Tag Archives: NBC

Pick a side: Conan O’Brien vs. NBC (+ Leno)

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This past week in entertainment has been filled with rumors and speculation about the late night debacle at NBC.  Leno’s show failed, O’Brien is being forced to a later timeslot; where does this leave Fallon and Carson Daily?  I’ve scoured through the facts and the rumors to present to you the latest details in the war between Conan O’Brien and NBC.

Conan O’Brien took over The Tonight Showon June 1, 2009.  Jay Leno gracefully bit adieu the 11:35PM timeslot and O’Brien has continued to pump out the funny to this day.  I wish this is where the story ended, but then I wouldn’t have anything to report, right?  After Leno’s departure NBC decided to green light an “experimental” late night talk show with Leno at the 10PM timeslot.  Having The Jay Leno Show air 5 days a week at the 10PM spot was a major cost cutting move for NBC.  Airing this show instead of different scripted drama series (like the other networks do) saved NBC a ton of money.  After about four months, though, NBC declared this experiment a failure.  Though The Jay Leno Show had some people watching, its weak ratings (compared to other networks) were negatively affecting local affiliates who air 11PM newscasts.  Leno’s weak ratings made for a bad lead-in for these newscasts and this is why the top dogs at NBC decided the show must end and be replaced with standard scripted programming.  Again I wish the story ended here, but it does not.

After February 12 The Jay Leno Showwill halt production.  Jeff Gaspin, NBC Universal’s Chairman of Television Entertainment, proposed a plan that has the late night hosts (and the general public) in a scuffle.  The new plan is to have Leno come back to late night TV with a show at 11:35PM in a half hour format, bumping O’Brien to 12:05AM and Fallon to 1:05AM.  Carson Daily, of course, would likely be finished.  O’Brien is not taking this news well, and he has every right to feel this way.  He was given the prestigious job to host The Tonight Show, following the late great Johnny Carson and Jay Leno.  Just because NBC’s experiment with Leno failed, this does not give them a right to push O’Brien and The Tonight Show past midnight, something that has never happened in the show’s long history.  It’s about tradition and respect, and this latest proposal from NBC throws all that away.  And this is why O’Brien is angry.  O’Brien speaks to the “People of Earth”:

Last Thursday, NBC executives told me they intended to move the Tonight Show to 12:05 to accommodate the Jay Leno Show at 11:35. For 60 years the Tonight Show has aired immediately following the late local news. I sincerely believe that delaying the Tonight Show into the next day to accommodate another comedy program will seriously damage what I consider to be the greatest franchise in the history of broadcasting. The Tonight Show at 12:05 simply isn’t the Tonight Show. Also, if I accept this move I will be knocking the Late Night show, which I inherited from David Letterman and passed on to Jimmy Fallon, out of its long-held time slot. That would hurt the other NBC franchise that I love, and it would be unfair to Jimmy.

So where do we stand now?  O’Brien has publicly stated that he will not move to the 12:05PM timeslot.  If NBC decides to go ahead with their current proposal, O’Brien leaves.  AND THIS CANNOT HAPPEN.  NBC really wants to keep Leno and O’Brien, so they better think of something fast.  Gapun on the sticky situation: “What’s important to Jay is telling jokes at 11:30. What’s really important to Conan is The Tonight Show. I couldn’t satisfy both 100%. That’s why I came up with this compromise.”  In my opinion, Leno should be a gentleman like he was when he past the baton to O’Brien at the end of his tenure at The Tonight Show.  His 10PM show was a flop; he should accept this and move on.  But Leno loves two things in life: cars and telling jokes at 11:35PM.  If he gets what he wants we lose O’Brien.  AND THIS CANNOT HAPPEN.  Sure, O’Brien lost a percentage of older viewers from the Leno era, but he dominates the coveted 18-to-49 demographic for advertisers.  And he is so damn funny.  (There’s been speculation that FOX is interested in picking up O’Brien if NBC loses him.)

It’s interesting how people are taking sides on the matter.  “Team Conan” has been a trending topic on Twitter for days now, and even the other late night hosts are sharing their thoughts.  When it comes down to it, almost everyone is on Team Conan (including myself) and we all hope for this to be resolved soon.  Sure, watching O’Brien make fun of NBC and Leno every night has been a blast, but this situation needs to get sorted out so he can move on!  If Leno would just bow out like he should have done before the idea for his 10PM show, everything will work out.  O’Brien keeps his spot and (more importantly for O’Brien) The Tonight Show tradition carries on.  I’m on Team Conan, how about you?

