from variety
NBC offers escape with new slate
Lineup heavy in fantasy, action series
By JOSEF ADALIAN
NBC's revamped 'Knight Rider' is one of several skeins for the 2008-09
sked that boasts a fantasy or action element.
With the economy going in the tank, NBC appears ready to bet that
viewers are eager for a heavy dose of escapism -- and as few repeats
as possible.
Peacock programming chief Ben Silverman will unveil Wednesday his
first schedule since taking over the network in June. While the net is
keeping a tight lid on specifics, its decision to order projects
straight to series, along with the condensed pilot season, makes it
possible to outline some broad details of NBC's strategy.
Many of the series in contention for the Peacock lineup boast a
fantasy or action element, including one show just added to NBC's
2008-09 roster: "Knight Rider," the Doug Liman-produced actioner whose
two-hour backdoor pilot snagged solid ratings in February. Project has
been given an episodic order and has been mentioned as a contender for
a Friday night timeslot.
What's more, people familiar with NBC's 2008-09 strategy said the net
is looking to produce as many hours of original programming as
possible next season. That will mean several series will share the
same timeslot in some cases.
But it's im****tant to balance any guesses about NBC's new sked with
one im****tant caveat: Even Peacock insiders say what will be revealed
this week will be written in pencil. Execs have made it clear they'll
reserve the right to make changes in order to react to competitors'
moves or if promising scripts or pilots take a wrong creative turn.
"We're selling advertisers platforms as opposed to specific shows,"
said Silverman's partner, NBC Entertainment co-chairman Marc Graboff.
He noted that nets frequently say one thing in May but then make major
changes to their skeds over the summer. What's im****tant is not that,
say, "Knight Rider" airs Fridays at 9 but that the Peacock delivers
some sort of action-drama in that timeslot.
"Advertisers don't care as much about a specific show as opposed to
'Am I getting the kinds of eyeballs I paid for?' " Graboff added.
As a result, NBC plans to guarantee advertisers tonal consistency in
timeslots.
"If we say we have a one-hour drama going into a timeslot, and it
turns out it's not up to snuff, we'll put on another one-hour drama we
have in the pipeline," he said. "What we won't do is put on a reality
show."
As for the tone of NBC's programming, Graboff said blue-sky fare makes
sense right now.
"People need to escape. Ben's programming strategy is to find some
shows where people can tune in and then mentally tune out. That's his
directive, and I think you'll see that reflected in the programs."
Graboff spoke to Daily Variety last week in an interview about the
Peacock's broader upfront strategy,before the net imposed a cone of
silence designed to protect the details of Wednesday's announcements
to advertisers and the media.
Exec said he expects to "roll out between seven and 10 new shows,"
including reality skeins. Graboff also hinted that NBC would announce
some "special events" -- i.e., miniseries or limited series designed
to further limit repeats.
In addition to the just-ordered "Knight Rider," escapist tag fits with
many other projects NBC has already said it's committed to airing this
summer and next season.
Anthology skein "Fear Itself" will air on Thursdays this summer, while
"Robinson Crusoe" is described as an "adrenaline-charged" update of
the classic tale.
Peacock also has a deal in place with a Canadian network for "The
Listener," which revolves around a telepathic paramedic.
Another project on NBC's hot list is "Kings," which just landed Ian
McShane as its star. Casting, plus the fact that NBC has ordered
backup scripts, makes the show a logical bet to end up on Silverman's
sked grids Wednesday.
Execs are also keen on "My Own Worst Enemy," a drama whose stock at
NBC soared with the casting of Christian Slater in the lead. It's a
sort of "Jekyll & Hyde" tale about a suburban man who leads a double
life as a spy.
NBC has also shot pilots for a legal drama from director Barry
Sonnenfeld and the Brett Ratner-helmed "Blue Blood." Scripts on agency
hot lists include two Dick Wolf projects and a Dario Scardapane hour
about a ***y former FBI agent that's being produced by Peter Berg and
Sarah Aubrey.
On the comedy front, the Molly Shannon-Selma Blair half-hour "Kath &
Kim" has already been ordered to series and seems a no-brainer for the
net's Thursday lineup.
Pilots shooting soon include the Conan O'Brien-produced "Man of Your
Dreams" and the Steven Weber vehicle "Zip."
As for the specific shape of the sked set to be revealed this week,
Graboff hinted that NBC would be conservative in the fourth quarter.
"The backbone of our schedule will remain. We're not going to
completely shake up things," he said.
Graboff did make it clear that volume would be a key part of NBC's
programming strategy.
"Repeats don't work anymore, but we have a finite amount of money to
spend," he said. "We're trying to do some things that are cheaper so
that we can have more original programming."
Shows returning to NBC next season include "ER," "The Office,"
"Chuck," "Life," "The Biggest Loser," "American Gladiators," "Deal or
No Deal" and "My Name Is Earl." Also a safe bet to be back: "Medium,"
"30 Rock," at least one "Law & Order" skein and "Friday Night Lights."
First-year drama "Lipstick Jungle" could also return.
|
