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July 10, 2004
NBC Will Rely on Reality, Aim for More Laughs
By Ben Berkowitz
Reuters
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Broadcaster NBC will rely on its top reality shows to bolster its fall schedule while seeking to improve ratings for scripted programs, especially the embattled comedy genre, its top executives said on Saturday.
Speaking to television critics as part of that group's summer press tour, Kevin Reilly, president of NBC Entertainment, said the network was in a strong position despite having lost two staples, the comedies "Friends" and "Frasier."
"The Lord giveth, and in the Godforsaken television business by Lord I mean Mark Burnett, thanks be to Trump," Reilly said.
Burnett is the executive producer and real estate mogul Donald Trump the star of "The Apprentice," the breakout hit reality show that debuted last season.
In an unexpected move, Reilly said NBC will bring back its summer reality series "Last Comic Standing" this fall, starting a third installment of the show right after its coverage of the Olympics in late August. The show has been a ratings standout for the network this summer and last.
Despite "Apprentice," which NBC Universal Television Group President Jeff Zucker called the most valuable show on television, and other hits like "Fear Factor," the executives said the network needed to focus on its bread and butter, comedies and dramas.
"I like a good reality show but my goal this season is to get the scripted stuff firing with the same thunder, especially comedy," Reilly said.
The challenge with comedy in particular, Reilly said, was finding an original idea.
"I think part of the problem with the genre is we had many decades of recycling too many familiar themes," he said. "We're looking for that next Larry David."
David was one of the creators of "Seinfeld" and has his own acclaimed HBO series, "Curb Your Enthusiasm."
SHOTS AT FOX
Zucker, whose quick rise through NBC's ranks culminated late last year with a promotion to oversee all news and entertainment at NBC and its cable networks, took aim at Fox, which has been accused of rushing reality shows to air that copy competitors.
Fox will have a boxing show that NBC charges is a copy of its forthcoming "The Contender," and plans an "Apprentice"-style series featuring British entrepreneur Richard Branson.
"Quite frankly, they used to be innovators and now they're imitators," Zucker said. "I think that it's not right what they're doing and I think frankly that they should be called on it."
Fox, which denies it is copying its rivals, was set to give its own presentation to critics next week.
As for the rest of the network's schedule, Zucker and Reilly said shows will begin to roll out on Aug. 30, immediately after the Olympics. One late starter will be "West Wing," which Zucker said the network will hold until after the U.S. presidential debates.
He also said the syndicated "Jane Pauley Show" will debut Aug. 30. It was cleared to air on 223 stations, the biggest-ever launch for a daytime television show, Zucker said.
Posted by Jo at July 10, 2004 09:42 PM