In an interview with The Wrap that was largely focused on the cancellation of Southland, NBC Universal Television Entertainment Chairman Jeff Gaspin indicated NBC was shifting away somewhat from the philosophy of managing for the margins. Gaspin cited recent deals with J.J. Abrams and Jerry Bruckheimer as proof that everything wasn't about the bottom line.
But when it came to Southland it seems the worry wasn't that Southland cost more, it was that Southland would have lower ratings than (the much, much cheaper) Dateline NBC:
The executive says that all signs pointed to "Southland" doing worse in the Friday timeslot than "Dateline."
"We would likely take a hit in the ratings, and that was something I didn't want to see happen," he said, particularly with so many other weak spots in the NBC lineup.
Gaspin saw a scenario in which NBC spent a lot of time and money to relaunch "Southland," only to be forced to pull the show a few weeks after its return.
"The whole team debated this. It was a very hard decision for us," Gaspin added. "But in the end, the idea of putting something on in order to pull it off a couple weeks later- - I just didn't want to see that happen. I just couldn't do it."
At first, NBC considered holding back "Southland" for later in the season or putting it in another, less successful timeslot. But then Gaspin and other executives began debating the overall tone of the show -- and they came to the conclusion that the series wasn't right for NBC.
"My belief is that dark and grim in general is not the tone I want to see NBC take right now in our development and in our schedule," Gaspin said. "It doesn't mean it can't be intense. It doesn't mean it can't be dramatic. But dark and grim and real, I think, is not what the audience for broadcast television is looking for right now.
"The way we need to rebuild NBC is with broad, somewhat blue-sky, somewhat more optimistic programming. And unfortunately a show like 'Southland' didn't fit that bill.
Gaspin also noted that the network was in a rebuilding process, and sometimes during a rebuilding you have to tear things down so you could build them back up. Gaspin also said he wasn't about making bold proclamations and wanted to fly under the radar a bit, and while he'd answer direct questions about specific decisions he didn't want to program the network in a public forum.
Gaspin must love Chuck based upon what types of shows he is looking for.
hmmm how is Persons Unknown blue-sky and optimistic ?
CHUCK ftw
Ugh, just makes me hate them even more. Good luck with your happy blue sky and rainbows NBC, I’ll be busy watching fringe, lost, flashforward, the mentalist and any other show that’s not on your pathetic excuse for a network.
So I posted something speculative on here that Jeff Gaspin now confirms as correct and one of this blog’s ever-increasing number of brain-dead posters called me a fake insider because of it. kell, congrats for being as dead to me as “Southland” is to NBC.
So, it was too gritty after all.
J.R., my favorite series of the decade is probably HBO’s “The Wire”. It was gritty, and real, and…one of HBO’s lower rated series. If NBC believed Southland could pull good ratings, I don’t think it would’ve mattered how gritty it was.
Of course if they’d have thought it could pull decent ratings it wouldn’t have been scheduled for Friday night in the first place.
Again, if it would’ve been gritty and real but a good lead-in for Jay Leno, how gritty it was wouldn’t have mattered. This is about Dateline being cheaper, the fear Dateline would get better ratings, and as a result, be a better lead-in for Jay Leno.
Wow. Yeah grim, dark and real don’t work for NBC. I remember that show “ER” was known for being grim, dark and real when it first started. Does anyone remember how that did for NBC?
I’m not saying Southland would be another ER that’s far from the case. But I think realism is what television is missing these days. I feel like back in the day dramas strived to be realistic and nowadays dramas strive to be pretty, flashy, fast, and work not to step over the line. If I were a writer in today’s television climate the last place I’d go would be NBC.
Yes RiffRaff,
I don’t remember you calling Gaspin a liar but oK.
southland doesnt really have that mainstream cop-show appeal and approach and yes i kinda agree, southland will suffer in 9pm especially on friday’s timeslot
and yeah i just read the full article, here’s a qoute
“Our development dollars have not changed one bit from five years ago, even though we have many LESS HOURS to develop for”
i think nbc doesnt really need to add THE JAY LENO SHOW in the first place, they got to let him go, give him like a daytime show after the today show or something
i think nbc can still pull through the ratings if they make the right decisions and pick up some shows that critics and viewers will raving for
Robert, the two are the same. Gaspin is right: “dark and grim and real, I think, is not what the audience for broadcast television is looking for” … especially when cable does it much better without the regulations. Gritty gets mediocre ratings.
their biggest show right now is the office. that show is bleaker than ingmar bergman drowning a puppy.
J.R., I think if we did a post “Can Gritty Shows Get Good Ratings” you’d be surprised at how divided people are on the topic. I see that as a separate issue from NBC in general.
I think it’s easier for a “gritty” show to succeed on cable due to looser regulations, but it’s no guarantee. Dark Blue was gritty. But many people did not find it to be “good”.
NBC could have tested the series. It would have aired fridays, so NBC should expect low numbers. With Southland axed NBC is 0 for 8 from last season. The last time NBC didnt renew any dramas was at the end of 05-06 season. And the only reason NBC is worried about money is because none of their shows perform that well anyway. The only exceptions are th reality/competition series Biggest Loser and Celebrity Apprentice and scripted SVU and The Office.
Robert, one thing is for sure: gritty show Southland didn’t get good ratins. You misspelled canceled.
Could Southland be any darker or grittier than Third Watch that ran for six seasons on NBC. I recall the “Fort Apache” assault on the precinct
station as one of the most brutal episodes of any show.
……….. And don’t forget Gaspin helped create Dateline so we can assume he wants to keep his friends working. It is also doing OK in that slot. But 4 weeks ago nothing was doing well on Fri. night. On any network. We actually will never know.
K
Who is he to say that is not what people want right now? I am disgusted how often smart, new, and different tv is outcasted because it is “not what people want” yet many of my colleagues and friends wont miss an episode. Disgusting.
Actually, cancelled can be spelled with one or two “l”. I prefer cancelled