Some of our commenters were very prescient in their predictions for such a move.
The order for NBC's midseason drama series "Day One" has been reduced to the two-hour pilot plus two episodes.
The show, chronicling life on Earth after a global catastrophe, now will air as a four-hour miniseries following NBC's coverage of the Winter Olympics.
NBC's scripted chief Angela Bromstad repeatedly has said that the network brass was envisioning "Day One" as "a big event."
After examining the promo budget associated with launching a 13-episode midseason series, NBC executives opted to run the drama as a miniseries, with creator Jesse Alexander said to be on board with the decision.
Wow… this sucks… One of the only promising show on NBC cut to a 4 hour miniseries… They’re really throwing the towel all together.
At least there is one good news for NBC, it seems like they are close to securing a new drama. (CBS FOX and NBC are fighting for it) A new J.J Abrams spy show. I heard it could be paired with Chuck… let’s see what happens.
NBC apparently won the J.J. Abrams script.
http://www.tvguide.com/News/NBC-Abrams-Series-1010411.aspx
I thought the Day One promo looked awesome. I guess a 4-hour miniseries is better than nothing.
I wonder if it would have been cheaper for NBC to have just outbid BBC America for the broadcast rights to the BBC UK remake of Survivors, which is basically Day One set in England!
Season 1 of Survivors (6 episodes) aired in the UK last fall. I watched them online, and they were great. Season 2 airs this fall in the UK, and all 12 episodes are supposedly airing on BBC America in “winter 2009/2010″ (BBCA delays some shows and permanently postpones others so frequently that you might just want to find the series online — you won’t be disappointed).
The first NBC show i was acually looking forward to in a long time.
Looks like NBC learned their lesson from “Kings”…..
Hmm, a bit of Abrams overload. I will say that the second year of Alias is one of the finest TV years ever. Too bad that afterward so many episodes were mediocre.
How poor exactly are they? They’ve already cut 10 o’clock shows for Leno. Maybe they don’t expect big things so aren’t willing to risk money. But it’d be ironic if this was the only drama this season that they got good ratings for…
NBC executives opted to run the drama as a miniseries, with creator Jesse Alexander said to be on board with the decision.
I bet he is.
That’s disappointing, I was hoping that NBC might have had something good with Day One.
Hmm….well, this was the only show on NBC I was actually really looking forward to. NBC sucks…I mean, if it gets bad ratings, sure cancel it. But they’re not even giving it one episode to prove itself.
Why does everyone think a show like Day One would succeed when a similar show, Jericho had such dismal ratings?
I know they envisioned it as a short series but really NBC. Whats the point of airing it? If it somehow succeeds how will NBC bring it back? Theres no point in having a series that will only run as a miniseries (Harper’s Island).
Does anyone know if Day One will still air in Heroes slot?
Does anyone else wonder if the ratings are really good, that it will miraculously turn into a full-fledged series?
I have to admit that I was not looking forward to “Day One.” Well, in a way I was. It was going to be paired with “Chuck,” on Monday nights and I am looking forward to Season 3 of “Chuck” in March. Maybe NBC’s decision for “Day One,” is a blessing in disguise. If the “Day One” miniseries turns out well, and is a critical and audience thumbs up, NBC can reconsider it and launch the series next year. If it blows, NBC can cut their losses earlier, without embarrassing themselves any further.
Well, crap. I was really looking forward to this one, but not so much anymore.
KHL – Maybe, this article http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118009437.html?categoryid=14&cs=1 says that if the Day One mini series does well it could turn in to an actual series. This is similiar to how Battlestar Galactica and Knight Rider (2008) became series. Day One will likely be aired 2 hours in 2 days possibly March 1.
Anyway, what could be paired with Chuck?? We Have
8:00 Chuck
9:00 Persons Unknown (New Drama)
or
8:00 Chuck
9:00 Parenthood (New Drama)
Which ever one doesnt air alongside Chuck, will likely air wednesdays at 8. Should Day One’s movie do well its possible the series will replace Heroes for good in 2010.
That sucks! That was one of the only new shows I was looking forward to on NBC!
Apparently NBC doesnt want to risk putting $$$ into a series that may or may not do well, so to save money they will air it as a movie event. If viewers like it, it will likely turn into a series, if not it wont. NBC wins either way.
Thanks Dan, I figured as much.
Chuck is supposed to air after the Olympics on Monday. How can Day One be a 2 hour mini Series. That pushes Chuck back another week?
That does leave a rather large gap in the schedule for NBC. Persons Unknown on Mondays? Heroes expanded to a full season and taking 9pm for the whole year? Will be interesting to see how the schedule shakes out.
Not that I thought this had a chance in hell of making it to 10/11, but the timing is odd. Perhaps it is simply NBC removing red ink prior to ownership movements coming up soon?