Homicide: Life on the Street, Philanthropist producer Barry Levinson blasts Saturday reruns
By Richard Huff
DAILY NEWS TV EDITOR

Film and TV producer Barry Levinson says the broadcast networks are making a mistake by not actively programming Saturday nights.

"I've yet to have anybody explain it to me," says Levinson, who co-produced such series as "Homicide: Life on the Street" and "The Philanthropist." "Saturday night was a huge night on television."



He quickly reels off the names of such classic hits as "All in the Family," "Mary Tyler Moore" and "M*A*S*H," which flourished on Saturday nights years ago.

"Somehow the networks decided to forfeit Saturday nights," he says. "You have a massive audience, they're available and they can't find anything to watch."



Indeed, in recent years, the broadcast networks have pulled back from offering original fare on Saturdays to airing reruns of shows from the week before.

The argument has been made that the cost of making new dramas prohibits airing them Saturdays, when audiences are smaller than on weeknights. Nielsen estimates there are 101.1 million viewers in prime time on Saturdays, the least of any, but still a big number.


But going the rerun route is wrong, says Levinson.

"There's a retreat," he says. "I don't think the answer is to retreat. ... When you give up Saturday night, you open the door for people to go somewhere else.

"Basically, they're shrinking their own audience," he adds.



Levinson says he's got a couple of TV shows in a number of different stages of development but declined to discuss them.

"It's complicated and very kind of confusing," Levinson says. "There's a lot of fear in the marketplace."

For now, however, he's focusing on talking up "PoliWood," his documentary on the collision of celebrities and politics, set to air Monday at 7:30 p.m. And he's finishing a documentary on Jack Kevorkian.



For "PoliWood," Levinson had access to celebs at both the Republican and Democratic National Conventions, and the goal was to look at the process, he says.

"If a celebrity says something, it gets on television, right or wrong, or whatever," Levinson says. "It just gets on."

He had not been to a political convention before and said that going in he wasn't sure where the story would take him.

"It's all a circus," he says. " It's a political circus."

The film, though, looks at how celebrities play at getting information out.


"What PoliWood says," he adds, "is sometimes you get more attention for a particular cause because of the nature of being a celebrity. Some issues that can't get any traction suddenly come to the forefront because a celebrity's involved. That's the way it works in the world we live in. Everybody's vying for space; everybody's pushing for attention."

http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/tv/2009/10/27/2009-10-27_homicide_life_on_the_street_men_in_black_producer_barry_levinson_blasts_.html

I'm glad Mr. Levinson has spoken up. When I was a kid Saturday was a great night for TV. You had the classic CBS lineups from the 70's...then you had ABC with Love Boat and Fantasy Island...and NBC had their classic sitcom lineup and Hunter in the 80's. All of them were top 20 shows. The last shows on Saturday that were any good were Walker Texas Ranger and Early Edition. It's a disgrace what Saturday night has become.

i agree growing up all my favorite shows were on Saturday nights---you had NBC's classic line-up of "The Golden Girls", "The Facts Of Life", "227", "Empty Nest", "Amen" and "Nurses".

Great article!! I totally agree with him - except you could say that FOX has made one of the longest running Saturday night lineups with Cops and America's Most Wanted. I don't see either of those shows going anywhere any time soon - especially AMW.

Many people aren't going out as much on Saturday nights due to the economy and are staying home - so why not give the public entertaining shows? Give people something good to watch and they will come. The networks don't have anything to lose - so why not follow Mr. Levinson's advice and go for it?

When I was little the best TV shows were on Saturday night. The Mary Tyler Moore Show, The Bob Newhart Show, and The Carol Burnett Show. It's a shame that the networks have given up on an entire night. They should at least make an effort to provide us with some entertaining programming!

i agree with him too saturday night used to be one of the best nights on tv when i was a kid and now except for snl wich is late night and the ocasonnal nba game i hardly find anything to watch on saturday night anymore thank goodness for tv dvd boxsets

All have made good points but, what about the fact that people are not home on Saturdays, and cable along with Satellite networks have stolen most of the viewers it's not the same as it was in the 70's.

I don't see either of those shows going anywhere any time soon - especially AMW.

It's funny to note that AMW was cancelled by FOX in 1996. A HUGE protest from law enforcement, government officials, and fans made FOX decide to bring it back.

It was gone for 6 weeks.

