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July 13, 2004
Fall TV Preview: Uninspired NBC lineup to hit the air drip by drip
By MELANIE McFARLAND
SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER
NBC Entertainment president Kevin Reilly and NBC Universal Television Group president Jeff Zucker might want to get right with The Man Upstairs.
Before a room full of television critics, Reilly declared his belief in the word according to Mark Burnett, dubbing him "Lord of the Godforsaken Television Business," thanks be to Donald Trump and "The Apprentice."
And this dynamic duo is Reilly's primary reason that, in his words, "We're not totally screwed."
With that, the summer press tour herd turned another corner in our eighth circle journey.
Truly Burnett's presence on NBC is a godsend to the network and to viewers. We daresay that, should Burnett, DreamWorks and Sly Stallone's "The Contender" perform as well as Zucker and Reilly are hoping in November, you may find a scene in the network's version of "A Christmas Carol" with NBC employees dancing around a golden effigy of the king of reality kings.
You have to wonder, though, if those programs are going to be enough, what with ABC's creative transfusion at the top and Fox's so-called piracy tactics. Not that NBC is in the absolute worst shape it has ever been in; however, it's a little disconcerting that the fall schedule is not looking better.
From a business standpoint, things are looking up. NBC is now an entertainment behemoth, having recently merged with Universal and greatly expanded its reach on cable. Airing across its networks (NBC, CNBC, MSNBC, USA, Bravo and Telemundo), the combined coverage of the summer Olympic Games will amount to upwards of 1,200 hours. That's more than 70 hours each day and guaranteed dominance in the Nielsens.
NBC is using the games as a springboard to launch its fall lineup, although the network intends to roll out its premieres over the ensuing weeks instead of in a single chunk.
"Hawaii," an ensemble cop show constructed on more commercial appeal than substance, gets a preview airing Aug. 30.
"Last Comic Standing," picked up for an additional fall cycle, begins the next day, premiering along with the computer-animated series "Father of the Pride" and "Scrubs." Nevermind that the adult-oriented "Father of the Pride," shown to critics in a Saturday evening screening, is beset with a weird cuddliness and endangered by jokes as sharp as salad tongs.
OK, I'll admit, I laughed a couple of times. How could I not? Four words: Monkey on man love.
Three more: Hide the children.
The idea is to allow new programs to stand out from the scrum by trickling them out at the end of August and beginning of September. "The West Wing" has been delayed because NBC doesn't want the lovable, fictional Bartlett administration to get in the way of the presidential debates. It returns Oct. 20 and airs in original episodes through the end with no interruption. The midseason show -- oh, sorry, Reilly says it's now called "the second season" -- "Revelations" slides into "The West Wing's" slot once it ends.
That's all fine and good, since the main concern seems to be the success of "Joey" once it hits Sept. 9, leading into the premiere of "The Apprentice."
During the introductory session for the "Friends" spinoff, which is being reshot, critics couldn't get past poking Matt LeBlanc's tearjerker button over the end of "Friends," prompting him to declare through faux sniffles, "It was like getting a divorce from someone you're still in love with."
When they weren't working LeBlanc's limited range, the folks were cracking wise about co-star Drea de Matteo's past role on "Sopranos" as a woman who was beaten and strangled -- "So, can the producers just tell us, did you like the way she took a punch?" -- instead of talking about her current role, which allows her to dole out the abuse.
Obviously, lots of people will be watching "Joey" because of their relationship with de Matteo and LeBlanc's best-known characters, but what about NBC's other assets?
There's the fine "American Dreams," which lacks stratospheric ratings; "The West Wing," a show Zucker admitted took a creative dip last season; "Las Vegas"; and the shows from producers Dick Wolf ("Law & Order" in all its guises, including midseason addition "L&O: Trial by Jury") and John Wells ("Third Watch," "E.R.," "West Wing").
The remainder of the new fall line includes "LAX," which has Heather Locklear and Blair Underwood playing the same roles they always play, and "Medical Investigation," which looks as rehashed as it sounds.
With critics talking about the best new dramas being on ABC, of all places, maintaining standards doesn't seem to be the best plan. Nevermind the near absence of sitcoms.
At the very least, Zucker and Reilly can find comfort in knowing they're not Fox chief Gail Berman, a woman due to be bombarded later on this week about two shows it won't comment on, "Who's My Daddy" and "Big Shot."
Fox's other plans largely consist of pirate raids on NBC and ABC's reality slates.
In response to NBC's announcing "The Contender," Fox rung up Oscar de la Hoya and put "The Next Great Champ" on the fast track.
Cloning what is already on the air is fair game in Hollywood. Ripping off programs that are still in the development stage is considered dirty pool. And dirty pool in an unscrupulous place like Hollywood means disgusting, biohazardous pool to the rest of us.
Anyway, the situation allowed NBC suits (men whose pension plans are partially dependent on human beings devouring night crawlers on "Fear Factor") to cavort up the high road.
"Quite frankly, they used to be innovators, now they're imitators," Zucker said. "... It's just bad for business and it's bad for everybody, and I don't think that all is fair in love and television."
Posted by Jo at July 13, 2004 08:14 AM