the show.
Next time: Why Jay Leno will be NBC's downfall?
Monday, April 20, 2009
How to fix NBC part 1
It's no secret that NBC has problems, the ratings for its most popular shows are still well below the other networks and they seemingly have no solutions end sight.
Well Tim and I have decided to offer up a series of blogs that will help the once top rated network return to its former glory.
First up, what to keep and what to get rid of.
Keep all the obvious choices like all the "Law & Orders," "Heroes," "Friday Night Lights," "30 Rock" and "The Office."
Bubble shows that they should keep include "Chuck," "Kings" and "Life."
Get rid of "Celebrity Apprentice," "My Name is Earl" and "Parks and Recreation."
With Jay Leno's new show on the horizon, NBC only has two hours of primetime a night. They should use these two hours wisely by not filling them up with stupid reality shows and unfunny comedies
These are the first steps towards bringing themselves back from the brink of the destruction.
Next time: How to fix "Heroes" and "The Office."
Well Tim and I have decided to offer up a series of blogs that will help the once top rated network return to its former glory.
First up, what to keep and what to get rid of.
Keep all the obvious choices like all the "Law & Orders," "Heroes," "Friday Night Lights," "30 Rock" and "The Office."
Bubble shows that they should keep include "Chuck," "Kings" and "Life."
Get rid of "Celebrity Apprentice," "My Name is Earl" and "Parks and Recreation."
With Jay Leno's new show on the horizon, NBC only has two hours of primetime a night. They should use these two hours wisely by not filling them up with stupid reality shows and unfunny comedies
These are the first steps towards bringing themselves back from the brink of the destruction.
Next time: How to fix "Heroes" and "The Office."
Monday, March 16, 2009
"Kings:" The Bible gets an update
On Sunday night NBC premiered its new drama "Kings." The story is an update of the biblical tale of David and Goliath.
Ian McShane stars as King Silas Benjamin, the ruler of Gilboa and Chris Egan portrays David Shepard, the young soldier who saves the king's son and becomes a national hero.
I was a little wary of watching "Kings," because I thought the biblical aspects might be a turn off. However, I was wrong because "Kings" is really about political intrigue and a young man's fight to stay true to himself.
Gilboa has been locked in long border war with the neighboring Gath and the king wants to use David's act of heroism as a way to gain support for his military campaign. He is challenged by his spiritual leader Reverend Samuels, played by Eamonn Walker.
This show is filled with romance, war, politics and yes biblical references. It reminded me of Baz Luhrman's update of "Romeo and Juliet." With a strong cast and great production quality, "Kings" has everything it needs to be a success, except maybe good timing.
This is a horrible time for a new television show to premiere, networks have really been tightening their purse strings, so when a show has a pilot that costs $10 million and every show following that costs $4 million, it better be worth every penny.
The money is visible on the screen, however, the ratings for the premiere episode were awful and NBC won't stick with a show that doesn't bring in ratings.
The solution is for NBC to move the show to a better time slot, I suggest Wednesdays at 8 p.m. It could lead off the night of dramas and would work well with NBC's other quirky show "Life." It would also suffer very little competition in that time slot.
So, if you're reading this NBC I've just saved you a major headache. You're welcome.
Ian McShane stars as King Silas Benjamin, the ruler of Gilboa and Chris Egan portrays David Shepard, the young soldier who saves the king's son and becomes a national hero.
I was a little wary of watching "Kings," because I thought the biblical aspects might be a turn off. However, I was wrong because "Kings" is really about political intrigue and a young man's fight to stay true to himself.
Gilboa has been locked in long border war with the neighboring Gath and the king wants to use David's act of heroism as a way to gain support for his military campaign. He is challenged by his spiritual leader Reverend Samuels, played by Eamonn Walker.
This show is filled with romance, war, politics and yes biblical references. It reminded me of Baz Luhrman's update of "Romeo and Juliet." With a strong cast and great production quality, "Kings" has everything it needs to be a success, except maybe good timing.
This is a horrible time for a new television show to premiere, networks have really been tightening their purse strings, so when a show has a pilot that costs $10 million and every show following that costs $4 million, it better be worth every penny.
The money is visible on the screen, however, the ratings for the premiere episode were awful and NBC won't stick with a show that doesn't bring in ratings.
The solution is for NBC to move the show to a better time slot, I suggest Wednesdays at 8 p.m. It could lead off the night of dramas and would work well with NBC's other quirky show "Life." It would also suffer very little competition in that time slot.
So, if you're reading this NBC I've just saved you a major headache. You're welcome.
Thursday, December 11, 2008
Tim's thoughts on Leno in primetime
We ran a little long in the show today and had to cut some stuff on the fly. One bit was my main issue with Jay Leno getting a prime time 10 p.m. slot Monday-Friday on NBC.
Really?
NBC is so far is last place that this is its big idea?
How about stop making crappy shows? Yeah, "Kath and Kim" I am talking about you.
And while we are on the subject of crappy and NBC, that stupid chime thing they do to promote the different shows is BEYOND stupid. Like someone thought "Hey, that's cool, I guess I'll watch 'My Own Worst Enemy' after all!"
They made it a point to say they know Leno won't beat shows like "CSI." Well, why bother then? Since when do we do things to not be first place? "I know we'll be last place, but it'll be a funny last place!"
And either the "Law and Order" shows are moving to 9 p.m. or getting cut.
The other issue I have is that no matter what he says, it is a giant slap in the face to Conan O'Brien who is set to take over the Tonight Show in a few months. So you expect people to watch Leno, then a half hour of local news, then watch O'Brien? And boy is Jimmy Fallon screwed. He was set to take over O'Brien's old time slot.
So, bad move NBC. Be more creative.
Really?
NBC is so far is last place that this is its big idea?
How about stop making crappy shows? Yeah, "Kath and Kim" I am talking about you.
And while we are on the subject of crappy and NBC, that stupid chime thing they do to promote the different shows is BEYOND stupid. Like someone thought "Hey, that's cool, I guess I'll watch 'My Own Worst Enemy' after all!"
They made it a point to say they know Leno won't beat shows like "CSI." Well, why bother then? Since when do we do things to not be first place? "I know we'll be last place, but it'll be a funny last place!"
And either the "Law and Order" shows are moving to 9 p.m. or getting cut.
The other issue I have is that no matter what he says, it is a giant slap in the face to Conan O'Brien who is set to take over the Tonight Show in a few months. So you expect people to watch Leno, then a half hour of local news, then watch O'Brien? And boy is Jimmy Fallon screwed. He was set to take over O'Brien's old time slot.
So, bad move NBC. Be more creative.
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