It's funny to note that AMW was cancelled by FOX in 1996. A HUGE protest from law enforcement, government officials, and fans made FOX decide to bring it back.

It was gone for 6 weeks.
Really? I never knew that. You really do learn something new every day!!

And the thing is just a few years ago the networks had considered both Friday and Sunday nights deadzones and weren't programming them. But then a few hit shows cropped up and guess what, now both those nights are big again. Desperate Housewives and Cold Case are two of the biggest shows on TV and Ghost Whisperer and Medium pull in attractive demos. the networks just have to try and program on Saturday nights.

Why not air MTM, Bob Newhart, Carol Burnett re-runs on saturday night :wave:

And the thing is just a few years ago the networks had considered both Friday and Sunday nights deadzones and weren't programming them. But then a few hit shows cropped up and guess what, now both those nights are big again. Desperate Housewives and Cold Case are two of the biggest shows on TV and Ghost Whisperer and Medium pull in attractive demos. the networks just have to try and program on Saturday nights. i didnt even know cold case was still doing well for some reason i thought the ratings were getting lower and lower

Why not air MTM, Bob Newhart, Carol Burnett re-runs on saturday night :wave:
I'd be watching!

i didnt even know cold case was still doing well for some reason i thought the ratings were getting lower and lower
Cold Case isn't doing that great anymore. This is probably it's last year.

This isn't the 70's though. I can't see many shows doing well on Saturday. I think people need one day a week they can just sit back and watch whatever shows they recorded during the week, and that can be Saturday's. That can be the "catch up on my viewing" day ;)

I'd be watching!
Make that three of us!! :D

Really? I never knew that. You really do learn something new every day!!

Yeah, it was replaced with Married... with Children and a couple of shows that never made it during the cancellation.

When AMW came back on the air that's when they started the tagline "America Fights Back".

Yeah, it was replaced with Married... with Children and a couple of shows that never made it during the cancellation.

When AMW came back on the air that's when they started the tagline "America Fights Back".
Thanks for sharing that!! I think it's safe to say FOX learned their lesson that one time - rightfully so!!

Most of TV's prime demographic of 18-25 are out clubbing on Saturday nights, so they feel no need to broadcast new material. It's been this way since the mid 1990s.

Most of TV's prime demographic of 18-25 are out clubbing on Saturday nights, so they feel no need to broadcast new material. It's been this way since the mid 1990s.
Maybe if there was something good on TV people would stay home and watch! :D

Maybe if there was something good on TV people would stay home and watch! :D
Plus, some of us can't even afford to leave the house on weekends - throw us a bone, network people!! :mad:

Plus, some of us can't even afford to leave the house on weekends - throw us a bone, network people!! :mad:
:yeahthat

Most of TV's prime demographic of 18-25 are out clubbing on Saturday nights, so they feel no need to broadcast new material. It's been this way since the mid 1990s.
That's always been the case, even in the 70's and the 80's. Networks programed for the whole family back then, not just a certain group. They had great success with it too. It won't be long before Fridays turn into Saturdays too...a vast wasteland.

That's always been the case, even in the 70's and the 80's. Networks programed for the whole family back then, not just a certain group. They had great success with it too. It won't be long before Fridays turn into Saturdays too...a vast wasteland.
You mean they aren't one now? :confused: :eek:

Most of TV's prime demographic of 18-25 are out clubbing on Saturday nights, so they feel no need to broadcast new material. It's been this way since the mid 1990s.

18-49 is the prime demographic. Too many people over 50 at home on Saturday to attract advertisers

hy i'm firmly in the 18-49 demograhic and will be for sometime now, but i'm always at home on a saturday night and i've never gone out clubbing. i wish they had good shows on saturday nights.

hy i'm firmly in the 18-49 demograhic and will be for sometime now, but i'm always at home on a saturday night and i've never gone out clubbing. i wish they had good shows on saturday nights.
Same here. I'm not a bar/club person, and am a homebody anyway.

My Saturday night show is America's Most Wanted. I'm pissed off that it's being pre-empted for the 3rd week in a row because of baseball. I don't care that my team is playing. I want my AMW!!!!!!!!!!! Put the game on in the afternoon.

Same here. I'm not a bar/club person, and am a homebody anyway.
me too!

My Saturday night show is America's Most Wanted. I'm pissed off that it's being pre-empted for the 3rd week in a row because of baseball. I don't care that my team is playing. I want my AMW!!!!!!!!!!! Put the game on in the afternoon.
I'm impressed with your stance! :nod: Hopefully, the series will be over before next Saturday and FOX Saturday nights will be back to normal.

