I sure hope the fall schedule NBC announced today does better than the fall shows NBC has given us in recent years, because aren’t we all tired of making jokes about the latest Law & Order spin-off, fretting over Chuck, and reminding each other that this used to be the home of Friends, Seinfeld, and Cheers?
One reason to think NBC will do better this season: The programming is now overseen by Robert Greenblatt, an executive who understands quality programming, given his track record at Showtime (Dexter, Weeds) and his realistic view of broadcast TV. I know: “Quality programming” and “two hours of The Biggest Loser” are not compatible phrases. But Greenblatt’s gotta start somewhere. Which means he’s not looking to turn NBC into a cable-edgy-niche network, clogged with watered-down versions of The Big C or The Borgias (thank Gawd). Instead, he’s trying to build a bridge between what works on NBC now, and starting to create a new identity for the network’s future.
But what is that identity? Based on its new shows, NBC wants to do interesting work in mostly familiar genres. (Memo to Greenblatt: You really need to avoid building NBC’s identity around The Voice, which everyone — NBC, the press, and fans alike — is treating like a veteran hit, yet I’m warning you, that show could go either way: Become a staple like American Idol, or flame out fast from over-exposure.) Oh, and like everyone else in network TV these days, NBC wants to rip off a little of AMC’s success. See what I mean below.
Monday: The Sing-Off as a lead-off show for the week? Weak. (Love ya, Ben Folds, but this is just not a durable franchise series.) Following it with The Playboy Club is a big risk on a number of levels. The Playboy Club, set in the 1960s, would never exist were TV executives not still mesmerized by Mad Men — or more specifically, by Christina Hendricks’ hubba-hubba, hour-glass figure. There are programming decisions being made based primarily on the gamble that men want to see more curvy women on TV, and women want to watch zaftig women closer to their own body types plus handsome guys in sharp-looking suits, instead of the adolescent-boy, unshaved, hoodie-wearing males that now dominate prime time. Me, I think The Playboy Club won’t work, but not for the reason you may think. It’s not that I don’t believe people want to see sexy people on their screens; it’s that whatever deal NBC and Club‘s producers had to make with Hugh Hefner to use the “Playboy” name will involve limiting the creative freedom they have, because I’m assuming Hef doesn’t want the Playboy image tarnished or critiqued via the show’s drama. So from the get-go, I think The Playboy Club is actually going to be less like Mad Men and more like NBC’s well-made but low-rated period drama (remember it?) American Dreams.
Tuesday: Two hours of Biggest Loser followed by Parenthood. No flow there, but at least Parenthood lives for another season, and it finished out its last season with a series of very strong subplots, so old fans and — if NBC promotes it extensively — new fans who can get caught up in one of TV’s few, and best, current family dramas.
Wednesday: Two new sitcoms, Up All Night and Free Agents, leading off the night? I guess the thinking is, it sorta works for CBS on Mondays and Thursdays, so why not? Followed by Harry’s Law — and you know how I feel about that show — and Law & Order: SVU, the sole L&O spin-off that gets substantial ratings. The pattern to the night actually makes sense: Comedy from 8 to 9 p.m. then glides into the comedy-drama of Harry’s, which then undulates over to the grim drama of SVU. Speaking for myself, I won’t be watching NBC on this night, unless Up All Night and/or Free Agents proves to be an unexpected delight.
Thursday: Community, Parks and Recreation, The Office, and then Whitney, a new sitcom starring Whitney Cummings. (30 Rock will hold until mid-season and then air uninterrupted.) Some are already saying Whitney is a jarring fit with those other sitcoms, what with its multi-camera, studio-audience laughs. I say Cummings herself is a charmer — a sometimes abrasive, often brainy one — and I welcome giving her a shot at giving NBC some ratings in what’s considered a “traditional” format. (You can’t tell me some viewers aren’t ready for a respite from the deadpan, faux-documentary style sitcom.) Whitney‘s biggest problem may not be the show itself but its lead-in: Will the ratings for The Office post-Steve Carell continue to fall? At 10 p.m., there’s Prime Suspect. I loved the Helen Mirren original, and I wasn’t appalled that NBC had the temerity to attempt an American version. (Uh, The Office, right?) I was jazzed when I heard that Maria Bello would star, since she has proven to be able to project the right amount of world-weary allure. But… the clips I’ve seen aren’t filling me with great hope: They look as though they’ve taken one element of the Mirren Suspect, sexism in the workplace, and amped it up. And that issue has been rather assiduously covered since the first Prime Suspect premiered in 1991.
