Nikki Finke is wondering whether BBC America's Paul Telegdy will become the peacock's chief programming guru. Writes Finke:
For months now, I've been asking my sources when is NBC going to hire a real programmer since salesman Ben Silverman isn't. So this morning Paul Telegdy suddenly and unexpectedly resigned from BBC Worldwide America. Now I'm told that NBC wants him to become EVP over both unscripted and scripted entertainment. And my sources inform that it would be Telegdy's decision whether to fire or keep NBC's current reality czar Craig Plestis who only has months left on his contract. Now get this: the negotiations call for Telegdy to be given a bigger job like NBC Entertainment President in a year or to get paid off. This could solve NBC Universal chief Jeff Zucker's primary problem right now: how not to look like he made a mistake hiring Ben Silverman and still get the programming that the network needs to start succeeding.
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As if we needed further proof that The Office will be renewed into next century. This is actually a natural fit considering not just that show but the Merlin co-production as well although that’s a BBC partnership, not BBC America, but you get the idea.
So the Merlin BBC is showing at the moment is the same one that NBC is showing during winter season?
Yep. NBC bought the rights. The show will probably be edited or time compressed from 45 minutes to 42 minutes. Although NBC will save time running the closing credits in the customary squeeze box, they’ll still need to do trimming like Sci-Fi does with Doctor Who.
Jesus. That looks absolutely awesome. I just watched the trailer on YouTube…very similar to the BBC’s Doctor Who relaunch…I think this could actually be a hit in the United States. It certainly will have its fans and the only question is whether or not they get enough viewers for the premiere, which judging by the trailer and America’s love for LOTR/Harry Potter, shouldn’t be too hard.
Over here in the Uk, Merlin is a major hit. Usually pulling between 5.5 – 6.5 million viewers (Great for the UK). The show is amazing, the guest stars are also amazing, there is Anthony Head(Buffy the vampire slayer & Little Britain) and Michelle Ryan(Bionic Woman, Jekyll & Eastenders) who thank god isn’t doing an American accent.
Great in the ratings; not in the critical reaction which lets face it has been pretty mixed; the dialogue, writing, direction and CGI are panned. But then again its aimed at a young audience, its no Doctor Who which is coming back in 2010 (why?? so long?). But i think with each episode it gets better but nothing compared to other shows like Heroes, DH and others. Though if it does good here you could be looking a high veiwerhip; as the US has like 5 times the population of the UK. But timesing it doesn’t work for shows like Heroes, so just wait and see.
What will it replace in the timeslot??? who knows if Merlin does good in the USA then NBC might buy the rights for Doctor Who.
Robert what does this mean for shows like Chuck and Heroes? Are they in trouble? Is there going to be pressure with a new programming president to can some of these shows?
Hah! when they’re like in the top 10; as entertainment president he can’t just rip out the schedule. Bringing channels up is hard; the easiest is to suddenly get a new show which attracts veiwers to the channel, then to other shows. Like NBC thought they had with Heroes (for like 2 years) but now it looks like NBC has been unlucky; whatever his plan to save the ratings for the channel is it has to be good. Moving shows around to limit damage must be his least best plan.
Frank, if it happened I don’t think you can overhaul eveyrthing all at once and the theory behind our renew or cancel index determines what gets overhauled first. I don’t think either Heroes or Chuck would be near the top of the list of things to worry about. Heroes is only in trouble relative to its past success. It would have to fall very far to be in trouble relative to the rest of the shows on the Network. Last week only The Office and the Weekend Update special did better for NBC in the demo than Heroes.
They should make a tv movie for Heroes to re-eninspire fans. I get the feeling they just can’t be bothered because of season two. Odd no-one at NBC is talking about it; trying to hide to shame of their over advertisement (they didn’t know how to handle a hit show); quite sad for Heroes. Maybe Heroes should try to move channel to like ABC next to Lost.
Yeah, Merlin is cool to watch when you don’t think very hard while watching it. Plot is pretty simplistic, at times silly (when you start to analyze it, heh), same for dialogue/acting. If you guys know new Robin Hood (it must’ve ran on BBCA at some point I’m sure), well, Merlin is pretty much the same, only they have dragon.
Definitely no DW once it’s back with new Head Writer (extras this xmas + next year excluded – Davies is still behind those), though.
But sorry for the sidetrack. Back to the topic, I hadn’t time to comment before other than ask off-topic clarifications, so… great that new head of programming for NBC is coming – hopefully in the future we will actually see something new that one could define as *good*.
Okay good. While Chuck is definitely my favorite, I think Heroes failing would bode ill for all future sci-fi programming. The networks might not even bother if they see these kinds of show tanking. I want to see more seasons out of both of them.
Fin, I’m going to paraphrase someone I can’t recall from which forum, who said that Heroes has suffered seriously bad writing just like The 4400 did back in a day. And 4400 didn’t last long. Though 4400 was on cable and at one point they just ditched it without much talk and judging by the ratings of Heroes, it might stick around for at least one season after this one, but… who knows.
Strange though that having Heroes as far as it is and comparing it retrospectively with 4400 gives a lot familiarities at least I couldn’t even think about back when Heroes had its awesome sophomore season.
More extras?? the show extras? Alde
Yeah but you have to look at Heroes in comparison to the rest of NBC’s programming; plus i think this is the worst of the bad writing turning people off. Season three wont do that; though it might. Though i agree; its my worry that this is the beginning of the end for Heroes. So annoying its such a sick show. Maybe BBC can pay for some of the Heroes budget (which i guess it does if you buy it).
Alde however Heroes is like at the top for internet network websites, so theres profit from there which i doubt there was for 4400; meaning that in my opinion they are in totally different situations. As Heroes is so much more than the 4400.
About DW? Yeah. Davies has like one extra for pretty much every holiday that’s coming up. I know there’s one for this Xmas and at least 3 divided among upcoming year. However, any actual UK resident should feel free to correct me in case I’m in correct.
Maybe extras is incorrect phrase to use. I suppose more fitting name is Special.
Yeah, I agree that no matter what Heroes is NBC’s top preformer right now. Personally, I’m still watching it and during or after each episode I’m just telling myself that “hey, it isn’t as bad as Season 2 was, be happy!”.
In strict comparison with The 4400, sure they are very much different. Heroes is shot great, CGI is well-thought out, casting is great. However, my point wasn’t about such comparison, it was mainly what I initially said – they’re both sci-fi shows that might’ve been top notch, but ended up suffering from bad writing.
I honestly think that no-one, not even the most die-hard fans can argue with that at this point. Regardless, it’s perhaps still one of the best things network TV has to offer at this point, and that, well, is pretty sad.
Yep, then tennent is leaving before series five. Annoying who could replace him. Tennent doesn’t want to get stuck in the role.
Yeah with NBC its sad; i think Heroes should revive itsself; like continue its show but also do a spin-off: which might bring new fans to both shows. Proberly do as good or better than NBC’s current shows
Plus Heroes in the 20-26 week of October Heroes was 2.3 million (27%) above the channel’s top 20 shows.