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Lots of network news: TCA Press Tour recap
NBC’s Jay Leno/Conan O’Brien feud dominated much of the Television Critics Association’s Winter Tour, an annual event in which networks and television writers meet in Pasadena and justify each others’ livelihoods.
The Peacock network declared Leno’s unsuccessful 5-nights-a-week prime time experiment a failure, abandoning its early posture that they were maintaining a “52-week strategy” and would give the affable but average host time to develop an audience. Admitting that the drumbeat from local NBC affiliates — whose late-night newscasts were suffering due to Leno’s weak lead-in — was becoming too loud and insistent, the network announced that it was brokering a deal to return Leno to his 10:35 p.m. CT slot and kick Conan O’Brien’s “Tonight Show” to an 11:05 p.m. CT start.
Perhaps NBC should have tried to obtain some buy-in from O’Brien before making the announcement. He declined the network’s proposal and the whole shebang remains in limbo.
What’s not in limbo is the future of “The Jay Leno Show.” It’s last airing is set for Feb. 11, which left NBC scrambling for post-Olympics programming (perhaps seeing the writing on the wall, the network green-lighted an unusually large number of new pilots for next Fall).
At least 8 new shows are in development, including product from David E. Kelly, Jerry Bruckheimer and J. J. Abrams; and brace yourselves — we’re going to see a “Rockford Files” remake. Also look for “Law & Order: Los Angeles.”
In other NBC news, Leno’s prime time failure means that on-the-bubble dramas “Trauma” and “Mercy,” and the spy-action-comedy “Chuck” have much better chances of renewal than they normally would, but their numbers are going to have to come up.
Here are TCA highlights from the other networks:
FOX
Fans of “Glee” were thrilled to hear that the show has already been renewed for a sophomore season. And several new cast members will be added through an online reality competition of sorts. Details on how to audition (online entries are welcome) can be found on the Fox Web site.
Star Kiefer Sutherland and executive producer Howard Gordon both said they’re on board for yet another season of “24.” No decision has been made, but both said they’d keep doing the show as long as Fox would let them.
Simon Cowell announced that he will leave “American Idol” after this season to produce and appear as a judge on the competitive talent show “The X Factor.” There were sly suggestions that ex-“Idol” judge Paula Abdul might appear on the new show with Cowell, but at this point that’s just a wild rumor. Buried by this announcement was news that David Hasselhoff is abandoning his own judging post on “America’s Got Talent,” to be replaced by “Deal or No Deal’s” Howie Mandel.
“The Simpsons” will continue to air for at least two more years, and the network remains committed to ratings-challenged “Fringe,” at least for now.
The debut of the game show “Our Little Genius” was moved back because of concerns that the manner in which contestants were informed of topics might make the show appear to be “rigged.”
ABC
Not much news from ABC. Much of their news was the lack of news about the final season of “Lost.” Suprise, surprise … show runners Carlton Cuse and Damon Lindelof remained predictably tight-lipped. A few tid-bits they did reveal: Cynthia Watros (Libby) and Harold Perrineau (Michael) will return in the final season. A collective squee was heard across the blogosphere in anticipation of Libby-Hurley romance and Libby-Desmond backstory resolution. Cuse and Lindelof have indicated that the finale won’t answer all of fans’ questions, and while ABC owns and could continue to milk the franchise in a number of ways, as far as the pair are concerned, at the conclusion of this season, the story of this particular group of characters is over.
Finally, the network renewed its Wednesday night comedy block of “The Middle,” (yay!) “Modern Family” (big, big yay!) and “Cougar Town” (boo) for second seasons.
CBS
“The Late Show” host David Letterman, who has been having a great time this week needling NBC (who chose Jay Leno over him to replace Johnny Carson years ago) remains in contract talks with his network, but will remain on until at least “deep into 2012.”
“Three Rivers,” in spite of having saved at least 8 lives (CBS got letters from people who received successful transplants due to the increased awareness created by the show) couldn’t save itself and has been canceled.
Network entertainment president Nina Tassler said that Charlie Sheen’s domestic problems (the actor has been charged with second-degree assault, menacing and criminal mischief) won’t affect the “Two and a Half Men” cash cow.
New drama “Miami Medical” replaces “Num3ers” on Fridays, but “Num3ers” might be back next season. CBS finds itself in the unusual position of having too many popular shows for its available slots.
The new reality series “Undercover Boss,” in which Fortune 500 bigwigs don disguises and infiltrate their own companies’ front lines, gets a rare new-series post-Superbowl premiere on Sunday, Feb. 7.
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