NBC's press tour schedule has critics talking

It's not often a network's TCA lineup has the critics buzzing, but they sure are about NBC's Thursday plans, even before the panels get under way.

Take the content below with a few salt grains. NBC is the most dramatic network soap opera going right now, so there's a tendency for critics to ascribe a motivation to every decision that corresponds with the company’s media narrative (which is a wordy way of saying that NBC’s decisions tend to be second-guessed as being made due to fear, error or expense).

First, NBC starts its program at 2 p.m. instead of in the morning. This has critics suspicious that the cost-cutting broadcaster is trying to avoid buying them lunch -- like a date that goes to the restroom when the restaurant check arrives. This is not remotely important, but it’s amusing to hear the critics darkly speculating about it.

Second, the executive session has newly hired alternative department head Paul Telegdy and newly transplanted-from-London scripted head Angela Bromstad in the hot seats. Not, as has been the case at recent TCA tours, co-chairs Ben Silverman and Marc Graboff.

The suspicion is that Silverman and Graboff are dispatching their new hires as human shields to avoid the critics’ wrath.

NBC's reply would be that other broadcasters have their entertainment presidents answer the Q&A during executive sessions. So why shouldn't NBC feature execs of a similar level?

The counter-argument is that Silverman and Graboff were on stage in the past, their titles haven't changed since, and they’re the ones calling the shots.

More to the point, the newcomers are not responsible for NBC's fall season, for the game-changing decision to put Jay Leno at 10 p.m. or NBC’s current and upcoming midseason lineup. In short: They can't really speak to most of the questions critics want to ask. Silverman and Graboff will be in the ballroom, and making themselves accessible for being cornered with tape recorders. But, let’s face it. If NBC had a successful fall season, the co-chairs would be on stage. “They're sending Paul and Angela to the wolves,” says one competitor.

Finally, there's NBC's TCA series lineup.

The critics are very interested in “Heroes,” but it’s not being presented. NBC wants to reboot this show, it needs good press. Not having the show here is perhaps wise, though. Critics writing about “Heroes” before the show has actually improved might hurt more than help. 

But how about “30 Rock”? It's also not being paneled. Tina Fey made more headlines and won more awards than any NBC talent this season. There could be reasons, logistical and otherwise, for not having her here. But Fey would have provided an easy, positive, victory lap.

But how about "Kings”? NBC's new scripted drama about to debut. NBC would point out that “Kings” was paneled at July’s press tour. But it’s not the critics’ fault the network showcased a show in July that didn’t end up premiering until February.

There are some exciting panels on NBC’s schedule today: MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow? Absolutely. Conan O’Brien? Hell yes. Jimmy Fallon? Sure. Untitled Amy Poehler? Yay. And it’s worth pointing out CBS only paneled one show -- “Harper’s Island” -- but, then again, they only needed to do one; and CW didn’t panel any, but also didn’t have anything promising and new to panel.

Aside from Poehler, on the scripted side there’s ... TV movie “The Last Templar”? And “John Wells' L.A. Police Project,” a show whose deal just closed about 20 seconds ago and whose name changes faster than I can update my blog posts. (The show’s latest title: “Southland,” which is one of those names like “the CW” that sound fine in West L.A. but you go anywhere else in the country and it sounds like it means something else -- in this case, the south ... land. At least former titles “LAPD” and “Police,” which were, yes, not good, but they told you what the show was about).

Not wanting reporters to write downer headlines, expect a flurry of "look something shiny" announcements from the network today ...

(Reuters photo)

UPDATE: Like these.... NBC press releases below:

 NBC GIVES NEW SEASON PICKUPS TO POPULAR SERIES ‘THE OFFICE,’ ‘30 ROCK’ AND “THE BIGGEST LOSER’ FOR 2009-2010


        UNIVERSAL CITY, CALIF. – January 15, 2009 – NBC has renewed the popular series "The Office," "30 Rock" and "The Biggest Loser" each for an additional year through the 2009-2010 season, it was announced today by Angela Bromstad, President, Primetime Entertainment, NBC and Universal Media Studios, and Paul Telegdy, Executive Vice President, Alternative Programming, NBC and Universal Media Studios.

"These renewals represent our faith in 'The Office' and '30 Rock' as they continue to represent the gold standard in acclaimed and award-winning series," said Bromstad.  "We want the devoted fans of these series to know that we are thrilled that these quality programs will be back with the same high-caliber episodes that viewers have come to expect."

