firejeffzucker.com

Knight Rider Coming Back to NBC?

I originally thought a reworking of The Bionic Woman was a bad idea. After episode one I'm pretty impressed. That doesn't mean Ben Silverman's latest move to revive Knight Rider is a good one. The skinny is the car/s in the show will "transform" to keep the show "fresh" and the exec tapped for the show worked on a certain summer blockbuster with "transforming cars." Too many sarcastic quotation marks for you?

This is fucking ridiculous. Can we not get some original ideas going on at NBC? Journeyman is Quantum Leap, The Bionic Woman is The Bionic Woman, Heroes borrows heavily from X-Men. Friday Night Lights was taken from a movie. Some of these work great don't get me wrong but others don't. What I'd like to see is something called "The Original TV Show" that doesn't rely on the past. See shows like House, Ugly Betty, Boston Legal etc.

Knight Rider? Even without the Hoff this can't be good. And if the image to the right is the car it's even worse!

NBC taps Liman for 'Knight Rider' [Variety]

American Gladiators: Are You Fucking Kidding Me?

What’s going to be Ben Silverman’s first slip up? You won’t have to go any farther than the revival of American Gladiators. I was too old to like the original when I was 14 (I was three years late for their target age). I don’t think a new 2007 version will do much for me or any other arrested adults out there. Remaking the "Bionic Woman" is one thing, especially after the success of "Heroes," this is just stupid. From the Exec behind it, Craig Plestis, exec VP of alternative programming, development and specials:
"It's truly what's not in the TV landscape right now. While everyone's zigging, I'm attracted to doing a zag."

That’s truly Zucker thinking right there. We should keep an eye on this guy, he will be shooting to the top.   

2007 Fall Schedule: A Vast Wasteland

NBC announced its fall lineup yesterday and we're just a bit stunned.

We're not surprised that "Studio 60" and "Crossing Jordan" are canned. We're surprised "Law & Order: Criminal Intent" is moving to USA, only because that's never happened before. A mini-spinoff for "Heroes" during its pre-sweeps hiatus is a good idea. "Heroes: Origins" will introduce new characters...that viewers vote on to make the regular show the next season. Oh, almost a good premise until you add the lowest common denominator, the viewer.

Right now we can easily say the WORST move of all is moving “Friday Night Lights” to Friday at, wait for it, 10 p.m. EST. Way to get a loved show canceled NBC!

As for the new shows...oh man. Let the ripping begin!

Friday Night Lights Gets Second Season

As the lead-in to next week's Broadcast upfront Week, here's some early news from NBC - the network has given the high school football drama Friday Night Lights a green light for a second season. Despite its low ratings (season-to-date average 2.3 among A18-49) the show received critical acclaim and was championed by NBC Entertainment President Kevin Reilly. It is expected NBC will order a full 22 episodes of the show which is produced by NBC Universal Television Studio and Imagine Television.

Is Studio 60 Officially Dead? Do We Pop the Champagne?

We already knew that “Studio 60” was going to take a little sabbatical while NBC debuted its next sure flop “The Black Donnellys” in its place for a few weeks, but now there are numerous stories out there that the show is over completely. Meaning we’ll never have to see Sarah Paulson’s mug again, at least not until next year’s pilot season. It’s about half a season too late in our opinion but what could NBC do until a replacement was ready? Add a super-sized “Deal or No Deal?” the problem is really going to come when “The Black Donnellys” flops. If it’s the same pilot episode it will not make it to week three.

Here are the place so far reporting that Studio 60 is canceled:

Final Curtain Call for 'Studio 60'?, ET [says it has officially been dropped]
Call it curtains for the unhappy people at Studio 60, Sun-Sentinel
Defense of 'Studio 60' becomes a moot point, Philly.com
'Studio 60' flops, no Sorkin mojo, M&C

YES! Studio 60 Pulled A Week Early

OK, it’s not what we hoped, cancellation, but NBC is pulling “Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip” a week earlier than planned for The Black Donnellys. Now, “The Black Donnellys” has to be the worst pilot I’ve ever seen, so that’s lame, but the fact that the swap came a week early could allude to “Studio 60” not getting renewed for 2007/2008. The news comes after dismal ratings of 2.8 among 18-39 year olds this week.

