Meanwhile, NBC continues to assign showrunners to new series created by inexperienced writers. Now you’d think they’d try to match the perfect writer with the perfect project? No. They’re assigning showrunners that they have deals with. NBC is the Fantastic Sams of networks.
Yes, WHITNEY got picked up. But look where NBC scheduled it. In the Friday 8-9 death slot. And what did they pair it with? COMMUNITY – the show they don’t like but feel they have to re-order to appear cool. They’ll both be gone by mid-season when NBC will probably use that hour to just rerun shows from earlier in the week.
Meanwhile, PARKS AND RECREATION got an order of 22 (not 13 like COMMUNITY and WHITNEY) and assigned to Thursday night. This is a show NBC believes in… and rightly so.
Who was NBC kidding when they tried to tell us 30 ROCK had no plans to end their run? Crew members are already stealing props from the set for souvenirs. Yesterday they announced that it would be going off after 13. It's time.
NBC is making a big deal over the fact that “Emmy-winner Jimmy Fallon” has a new sitcom, GUYS WITH KIDS. He’s not going to be showrunning it. It’s just his company. His name is on it. There are already five or six other executive producers who will be handling the writing. Next they’ll tell us that multi-Oscar winner, Walt Disney has a new show on the NBC schedule.
Here’s an NBC head-scratcher (and then I'll move to other networks). ROCK CENTER WITH BRIAN WILLIAMS has gotten some of the worst ratings in the history of the network. Juiceman informercials beat it. And yet, not only did NBC renew it, they gave it an upgraded spot – Thursday at 10. If they really want to get viewers for that show let Brian's daughter host it.
Simon Cowell has now surrendered his last shred of credibility by naming Britney Spears as a judge on THE X-FACTOR. Paula wasn’t stupid enough? Does Simon seriously expect anyone on the planet to give a flying fig about what Britney Spears thinks… about anything? Your show is now officially a joke.
I applaud CBS for cancelling ROB! even though it got acceptable numbers. I’d like to think that at the end of the day CBS just said, “Is this really what we want to have on our network?” The ghost of William Paley thanks you.
Comedy continues its comeback. FOX will now have an all-comedy night on Tuesdays. The new Mindy Kaling project looks promising.
And finally, I notice that Kate Hudson will be recurring on GLEE – a sure sign that her movie career is over. She’s saying she’s thrilled to be a part of GLEE but what she’s really thinking is, “Damn that Elizabeth Banks!”
