OCD Late Edition: NBC’s Slow Death

November 13th, 2008

Here’s a late update.  Anybody want to bet on when Ben Silverman, programming czar at NBC, gets the axe?  Heroes is in the crapper, Chuck isn’t far behind, My Own Worst Enemy & Lipstick Jungle are both canceled, and Knight Rider & Kath and Kim suck.  Here’s the quote that sums it all up:

This year none of the network’s new shows are averaging more than a 2.6 rating. The network had already extended full-season orders to “Knight Rider,” which slipped to a series-low 1.6 last week, and “Kath & Kim,” which has fallen in nearly every outing.

That’s from an article on MediaLife.  The article also mentions the fact that the Heroes lead-out slot (previously occupied by Studio 60, Black Donnellys, and Journeyman among others) never gets any traction.  I think the problem is that Heroes is really a cable show (at least where they’ve taken it) on a network.  It probably belongs on Sci-Fi, which Universal also owns.  The ratings may be eroding, but I think they can keep a core audience.  If Monday Night Football can succeed on ESPN, Heroes could probably kill on Sci-Fi.  Although, Heroes has a massive budget ($4 mn per episode) that probably wouldn’t work on Sci-Fi.  Good thing it isn’t my job to fix this mess.

• Along with My Own Worst Enemy, Lipstick Jungle also gets axed.  Can you hear them calling for Ben Silverman’s head yet?
• LeBron can’t feel own face, dunks from free throw line.
• Love handles will kill you.
• Comedy Central to produce “Evan and Gareth Are Trying to Get Laid” pilot.  It’s about two guys that run an online advice site.  Entertaining?  Probably not.
• Stan Lee to produce gay superhero TV show.  Seems like a little much.
• ESPN’s bid to put BCS bowl games on cable could dramatically alter identity of ABC.
• Jake Plummer moves on from the NFL… to handball.
• Mark Begich leads Ted Stevens by THREE (3) votes to be one of Alaska’s senators.
• NYT’s Sorkin praises Paulson for new TARP direction.  WaPo says bailout lacks oversight.
• What’s it like being Paris Hilton?  Still want to be famous?
  
• Another celeb-driven animated movie is coming… this time with Steve Carell, Jason Segel, Kristen Wiig, etc.
• Former web series Sanctuary gets renewed for 2009 after the channel’s most-watched premiere since 2006
  
• FOX and NBC team up for local news coverage starting in Philly.
  
• Colt McCoy is rooting for Oklahoma.  OCD is as well.
  
• Web-version of Office will work on Linux, iPhone.

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Categories: OCD Late Edition | Tags: abc, bcs bowls, ben silverman, colt mccoy, despicable, espn, fox, gay super hero, jake plummer, lebron, love handles, nbc, paris hilton, sanctuary, stan lee, ted stevens