NBC so broke they can only make crap.

[Philosoraptor]

http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/la-fi-nbc20oct20,1,7942683.story?coll=la-headlines-entnews&ctrack=1&cset=true

NBC Universal's announcement Thursday that it will restructure to save $750 million over two years marks a retreat in prime time, the lucrative three-hour programming block from 8 to 11 p.m. that has long been the petri dish for U.S. pop culture.

ADVERTISEMENTInstead of using the 8 p.m. time slot to showcase its most popular scripted shows — such as "The Cosby Show" in the 1980s and "Friends" in the 1990s — the NBC network will fill the hour with game shows and other lower-cost fare.

As the cost of new scripted shows has soared, viewers this season have not been impressed with the new offerings. Networks have been disappointed with the results, particularly with several shows that premiered at 8 p.m.

"The audience just isn't there," Bob Wright, chairman of NBC Universal, said in an interview. "We have some of our best stuff at 8 o'clock, and it's struggling."

------------------

Howie Mandell anyone?

[Kiouni]

1. the audience has Tivo or DVR

and loves it...no more having to watch stupid primetime just because i theirs nothing else on. Now i can have my cake and eat it too!

[hfojvt]

2. they'd probably get more viewers

with Carson re-runs. I'd watch them.

Is it possible that they would make more money if they didn't spend half their advertising time advertising their own shows?

[NMMNG]

3. Meh

The only first-run show I watch (and normally the only TV I watch during the week) is Jericho. On weekends I sometimes have the TV on in the background at work--stuff like repeats of Law and Order SVU/CI, House, CSI or movies. Otherwise I'm reading or online.

[sandnsea]

4. No audience for the crap

so their solution is to put on more crap. :crazy:

[WernhamHogg]

5. I can't stand NBC

I'm not sure why, but with the exception of Law & Order: SVU ALL of the shows that I have ever really enjoyed on NBC have been treated like total shit by the network (a few examples: cancelling a show two days before the final episode or changing the time and/or date of a show so many times it's difficult for even the hard-core fans to keep track of, or heavily promoting an already very successful show while showing very few promos for shows which are less popular and could use the extra advertising, etc). Perhaps their problem is not that the "audience isn't there"...perhaps the problem is that they need to learn to stop abusing and taking for granted the audience that they do (did) have. :shrug:

[hobbit709]

6. NBC=Nothing But Crap

Of course, the other networks aren't any better
ABC=Anything But Class
CBS=Commercial BullShit
and you can call Faux whatever you want.

[annabanana]

7. I like "Earl" and "The Office"

that's about it, primetime

[acmejack]

8. General Electric Co. said Friday that third-quarter net income rose 6%

Matching forecasts, and sales increased 12% as the diversified manufacturer credited the growth to stronger industrial sales and financial-services revenue.

GE's third-quarter net income rose to $4.96 billion, or 48 cents a share, from $4.68 billion or 44 cents a share a year earlier. The company reported that it earned 49 cents a share from continuing operations after a $100 million loss for discontinued operations at its insurance businesses, some of which are being held for sale.

Earnings benefited about 1 cent to 2 cents a share from a lower tax rate and lower provisions for losses on financial receivables, according to analysts.
GE said that its revenue in the three months ended Sept. 30 rose 12%, reaching $40.86 billion from $36.37 billion.

Revenue at struggling entertainment unit NBC Universal, the smallest of GE's six divisions, rose 20% to $3.63 billion, though profit fell 10% to $542 million. NBCU is showing signs of a turnaround, with a pickup in ratings for its prime-time lineup and broadcasts of National Football League games. Still, according to GE, it projects $3 billion profit for all of 2006, flat with 2005.

http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/Story.aspx?guid=%7BE0EC0DCB-B9DF-46E1-BCAC-AFCBDB371650%7D&siteid=

[focusfan]

9. Non of the networks have anything worth watching

This is the worst new season of all.When the History channel and RFD TV get more interesting than the networks things are pitiful.

[soothsayer]

13. I second this! Just awful this year (except Weds/Thurs)

[TAPat]

10. I worked an NBC sitcom in the 90's

and I can tell you from personal experience that the *suits* just don't know quality when it bites 'em on the ass.

The show I worked was a very intelligent and beautifully shot - most excellent sound too! ;)
NBC saw fit to only air 5 episodes - they switched time/day slots every week so that NO ONE could find it - and canned it because no one was watching it...

NBC and their infinite wisdom...

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

11. Ironically, IMHO, an excellent new show, Studio 60 (on NBC) this week

aired a show about the programming head (of a fictitious major network)rejecting a slimy reality show. She believed that it was important to society to bring up the level of their shows and in doing so, would bring up the level of the public's intellect.

[soothsayer]

12. Put "Earl" and "The Office" back at 9, dumbasses, and not up

against "Survivor." Oh and btw, when you are going to change a time slot for the new season (as happened this year), ANNOUNCE THAT IN THE ADS! I missed the first episode of The Office because I had no idea they moved it from 9:30 to 8:30. Something like this "Catch the season premier of The Office at a NEW TIME!!!"

This is the WORST season of tv, imho. There are only shows worth watching on Weds and Thurs. Monday is barren except for the new adventures of old christine, and there's not a thing worth watching on Tues, so we watch the tape of The Biggest Loser, which we tape on Weds cuz it's up against Lost. ABC should move Amazing Race to Tuesdays and get it off of Sundays, where it must be languishing. Still a great show!

[peekaloo]

14. Bring back 'Scrubs'!

as for Tuesday viewings, have you seen "Boston Legal'? Funnier than most "comedies" with a loverly liberal viewpoint. The new Ted Danson show that precedes it is funny, too. The shows are carried on the evil Alphabet network.

:-)

[Tesha]

15. What's NBC?

Wasn't there a TV network once that was named NBC? I think
they used to air shows like Hill Street Blues and Saint
Elsewhere.

But I haven't heard of NBC for years now and have no idea
whatever happened to them.

Tesha

[zanne]

16. If you don't like Reality TV....

There's no reason to watch the Big Three. Their ratings are down, not because of competition, but because they don't want to invest in anything worth watching. They've had the competition of cable and satellite for decades, but they still managed to air some good television. Now it's just cheap, demoralizing Reality TV. I watch reruns on cable stations.