The most important piece of news coming out of this, which few places are reporting on, is what this actually means for NBC's entire broadcast division.
Rather than being replaced, Graboff (Silverman's former Co-Chairman) is becoming the sole Chairman in charge of NBC's broadcast network and studio. The interesting thing, however, is that Graboff will now need to report to Jeff Gaspin, the exec who was previously only in charge of NBCU's cable properties (USA, Bravo, Syfy, etc).
NBCU's broadcast properties have effectively lost their independence, and are now simply a unit operating alongside Laura Ziskin at Bravo and Bonnie Hammer at USA. This has to point to a loss of prestige.
The cable networks now run NBCU. Even in its own company, the NBC Broadcast network is now a second-rate citizen.
Grrr... Last try, I promise. When one edits a comment, the video-clicky thing doesn't come back, so there's no way to fix video urls and no way to preview whether they work.
...and apparently this one doesn't work. Here's the link now that my lame joke has grown into a totally unfunny one now.
@pmarble: I wasn't a fan of the half-an-episode I managed to get through, but I do like the idea of Ben McKenzie back on TV. And yes, it'll be back in the fall, on Friday nights, so, probably not for long.
I'm still laughing at the fact that, while on Charlie Rose, he took credit for bringing 30 Rock to NBC. Wrong. He may have kept it on, but he did not green light that show.
This guy was an epic fail for NBC because he came on board and didn't do anything his old production company did- create new and interesting programming.
Endless remakes of American Gladiators, Knight Rider, and The Bionic Woman? They could hire my grandma to come up with that programming genius.
I'm calling it. They're going to bring over Bonnie Hammer from USA. In five-years, she's turned it into the number one channel on cable and NBC/Universal's biggest earner.
She also got a feature-length write up in Newsweek ( which is a content partner with MSNBC) this month. Mmmm...anyone think that was just a coincidence?
@WordyNinja: Good point! I'm shamelessly addicted to Burn Notice, Psych (shut up, everyone) and even the new show, Royal Pains. The latter two aren't strokes of genius, but they're at least entertaining. I think NBC suffers from performance anxiety. And, well, all that they're afraid of, and the reasons why they don't take risks, has become paralyzing and is actually becoming a self-fulfilling prophecy.
Smaller less lauded channels like a USA, AMC, and Bravo don't have the same all consuming pressures, so they "let it ride" to great success. It also helps that they stick with their programming choices for longer than five episodes. (Please note this only works with shows with obvious potential. You dipwads knew Knight Rider was total nostalgia-ruination that never should have seen the light of day outside of a Youtube video.)
@Spirit Fingers: They could sure to worse (and have). Burn Notice is must-see TV, and we like In Plain Sight -- the women of TNT have nothing on Mary McCormack. And don't forget an earlier Hammer credit: Battlestar Galactica.
@naugahydeinplainsight: I don't watch In Plain Sight but I've heard good things, and well, if it's on USA than it's a pretty good bet that it's a more than decent show.
See how that works NBC? Shows on USA are assumed to be good just because of the company they keep. That hasn't happened in your world since the late 1990's.
@Spirit Fingers: Burn Notice is the only thing that keeps from hanging myself on lonely Thursday nights....and thanks to Hulu, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday nights too.
Also, Psych deserves props just for making Corbin Bernsen somewhat relevant again.
@WordyNinja: Bonnie Hammer is fantastic, but really, what motivation would she have for jumping to the horribly troubled cable division? Her division now accounts for 40% (and rising) of NBCU's revenue. The NBC Network accounts for less than 5%. Plus, she just received a promotion to the newly created position of President of NBC Universal Cable. She's smart enough to avoid jumping onto that sinking sink.
@DeltaGuy: Don't forget that NBC is the flagship, which still means something to a lot of people, and being at the bottom of the network pile still stings upper management (especially after spending the 90's as king of the hill). Also, NBC's biggest programming problem in the last five years has been finding one-hour dramas--Seriously, is anyone going to watch Leno's 10pm show?
Hammer's proven that she can not only find new original programming (like one-hour dramas), but also embrace a channels current ratings leaders (wrestling on USA) and roll that into a new brand identity (Characters Welcome).
As to why she might take it: It's no secret that there's a growing faction within NBCU looking for someone to replace Zucker, and if Hammer want to dethrone him it would be a lot easier if she took over NBC and saved it.
07/27/09
Rather than being replaced, Graboff (Silverman's former Co-Chairman) is becoming the sole Chairman in charge of NBC's broadcast network and studio. The interesting thing, however, is that Graboff will now need to report to Jeff Gaspin, the exec who was previously only in charge of NBCU's cable properties (USA, Bravo, Syfy, etc).
NBCU's broadcast properties have effectively lost their independence, and are now simply a unit operating alongside Laura Ziskin at Bravo and Bonnie Hammer at USA. This has to point to a loss of prestige.
The cable networks now run NBCU. Even in its own company, the NBC Broadcast network is now a second-rate citizen.
07/27/09
...and apparently this one doesn't work. Here's the link now that my lame joke has grown into a totally unfunny one now.
http://www.hulu.com/watch/1942/30-rock-gold-flaw
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Endless remakes of American Gladiators, Knight Rider, and The Bionic Woman? They could hire my grandma to come up with that programming genius.
07/27/09
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She also got a feature-length write up in Newsweek ( which is a content partner with MSNBC) this month. Mmmm...anyone think that was just a coincidence?
07/27/09
07/27/09
Smaller less lauded channels like a USA, AMC, and Bravo don't have the same all consuming pressures, so they "let it ride" to great success. It also helps that they stick with their programming choices for longer than five episodes. (Please note this only works with shows with obvious potential. You dipwads knew Knight Rider was total nostalgia-ruination that never should have seen the light of day outside of a Youtube video.)
07/27/09
Good luck in your new endeavors!
Smooches,
RMHMH
07/27/09
07/27/09
See how that works NBC? Shows on USA are assumed to be good just because of the company they keep. That hasn't happened in your world since the late 1990's.
07/27/09
Also, Psych deserves props just for making Corbin Bernsen somewhat relevant again.
07/27/09
07/27/09
Hammer's proven that she can not only find new original programming (like one-hour dramas), but also embrace a channels current ratings leaders (wrestling on USA) and roll that into a new brand identity (Characters Welcome).
As to why she might take it: It's no secret that there's a growing faction within NBCU looking for someone to replace Zucker, and if Hammer want to dethrone him it would be a lot easier if she took over NBC and saved it.
07/27/09
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