NBC: Not Being Creative, Dollhouse, Brandon Routh...
I can’t say I’m a big fan of Jay Leno, I don’t think he’s funny. Never had. But it’s hard for me to argue his appeal to people and his success. Watching (reading) all of this drama unfolding with NBC over the state of his show is fascinating because it seems to give credence to the idea that there is a East Coast/West Coast versus Middle America deal going on. People in NY and LA seem to think he’s staid and unfunny (like me) whereas generally he appeals to those in the middle. I’ve been to one of his tapings and the busloads of people: tourists and military folks love him. I was impressed that he did his own warm-up and chatted with the audience before the show. He strikes me then and now as a salesman. Like a person from a bygone era of door-to-door encyclopedia salesman who will sell it by hook or by crook whether you bite or not.
By circumstances not of his own doing, but of NBC’s lack of daringness, Leno has been made the poster boy for those who cannot make a graceful exit. He has been blamed by writers across the board of killing TV and shows. Ben McKenzie of “Southland” said that he went as Leno for Halloween because “he killed our show”. This is the same Ben McKenzie who wanted off of the “The O.C” because he thought it was holding him back, found that he didn’t have any viable career prospects in sight and went crawling back to television. Leno’s name was bandied about and trounced through-out the fall TCAs by creative forces. He was pilloried while NBC whistled idly by.
Until the affiliates came a’knockin’.
When local affiliates began complaining over Leno’s show being a weak lead-in to their news broadcasts and thus driving down viewership, Leno, himself made the calls to those affiliates to reassure them. In an very open interview with Broadcasting and Cable, http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/366971-Jay_Leno_Talks_Back_An_Exclusive_Interview_With_B_C.php, Leno discussed what he was taking from all of this. But I really loved his comments during the TCAs where he was frank: he got his money, he didn’t care what happened. It wasn’t snottiness or arrogance IMO, but putting it out there that he was in the better position because NBC, who was ready to put him out to pasture, flaunting Conan O’Brien before him, had to relent and keep Jay on, so battered in the ratings by under-performing shows, so afraid of losing Leno to ABC, so cowardly in finding another hour-long to stick in the 10 o’clock hour to compete with other scripted in that time period that they created this “experiment” to keep him in their back pocket.
Whether they return Jay to 11:30, I’m pretty sure Jay will forever get the flack for this and not NBC for their inability to remain competitive. It’s like the lottery, you can’t win if you don’t play, and by losing faith in not only the shows they have on tap, but programs going forward, NBC showed their yellow streak. Now it seems they’re coming around: they have 18 pilots that they are developing for the upcoming fall season, so it looks like they’ve taken their licks and is now back in the ring.
*Who is a benefactor of NBC’s poor ratings? “Chuck”, who was pulled from the bench early to help boost NBC ratings. I’m only in it for the
Darling!
*Dichen Lachman in the Australian Herald. It’s a matter of time before these two are dating.
*Spoilers for the “Dollhouse” finale. Spoiler Alert!
* Alexis Denisof interview
*IFMagazine interview with Dichen Lachman .
* I don’t recall if I linked this December interview with Joss Whedon where he talks about his initial ideas for “Dollhouse”. I just remember thinking BS over a lot of what he was saying moreover because of if he thinks the failure lies in the taming of his concept by FOX, the fault lies with him: stick to your guns or find another studio, don’t cave or if you’ve already sold the show, leave. But do it on your terms.
Getting Joss’ed
~My life is not my own anymore. This "Criminal Minds" kick I'm on is insane. I want to go out tonight, but I forgot to set my VCR, so now I must stay home to watch. I must!
By circumstances not of his own doing, but of NBC’s lack of daringness, Leno has been made the poster boy for those who cannot make a graceful exit. He has been blamed by writers across the board of killing TV and shows. Ben McKenzie of “Southland” said that he went as Leno for Halloween because “he killed our show”. This is the same Ben McKenzie who wanted off of the “The O.C” because he thought it was holding him back, found that he didn’t have any viable career prospects in sight and went crawling back to television. Leno’s name was bandied about and trounced through-out the fall TCAs by creative forces. He was pilloried while NBC whistled idly by.
Until the affiliates came a’knockin’.
When local affiliates began complaining over Leno’s show being a weak lead-in to their news broadcasts and thus driving down viewership, Leno, himself made the calls to those affiliates to reassure them. In an very open interview with Broadcasting and Cable, http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/366971-Jay_Leno_Talks_Back_An_Exclusive_Interview_With_B_C.php, Leno discussed what he was taking from all of this. But I really loved his comments during the TCAs where he was frank: he got his money, he didn’t care what happened. It wasn’t snottiness or arrogance IMO, but putting it out there that he was in the better position because NBC, who was ready to put him out to pasture, flaunting Conan O’Brien before him, had to relent and keep Jay on, so battered in the ratings by under-performing shows, so afraid of losing Leno to ABC, so cowardly in finding another hour-long to stick in the 10 o’clock hour to compete with other scripted in that time period that they created this “experiment” to keep him in their back pocket.
Whether they return Jay to 11:30, I’m pretty sure Jay will forever get the flack for this and not NBC for their inability to remain competitive. It’s like the lottery, you can’t win if you don’t play, and by losing faith in not only the shows they have on tap, but programs going forward, NBC showed their yellow streak. Now it seems they’re coming around: they have 18 pilots that they are developing for the upcoming fall season, so it looks like they’ve taken their licks and is now back in the ring.
*Who is a benefactor of NBC’s poor ratings? “Chuck”, who was pulled from the bench early to help boost NBC ratings. I’m only in it for the
Darling!
*Dichen Lachman in the Australian Herald. It’s a matter of time before these two are dating.
*Spoilers for the “Dollhouse” finale. Spoiler Alert!
* Alexis Denisof interview
*IFMagazine interview with Dichen Lachman .
* I don’t recall if I linked this December interview with Joss Whedon where he talks about his initial ideas for “Dollhouse”. I just remember thinking BS over a lot of what he was saying moreover because of if he thinks the failure lies in the taming of his concept by FOX, the fault lies with him: stick to your guns or find another studio, don’t cave or if you’ve already sold the show, leave. But do it on your terms.
Getting Joss’ed
~My life is not my own anymore. This "Criminal Minds" kick I'm on is insane. I want to go out tonight, but I forgot to set my VCR, so now I must stay home to watch. I must!