"'The Biggest Loser' is a positive, life-enhancing show that has resonated with our audience and has created a solid and loyal fan base," said Telegdy.  "This inspirational franchise series will continue with fresh ideas and heartwarming stories."

"The Office" is the season's #1 comedy in adults 18-34 and is tied for the #2 ranking overall, according to "most current" averages from Nielsen Media Research through the season's opening 16 weeks.  The acclaimed fifth-season comedy also has the most upscale audience for a primetime series on any broadcast networks in terms of its concentration of adults 18-49 living in homes with $100,000-plus incomes.  "The Office" is averaging a 4.9 rating, 12 share among adults 18-49, a 5.8/15 among adults 18-34 and 9.4 million viewers overall. .

Recent multi-Golden Globe-winner "30 Rock" is enjoying its best ratings season yet, having delivered its four highest-rated telecasts ever in adults 18-49 since returning to the NBC Thursday night lineup October 30.  Versus last season, "30 Rock" is up 26 percent in adults 18-49 and 20 percent in total viewers, averaging a 3.9 rating, 9 share in adults 18-49 and 7.9 million viewers overall through the first 16 weeks of the season.  "30 Rock" is tied for #20 in adults 18-49 and is #9 in adults 18-34 so far this season.

"The Biggest Loser's" seventh season launched on January 6 with the strongest results ever for a "Biggest Loser" premiere with a 4.5 rating, 11 share in adults 18-49 and 11.9 million viewers overall.  Last Fall's "Biggest Loser" delivered year-to-year gains of 3 percent in adults 18-49 and 6 percent in total viewers and culminated in a finale 4.6 rating, 12 share in adults 18-49, 11.8 million viewers overall on December 16.

"The Office" is a hilarious documentary-style look into the humorous and sometimes poignant foolishness that plagues the world of 9-to-5 based on the award-winning BBC hit.  Since its premiere on NBC in March 2005, "The Office" has established itself as a genuine hit, earning prestigious television honors such as the 2006 Emmy Award for Outstanding Comedy Series, 2006 Peabody Award, 2006 AFI Honor in 2006 and 2009, Producers Guild Award, Writers Guild Award, SAG Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy, Ace Eddie Award for editing and a Television Critic's Association Award for Outstanding Achievement in Comedy.

Golden Globe winner and Emmy nominee Steve Carell stars as regional manager Michael Scott, a single, middle-aged man who is the boastful tour guide for the documentary.  Jenna Fischer, John Krasinski, Rainn Wilson, and B.J. Novak are among the talented ensemble cast.  "The Office" is from Deedle-Dee Productions, Reveille and Universal Media Studios, and is executive-produced by Ben Silverman, Greg Daniels, who developed the series for American audiences, Ricky Gervais, Stephen Merchant, Howard Klein and Paul Lieberstein and Jennifer Celotta.

"30 Rock" is told through the comedic voice of Emmy, Golden Globe and SAG winner Tina Fey and features fellow Emmy, Golden Globe and SAG winner Alec Baldwin as a top network executive and Tracy Morgan as the unpredictable star of Lemon's hit variety show, "TGS with Tracy Jordan."  Also rounding out the cast are Jane Krakowski, Scott Adsit, Jack McBrayer, Judah Friedlander, Katrina Bowden and Keith Powell.  The series won honored with an Emmy as Outstanding Comedy Series in 2007 and 2008.  "30 Rock" also was hailed by Entertainment Weekly as "simply the best TV."

"30 Rock" is from Broadway Video & Little Stranger, Inc. in association with Universal Media Studios. The executive producers are Lorne Michaels ("Saturday Night Live"), Fey, Marci Klein ("Saturday Night Live"), David Miner ("Human Giant") and Robert Carlock ("Friends").

"The Biggest Loser" is the popular weight-loss competition series where contestants come together hoping to transform their bodies, their health, and ultimately, their lives. They'll shed pounds in a safe and recommended manner through comprehensive diet and exercise as they compete for a grand prize of $250,000.  "The Biggest Loser" has become a worldwide hit airing in over 90 countries and produced in 25 countries.

and
        NBC UNVEILS SPRING PROGRAMMING ANNOUNCEMENTS THAT INCLUDE NEW JOHN WELLS POLICE DRAMA ‘SOUTHLAND’ AND PREMIERE DATES FOR NEW ‘UNTITLED DANIELS/SCHUR/POEHLER SERIES’ AND COOKING COMPETITION SERIES ‘THE CHOPPING BLOCK’