“The Black Donnellys” will air March 5 in “Studio 60’s” normal slot

Battlestar Gallactica Back for Fourth Season

That TV gossip monger Michael Ausiello says "Battlestar Gallactica" got a 13-episode order for a fourth season. That's tremendous news, and if I thought Jeff Zucker in his new role had anything to do with it I'd give him credit. Two positive moves in two days (this and Tiki), maybe NBC Universal isn't in as much trouble as we thought…

Thanks to Joost for the tip!

Why Studio 60 Should Die. Part II

It shouldn't have come to this. I already wrote that "Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip" should be canned way back in November. Now, I am vindicated. Besides one lone commenter here I have Monday's show to back me up. It was so bad that over dinner last night The Other Half simply said "I am so done with this show." It was actually pissing her off to watch it on the DVR.

I couldn't argue. There are a few major reasons why the show simply isn't working.

1. Harriet Hayes: Sarah Paulson might be a good actor but she's not showing it on this show. Building the entire love interest arc around her and Amanda Peet is a gigantic mistake. These are two of the coldest fish in Hollywood. Paulson gets so annoying at times on the screen you wonder whys he even has a job let alone two men chasing her. Plus, Harriet isn't funny nor would anyone want to see her in Maxim.
2. Jordan McDeere: Amanda Peet completes the duo of coldness but plays her role as a high-powered TV exec with the air of idiocy. Digging in her heels over stupid tabloid rumors and basically spiraling out of the good graces of the network that just hired her seems like brilliant exec material to me. Plus, no one would write tabloid material about a TV exec anyway.
3. The Show Isn't Funny. The Show isn't Dramatic. It just is. Sorkin can't balance the drama and humor like a "Desperate Housewives" or even better, "Boston Legal." He just thinks if everyone chatters on enough it'll work itself out. THREE episodes around this dinner? Part 1 of 3 popping up on my onscreen guide signaled the end of our Studio 60 watching.
4. The Show Is Unrealistic: I understand I'm watching TV but I feel like I'm more of an insider watching 30 Rock than I am this show. I have no idea how they make SNL work, and honestly I don't care as long as they bring the funny. This show doesn't make behind the scenes life interesting at all. What's going on in Hollywood right now? Teen actresses partying and crashing cars. That seems like a better plotline than a lead actress having moral quandaries.
5. It's just bad: It's not even worth the blog ink to overstate how bad this show is. This gets renewed and we're still waiting on "Friday Night Lights," a very high quality drama, to get picked up for '08? Please. NBC get your head out of your own self indulgence. If this show wasn't about making TV look like some magical business it wouldn't be on the air.

Friday Night Lights: Homecoming Review, Moving to Sundays?

Before I get into the straight review it looks like "Friday Night Lights" may move to Sunday in January as part of the network wide “Look out! American Idol is coming!” plan. This will work fine since Sunday Night Football is over and I think those fans of teams not in the playoffs wouldn’t mind rooting for the fictional Panthers.

Now on to last night. The episode was OK but the entire smash storyline was so clichéd it wasn’t even funny. A scout’s in attendance and he messes up every snap. The only thing I should have expected was Riggs’ big night and getting the game ball after sobering up. Was there any reason for him to sober up? I mean besides his situation with Lila did I miss something last night where he had an epiphany or something or was it just a gradual understanding the episode didn’t show?

No Pity for Studio 60

An excerpt from Whitney Matheson’s (PopCandy) podcast with the folks behind TelevisionWithoutPity.com reveals that "Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip" is the one show they think should be canceled. It seems we’re not alone in our loathing for the show and we agree with these two pundits on every point. Yes, we’ll still watch but last night’s episode is on DVR hold. Perhaps we’ll watch tonight after “Friday Night Lights.”