Poliwood trailer http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RlvpZtyPpjs

me too!so am i

Why not air MTM, Bob Newhart, Carol Burnett re-runs on saturday night :wave:

Seems to me, an excellent idea. Why doesn't TVLand do that? Not that I know anything, I'm not Television Company Executive!:rolleyes:

Seems to me, an excellent idea. Why doesn't TVLand do that? Not that I know anything, I'm not Television Company Executive!:rolleyes:
Because the folks who run TV Land are CLUELESS!!!!! :mad:

NBC had the best Saturday night lineup in the late 1980's - 227, Amen, The Golden Girls, Empty Nest

TV has gone downhill since then.

NBC had the best Saturday night lineup in the late 1980's - 227, Amen, The Golden Girls, Empty Nest

TV has gone downhill since then.
Indeed - plus Hunter was on at 10!! :cool:

I know I wish they had New Programming on Saturday Night's

Indeed - plus Hunter was on at 10!! :cool:

a few years before that was even better--- Gimme A Break, The Golden Girls, The Facts Of Life, 227 and Hunter. talk about a great line-up!

Indeed - plus Hunter was on at 10!! :cool:
I loved Hunter. One of the most underrated shows of the 80's. :cool:

I loved Hunter. One of the most underrated shows of the 80's. :cool:
I actually have Fred Dryer's autograph. Plus the theme song RULED, and my man Gregory Sierra was once a guest star. What could be better than that??? :cool: :D

a few years before that was even better--- Gimme A Break, The Golden Girls, The Facts Of Life, 227 and Hunter. talk about a great line-up!
I know!! God bless Brandon Tartikoff...he really knew his stuff. :rip:

I know!! God bless Brandon Tartikoff...he really knew his stuff. :rip:


he sure did! he was a genuis. RIP.

God NBC has fallen a long way haven't they? i would even take "union square" or "madman of the people" over the crap they've been giving us the last 5-6 years.

he sure did! he was a genuis. RIP.

God NBC has fallen a long way haven't they? i would even take "union square" or "madman of the people" over the crap they've been giving us the last 5-6 years.
Heck, I'd take Manimal, Supertrain, David Cassidy: Man Undercover and Pink Lady & Jeff over all the crap that's on now!! One of my nicknames for NBC of the past few years is Nothing But Crap. :eek:

he sure did! he was a genuis. RIP.

God NBC has fallen a long way haven't they? i would even take "union square" or "madman of the people" over the crap they've been giving us the last 5-6 years.oddly enough i actully kind of enjoyed union square

Plus, some of us can't even afford to leave the house on weekends - throw us a bone, network people!! :mad:


That's what DVDs are for!

That's what DVDs are for!
That's true - and I love mine!! :D

I use to like watching Cold Case on Sunday nights, but I gave up on seeing it because it tends to run late due to sports programming.

I never got into 'Hunter' because it was on at 11 p.m. after I went to bed.

I find myself watching HGTV and Discovery Channels alot. Even the best sitcoms for children are on Family Channel (Hannah Montana, The Wizards Of Waverly Place, The Suite Life On Deck, The Suite Life Of Zack and Cody, That's So Raven) and YTV (iCarly, Drake & Josh)

it does suck they have given up on Saturdays, maybe they will all wake up and try to do it again. I mean maybe if they tried to put there big hits such as American Idol, CSI, The mentalist, or Grey's Anatomy on Saturdays that would help bring viewers in.

I remember a time when "The Love Boat" and "Fantasy Island" were big hits on Saturday night.

When I was little the best TV shows were on Saturday night. The Mary Tyler Moore Show, The Bob Newhart Show, and The Carol Burnett Show. It's a shame that the networks have given up on an entire night. They should at least make an effort to provide us with some entertaining programming!

If TV Land or Retro TV re-created a classic seventies Saturday night, I'd be glued to the set. I think at one point, CBS aired All In The Family, M*A*S*H, Mary Tyler Moore, Bob Newhart and Carol Burnett all on Saturday night back-to-back.

Now, that was a night of unbeatable TV!!

I remember a time when "The Love Boat" and "Fantasy Island" were big hits on Saturday night.

I do, too, but those shows didn't age as well as some of the other classic Sat. nite shows, IMO.;)