New Drama "Kings" Re-set for Two-hour Premiere on Sundays Beginning March 15

NBC Also Orders Three Additional Episodes for Final Season of "ER" –
Moving Two-hour Series Finale to April 2


UNIVERSAL CITY, CALIF. -- January 15, 2009 -- NBC unveiled new spring programming announcements today that include the new John Wells drama "Southland" that will debut on Thursday, April 9 (10-11 p.m. ET) as well as premiere dates for "The Untitled Daniels/Schur/Poehler Series" (working title; Thursday, April 9, 8:30-9 p.m. ET) -- starring Amy Poehler -- and the new cooking competition series "The Chopping Block" (Wednesday, March 11, 8-9 p.m. ET).

In addition, the new drama "Kings" is re-set for Sundays with a two-hour premiere on March 15 (8-10 p.m. ET).  Likewise, NBC has added three more episodes of "ER" moving the long-running acclaimed series' two-hour finale to Thursday, April 2 (9-11 p.m. ET) after a one-hour retrospective (8-9 p.m. ET).

These and other announcements were made today by Angela Bromstad, President, Primetime Entertainment, NBC and Universal Media Studios.

"We are excited to continue our productive creative relationship with John Wells and his team on this promising new project," said Bromstad.  "We think 'Southland' is a gripping, well-executed drama with strong commercial appeal. And we're also making schedule changes that will strengthen the premieres of our new series 'Kings' and 'The Chopping Block.'"

From Emmy Award winners John Wells, Ann Biderman and Chris Chulack comes a raw and authentic look at the police unit in Los Angeles.  From the beaches of Malibu to the streets of East Los Angeles, "Southland" is a fast-moving drama that will take viewers inside the lives of cops, criminals, victims and their families.

Michael Cudlitz ("A River Runs Through It") plays John Cooper a seasoned Los Angeles cop assigned to train young rookie Ben Sherman (Benjamin McKenzie, "The O.C.").  Cooper's honest, no-nonsense approach to the job leaves Sherman questioning whether or not he has what it takes to become a police officer.

Cudlitz and McKenzie are joined by other cast members including Regina King ("Ray," "Jerry Maguire") who plays Detective Lydia Adams.  Adams lives with and is the primary caregiver of her mother.  Her partner, Detective Russell Clarke (Tom Everett Scott, "Boiler Room") is an unhappily married father of three.  Michael McGrady ("The Thin Red Line") plays Detective Daniel "Sal" Salinger.  Sal oversees fellow gang detectives Nate Moretta (Kevin Alejandro, "Drive," "Ugly Betty") and Sammy Bryant (Shawn Hatosy, "Alpha Dog").  Arija Bareikis ("Crossing Jordan") plays as patrol officer Chickie Brown, a single mom who dreams of being the first woman accepted into SWAT.

"Southland" is a John Wells Production in association with Warner Bros. Television.  Wells, Chulack and Biderman serve as executive producers.  Biderman is the creator and Chulack will also serve as director of the series.

"The Untitled Daniels/Schur/Poehler Series" (working title) -- from Emmy Award-winning executive producers Greg Daniels (NBC's "The Office," "King of the Hill") and Michael Schur ("The Office, "Saturday Night Live") -- is a new mockumentary that looks at the exciting world of local government.  The documentary cameras follow Leslie Knope (Amy Poehler, NBC's "Saturday Night Live," "Baby Mama"), a mid-level bureaucrat in the Parks and Recreation Department of Pawnee, Indiana.  In an attempt to beautify her town -- and advance her career -- Leslie takes on what should be a fairly simple project: help local nurse Ann Logan (Rashida Jones, "The Office") take on defensive bureaucrats, selfish neighbors, real estate developers, and single-issue fanatics -- whose weapons are lawsuits, the jumble of city codes, and the very democratic process that Leslie loves so much. Aziz Ansari and Aubrey Plaza also star.

"The Untitled Daniels/Schur/Poehler Series" is a production of Deedle-Dee Productions and Universal Media Studios.  Along with Daniels and Schur, Howard Klein also serves as executive producer for the series.

"The Chopping Block" will feature celebrated chef and restaurateur Marco Pierre White (UK's "Hell's Kitchen") in a new original cooking competition series in which the British Michelin star chef gives neophyte hopeful chefs/restaurateurs working in couples the opportunity to compete in America's greatest restaurant challenge.  The series will expose the unseen pitfalls and behind-the-scenes madness that goes into opening a restaurant in the most competitive city in the world -- with the help of a grand prize of $250,000.  The series is produced by Granada America.  The executive producers are David Barbour and Julian Cress.
 