Look after the break for O’Brien’s “People of Earth” letter in it entirety and a few videos of other late night hosts adding to the NBC-bashing fest.

[Via IGN, here & here; EW, here, here & here]

Continue reading Pick a side: Conan O’Brien vs. NBC (+ Leno) →

J.J. Abrams sits back in the director’s chair for NBC’s Undercovers

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It’s been too long since we’ve had the pleasure of watching a J.J. Abrams-directed series premiere on television (the Lost premiere, to be exact).  According to The Hollywood Reporter, Abrams will direct the premiere episode of NBC’s upcoming spy show Undercovers.  The episode is co-written between Abrams and Felicity pal Josh Reims.  According to numerous sources the show is being described as has been described as Mr. and Mrs. Smith meets The Bourne Identity.

Abrams adds Undercovers to a growing list of other new shows he plans on unveiling in the near future.  There’s the HBO medical drama called Anatomy of Hope and a not-yet-titled FOX comedy.  With Lost beginning its heavily anticipated final season this February, Abrams better have a deep arsenal of amazing TV dramas in his pockets.  As hard as it is for me to imagine a future without Lost, news that Abrams is hard at work with new offerings gives me a glimpse of a hopeful future post-one of the best shows ever made.

[Via IGN; NYMag]

Comcast merges with NBC, yielding yet another super conglomerate

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General Electric, NBC Universal’s parent company, is no longer its controlling parental unit.  Comcast, the largest cable operator in the US, has officially merged with NBCU.  It owns 51% of NBCU compared to GE’s slightly lower sliver of 49%.

So how does this affect you?  Well it doesn’t, yet.  It will take at least one year for the merge to finalize.  However, though, it leaves this to ponder: Now a cable company owns a major network that reaches almost every US household.  This may seem unhealthy, right?  Look after the break for some ” merger nutrition facts” regarding this matter.  A lengthly press release follows.

What about everyone’s favorite TV show streaming site, Hulu?  How will that fare in the future?  Comcast COO Steve Burke: “NBC has been careful not to put too much cable content on the Internet. We think that’s a smart strategy… We think that going forward, you’re going to continue to have free broadcast stuff on Hulu, and cable stuff on TV Everywhere.”  There’s been word of “Hulu Premium” content that users will have to pay to watch, what of that?  “That’s certainly not in the cards.”  Oh, good.

[Via Engadget; Gizmodo, here & here]

Continue reading Comcast merges with NBC, yielding yet another super conglomerate →

Fall TV season pickups galore

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Oh how much I love it when networks decide to give great TV shows a deserved chance at prolonged success.  And oh do I hate it when they stab us in the back (read: The Sarah Connor Chronicles, Pushing Daisies).  Here’s a roundup of some of the great shows that were given “the back nine” and will complete their first seasons with 20+ episodes. (Note: Full season pickups are usually granted to new series; it is assumed that third+ year series will be given full seasons prior to the shows premieres.)

ABC:  FlashForward, Modern Family, Castle

FOX: Glee, The Cleveland Show (it’s also been picked up for a second season)

NBC: Community, Parks & Recreation

All shows were granted a full 22 episode season.  FlashForward, interestingly, was granted an above-average 25 episodes.  Music to my ears if you ask me.

Others I don’t care much for: ABC’s Cougar Town, The Middle; CBS’s Accidentally on Purpose, NCIS: Los Angeles, The Good Wife.

What got cancelled? NBC’s Trauma.  I don’t think the man in the helicoptor loves his job anymore.

I will update this space as the remainder of fall TV series are renewed and/or cancelled.

For now, celebrate by krumping along with Community’s Abed and Troy after the break!

[Via EW, here, here, here, & here]

Continue reading Fall TV season pickups galore →

Andy Samberg does it again

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JUST THROW IT ON THE GROUND.  Directed by Jorma Taccone.  The latest SNL Digital Short rocks.

In somewhat related news, it has been reported that Andy Samberg was contacted to host WWE’s RAW.  The wrestling show will take place on October 26 in Buffalo.  Although this has not been made official, Samberg has stated that a future SNL Digital Short will include “WWE superstars.”  Looking forward to it.

[Via IGN]