Friday: With Chuck consigned to a final-season 13-episode move to Fridays, the new show that follows it, Grimm, has its work cut out for it. Supernatural detectives on Fridays at 9 p.m.? Hmmm, haven’t I seen this on, oh, Supernatural? But wait: some of the characters and plots might loosely be compared to Grimm’s Fairy Tales. This kind of idea has been making the rounds in comic books for years, most notably in DC/Vertigo’s Fables, and I can’t say as I’m much of a fan of trying to transfer this print source material, which is so superior in provoking your imagination to supply the images rather than literalizing the creatures, into other media. (ABC is also trying it, with Once Upon A Time.) But since Grimm comes from Angel‘s David Greenwalt, maybe it has a creative shot. (For me, it will at best be a DVR item, since nothing’s gonna stop my Fringe-ing when it returns.)
There’s nothing new from NBC on the weekend this fall. The network’s biggest risk/reward project, Smash — the Steven Spielberg/Craig Zadan/Debra Messing Glee-full drama about the making of a Broadway musical — will premiere mid-season.
Twitter: @kentucker
Read more:
EW’s 2011 Upfronts coverage
Other than the ridiculous comment about one of the bright spots of the past TV year (Harry’s Law), this is a surprisingly-sensible article from the guy who brought you “Anne Hathaway & James Franco were good hosts” and “The Voice is DOA.”
I am a 33 years old CEO, rich and strong.but still single … now I am seeking a nice woman who can give me true love
so i got a username marryme11 on
—Wêálthy`Connêct. C’óM — .it is the first and best club for
wealthy people and their admirers. e…you don’t have to be rich ,but you can meet one there ,maybe you wanna check it out or tell your friends !
~~~~~~~~
~~Actually, it’s a good article and “Harry’s Law” was a lot like watching one’s grandmother buy groceries.
You’re being reported.
Seriously, Daw, most people do not like Harry’s Law if they are honest with themselves. There are just a few people who like outrageously stupid storylines a la Boston Legal.
Cause Boston Legal, a multi-time Emmy nominee for best drama and a multi-time winner for acting, wasn’t an incredible show.
You either love David E. Kelley or you don’t, but to act like a comparison to Boston Legal is a BAD thing is just ludicrous.
I LOVE David E. Kelley. Everything he writes. But Boston Legal was just insufferably annoying, thanks mostly to Shatner. It was only good if you were over 55. My parents loved it…
Ken is a downer!
Actually, it’s a good article and “Harry’s Law” was a lot like watching one’s grandmother buy groceries.
I can’t believe NBC chose to keep the crappy, preachy Harry’s Law, but dropped L&O:LA, which was finally starting to click.
Have to agree…L&O: LA has been pretty good the past couple of weeks…I was really disappointed to see that NBC didn’t renew.
LA Law tanked in ratings, wasn’t clicking at all.
These are all slkils that were cut during development, some because they were boring (Earth Magic, Fire Magic, etc), some just for time/implementation issues. Some of these will appear in future content patches or expansion(s) but no hard plans have been made.
I was liking L&O: LA. I don’t think NBC gave it much of a chance.
Not one single show they mentioned sounds interesting/viewable. Not surprising though, none of the so-called “big four” networks (ABC, NBC, CBS, Fox) have aired any decent new shows in years.
Of course not, Betty. Yet another whiny “I’m too smart for network TV” comment. Boring. I find it hard to believe that you can’t name ONE quality show that has premiered over the last few years? Let me help a bit…”The Good Wife”, perhaps?
I’ll help a bit more . . . “Raising Hope” is absolutely great, and I also enjoyed “NCIS LA,” “Breaking In” and “Outsourced,” though apparently the latter two are being canceled!
@ Lyn – Breaking In is hilarious. But gone after 6 episodes? Shows just aren’t given a chance anymore. This show has good characters and the funniest lines.
The ONLY reason I watch NBC is to see Community, Parks & Rec and 30 Rock — the three best comedies on television.
I agree, Audrey! Thursday is the only night that I have to watch and a big part of that are the three shows you mentioned.
Agreed! NBC needs to put Parks & Rec at the 9pm hour as it’s more than strong enough to anchor the hour. The Office is past its prime and should have ended when Carell left.
Really, Betty? I’ll admit that some of the shows I watch are “brain candy” shows (like NCIS), but there are a bunch of good shows on the networks. Off the top of my head, Fringe is great sci-fi, The Good Wife is great drama, and Modern Family is great comedy.
I understand that it is easy to pick at broadcast networks, but to say that there is nothing of quality is ridiculous.
Spot-on, Ken, concerning Sing-off and Biggest Loser leading off their nights for two hours. And I agree that the only reason Playboy Club even got to the pilot stage was the fascination with Mad Men (and Women). But as you said, they have to start somewhere to turn the Titanic around.