"Kings" is a riveting new drama from executive producer Michael Green (NBC's "Heroes") about a modern-day monarchy.  The series is an epic story of greed and power, war and romance, forbidden loves and secret alliances -- and a young hero who rises to power in a modern-day kingdom.  "Kings" stars Ian McShane (Golden Globe-winner, "Deadwood"), Chris Egan, Sebastian Stan, Susanna Thompson, Allison Miller, Wes Studi, Eamonn Walker and Dylan Baker.

"Kings" is produced by Universal Media Studios and is executive-produced by Green, Erwin Stoff ("I Am Legend") and Francis Lawrence ("I Am Legend"), who also directed the two-hour premier....

    UNIVERSAL MEDIA STUDIOS SIGNS FIRST-LOOK DEAL WITH ACTOR-PRODUCER-DIRECTOR DON CHEADLE AND HIS CRESCENDO PRODUCTIONS SHINGLE


        UNIVERSAL CITY, CALIF. -- January 15, 2009 - Universal Media Studios has signed Academy Award-nominated actor-producer-director Don Cheadle ("Hotel Rwanda," "Traitor") and his company, Crescendo Productions, which he runs with producing partners Kay Liberman and Lenore Zerman, to a two-year, first-look television development deal.

The pact – aimed at creating a variety of different television series projects -- was announced at NBC's January Press Tour today by Angela Bromstad, President, Primetime Entertainment, NBC and Universal Media Studios.

"Don Cheadle is such a smart and dynamic presence both on the screen and behind the scenes," said Bromstad.  "We are happy to be in business with Don and his team, and are already at work discussing ideas that will bring Don's strong and creative voice to our primetime schedule."

"I look forward to our partnership with NBC." said Don Cheadle. "We have a unique opportunity to make some compelling television and are very excited to get up and running."

Crescendo Productions develops and produces feature films geared to both mainstream and the independent film audiences.   The company was founded in 2005 by Cheadle and is run by Cheadle, Kay Liberman and Lenore Zerman.  Crescendo recently signed a two-year, first-look deal with Overture Films.  The company has produced "Traitor," an Overture Films release; "Darfur Now," a documentary featuring the stories of six people trying to bring positive change in Sudan's Darfur region, and is currently developing a feature film about prolific musician Miles Davis.  Cheadle was also a producer of the Academy Award-winning feature "Crash" and is an executive producer of Lionsgate's "Crash" television series.

Few artists command such respect and admiration as Don Cheadle, as evidenced by his extraordinary talent as an acclaimed movie actor and his commitment to humanitarian efforts across the globe. His tireless efforts to stop the humanitarian crisis in Sudan's Darfuir region have been recognized by numerous organizations which have honored him with various awards including the BAFTA/LA Humanitarian Award and the BET Humanitarian Award of the year.

His inspiring career boasts roles from either spectrum of the film industry, from hilarious comedic performances in the "Ocean's Eleven" series to his poignant, dramatic roles in the Academy Award-winning film "Crash" and Academy Award-nominated "Hotel Rwanda" (which also earned him his Academy Award nomination for Best Actor).  Cheadle has more than proved he is a versatile force in Hollywood. 

In addition to his acclaimed acting career, Cheadle has served as producer/executive producer on several of his projects including "Traitor," "Darfur Now," "Talk to Me," "Crash," and the upcoming "Fritz Pollard," which is currently in development, and "Marching Powder," being produced with Plan B Entertainment.

Cheadle currently has numerous upcoming films including "Brooklyn's Finest" with Richard Gere, Ethan Hawke, and Wesley Snipes; DreamWorks' "Hotel for Dogs" with Lisa Kudrow and Emma Roberts; and two upcoming Paramount Pictures films, "Iron Man 2"  and "The Avengers." both with Robert Downey Jr.

Among his other feature film credits: "Ocean's Eleven/Twelve/Thirteen", "Swordfish" "The Family Man" and "Boogie Nights," among many others.

His television credits include HBO's TV movies "A Lesson Before Dying," which earned him a Primetime Emmy, and "The Rat Pack," for which he won a Golden Globe and was nominated for an Emmy.  Cheadle also made several appearances on "The Bernie Mac Show," "ER," and was a series regular on "Picket Fences."

Comments

[cheryl]

kings is great cant wait for more!!!!!!!!!!!!!!