Yeah, I am really surprised they are putting so much faith into “The Sing Off.” I enjoyed watching it around the holidays when there were fewer new shows on, but it is not something with longevity for months and months IMO. Much better as a small run each year.
As soon as Chuck is over, I’m done with NBC.
Me too.
I’m Glad Harry’s Law is on a date and time I can watch it now
See now I think the real problem with Whitney and the other shows blending together is the fact that Whitney is actually funny and the other shows aren’t.
I have no idea who Whitney Cummings is or if she’s funny but I have to say I very much like the fact that it’s a “traditional” sitcom.
Whitney may have potential, but that teaser trailer showed me nothing.
Easily the worst comedy teaser I’ve seen this season. Seemed every bit as bland as “Perfect Couples,” “100 Questions,” “Better with You,” (insert name of lame romantic comedy).
Odd of you to say that considering Whitney hasn’t premiered yet. Are you clairvoyant?
Also, considering Parks and Rec and Community are the two best comedies on television and The Office still has its moments, I’d say you don’t know much about comedy.
From my post: “Whitney may have potential, but that teaser trailer showed me nothing”
I didn’t know I needed clairvoyant ability to watch a trailer that’s readily available online?
“Also, considering Parks and Rec and Community are the two best comedies on television and The Office still has its moments, I’d say you don’t know much about comedy.”
Well, no, Community’s not “the best comedy on television.” Great show, cute pop culture references, but it’s not necessarily funny. It’s a good show that happens to be listed as a sitcom.
And, where in my post did I say that any of those three wasn’t good? My point, son, was that Whitney looks more like a Perfect Couples than a GOOD comedy, like a Parks & Rec or 30 Rock.
#cmonson
Daw – chill out. Grubi’s comment was directed at Lil Jo, not you. Lil Jo said “Whitney” was funny and none of the other Thursday shows were. Grubi said that’s an odd comment considering Whitney hadn’t premiered yet.
Katie’s right Daw. My comment was directed at Lil Jo.
I don’t find Whitney Cummings or her stand up funny at all, so I have low hopes for this show. I will give it a shot for a couple of episodes though.
Sure wish that L&O (mothership) was still around. It sounds better than most everything listed here.
agree whole heartedly
Parenthood is the only good show on NBC, and Playboy Club…..Mad Men for NBC. No fresh ideas here
a praise for Parenthood.. AND a lamentation of the lack of original Ideas… You do realize that Parenthood is based on a 20 year old movie and failed on TV once already in the wake of said Movie… exactly how original is that?
parenthood can’t win against the good wife. It needs to go to a diffent night – soon
Makes me so thankful for my DVR. I don’t want to commit to which one I’d choose, they’re 2 of the best shows on TV.
Agree! The only reason I watch GW live is the suckiness that is CBS.com streaming. P’hood is a more enjoyable watch for me. (on hulu the next morning, sadly)
I watch it on Fancast (which is now xfinity or something, but fancast.com still works) and it’s better than cbs.com, although still not as good as Hulu.
CBS is moving the Good Wife to Sundays so it won’t complete with Parenthood anymore!
Or it needs a better lead in, when is NBC gonna get rid of The Biggest Loser? It is the biggest sour mark on their schedule, if they got rid of it they would have 2 hours to fill in with some creative shows.
Because the majority of ordinary people who work for a living love it, Communist homosexual ivory tower intellectual elitist snob.
and the second they Move Parenthood to protect it from GW, everyone will complain that NBC has no faith it
Justin Bieber has a teeny wee wee. Hee hee!
I’m just so relieved they are sticking by Parenthood. I think it’s one of the best-written family shows on television. It’s certainly been the only one with characters I can relate to.
This.
I agree that it’s a great show. The characters are so real. Kinda like Friday Night Lights, both from Jason Katims.
No real interest in any of the new shows, but I’m jazzed that Parenthood is coming back and that Community and P&R will bew back-to-back.
I stopped getting cable because it was so expensive and I did not find much watchable material except for Nurse Jackie, United State of Tara, True Blood and FX’s show with Timothy Olyphant and of course the occasional movie. I have decided to get a better paying job after this column. Nothing but horrible copies of other award winning shows and nothing original and of course all white casts; Pass! The show with any kind of minorities are going by the wayside. No good minorities shows. It is not on any networks except CBS which has more minorities per episode per show than any other network and this includes cable. TV is not worth much, you get what you pay for, such a true statement
ITA! The main thing all the new falls have in common is the lack of minorities. It makes me so angry every year that the networks have little to no interest in portraying anyone who isn’t white. America is possibly the most diverse nation in the world, but you wouldn’t know it from watching tv.