Jeff Zucker Leaves NBC Universal
by Jean Bentley
posted Sept 24th 2010


NBC Universal CEO Jeff Zucker announced this morning in an email to employees that he is stepping down once the Comcast takeover of NBC is complete, The New York Times reports.




Zucker said in an interview with the Times that he realized, through the course of the Comcast acquisition, that his departure would be inevitable. After a meeting with Comcast COO Steve Burke, Zucker knew that there would not be a place for him at the company anymore.

"We had both gotten to the same place," Zucker said. "He made it clear that they wanted to move on at the close of the deal and I was completely comfortable with that."





Though Zucker signed a new three-year contract before the merger took place, he knew leaving the company could be necessary.

"In the last nine months it became increasingly clear that they did want to put their own team in place - and I didn't want to end up being a guest in my own house."





Widely criticized in recent years for his mishandling of the Conan O'Brien/Jay Leno situation and bringing NBC from the number one-rated broadcast network to number four, it was speculated earlier this year that Zucker would be pushed out at the completion of the merger.

http://www.tvsquad.com/2010/09/24/jeff-zucker-leaves-nbc-universal/

Yay

Zucker's departure from NBC is way overdue! But hey better late than never!!

HOORRRRY

Why hasn't anyone kicked him out, like, WAY before now?? Anyone else who does that badly at their job gets fired - why not him??? :eek: :crazy: :mad:

finally, nbc went from 1st place to 4th place because of him. Now maybe they can get some good shows on the air and go back to 1st place.:D

finally, nbc went from 1st place to 4th place because of him. Now maybe they can get some good shows on the air and go back to 1st place.:D

....stayed in charge at NBC so long, is because he supposedly made money for the network, no matter how terrible his programming decisions were. For example, it was his idea to add "POKER AFTER DARK" (after "LAST CALL WITH CARSON DALY") weeknights at 2:05am(et) to appeal to the audience that likes watching "high stakes poker" matches on TV, so that the "big ticket" advertisers who pitch to that audience reach them, adding revenue to NBC as well.

Of course, when most "scripted" shows on the network didn't work out, Zucker was also responsible for more "reality-based" and game shows within the last five years- if "DEAL OR NO DEAL" was a roaring success, why not "1 VS. 100"? Or "THE SINGING BEE" {it's now featured in a "country version" on CMT} ? "AMNE$IA"? "MY DAD IS BETER THAN YOUR DAD"? "THANK GOD YOU'RE HERE"? "MOST OUTRAGEOUS MOMENTS"? Or what I consider the worst of them (and, unfortunately, the most successful), "THE BIGGEST LOSER"? And there was his dependence on Ben Silverman of "Reveille" (who brought "THE OFFICE" to NBC in a somewhat marginally successful American version, which I suspect has more TV critics in its audience than viewers), who, as an NBC programming executive, operated on the theory that more "imported" series would be cheaper to schedule ["MERLIN", 'THE PHILANTHROPIST", "FEAR ITSELF", et. al.], and that didn't work out in the long run.


I will not be sorry to see Zucker go. He doesn't know how to program a television network, but he successfully maintained the illusion he could....and he made MONEY; that's why he stayed with NBC as long as he did.


:tv:

^ Sickening, isn't it? Brandon Tartikoff must be spinning in his grave. :( :mad: Also, did Warren Littlefield leave on his own or was he fired?

Now if only Dawn Ostroff would step down, this would be a great year.

Now if only Dawn Ostroff would step down, this would be a great year.
:yeahthat

Jeffrey Zucker is not the type of guy I would want to call a truce with. Someone would have to take their hand... put it in a fist... and plant one punch to his jaw (some of his teeth would be knocked out in the process) for what he did to a once-prosperous television network.

NBC's scripted shows arent' bad at all. The one that isn't good at all is SVU. That show has been dragged out too much. Some of NBC shows are critically acclaimed and several actors and actresses on the network were nominated for Emmys, Golden Globes, SAG's and TCA awards. NBC is poorly run and Jeff Zucker has given too much time to crappy reality shows like The Biggest Loser which as been criticized heavily by the medical and fitness fields and stupid game shows like Deal or No Deal, 1 vs. 100 etc.

NBC's scripted shows arent' bad at all. The one that isn't good at all is SVU. That show has been dragged out too much.

Much as it pains me to say it, the entire L&O franchise has burned out. The mother ship has already been cancelled and it's been announced that CI will end after this current season. Maybe it's time to retire SVU as well. But I don't predict a long shelf life for L&O: LA, either. There's already NCIS: LA and about of zillion other crime/forensic shows on the air right now. But then again, only time will tell!!

Why hasn't anyone kicked him out, like, WAY before now?? Anyone else who does that badly at their job gets fired - why not him??? :eek: :crazy: :mad:


probably because over the years NBC has managed tp produce shows like the Office, and The Today Show is still on Top in the morning and the Apprentice.

Much as it pains me to say it, the entire L&O franchise has burned out. The mother ship has already been cancelled and it's been announced that CI will end after this current season. Maybe it's time to retire SVU as well. But I don't predict a long shelf life for L&O: LA, either. There's already NCIS: LA and about of zillion other crime/forensic shows on the air right now. But then again, only time will tell!!

I don't think L&O: L.A. will last long either. Procedural dramas on network TV have pretty much lost their appeal with fans and critics. The best thing about the L&O franchise is the acting and writing but that has already waned. The acting and writing on NCIS AND CSI isn't great at all. Crime shows on cable tend to be better written because storyline arcs sometimes will last a few episodes or an entire season. Cable networks are able to show much more gritter material which leads to be better acting and writing.

NBC's scripted shows arent' bad at all. The one that isn't good at all is SVU. That show has been dragged out too much. Some of NBC shows are critically acclaimed and several actors and actresses on the network were nominated for Emmys, Golden Globes, SAG's and TCA awards. NBC is poorly run and Jeff Zucker has given too much time to crappy reality shows like The Biggest Loser which as been criticized heavily by the medical and fitness fields and stupid game shows like Deal or No Deal, 1 vs. 100 etc.
I disagree with you there. I watched SVU this week and it was surprisingly good and I was about to give up on it too. It and Chuck are the only good shows that NBC has. I haven't seen the Event yet so I can't comment on that.

Steve Burke to Replace Jeff Zucker as NBC Universal CEO
Sept 26, 2010
by Adam Bryant


Steve Burke will replace outgoing NBC Universal CEO Jeff Zucker once he steps aside, Comcast and General Electric announced Sunday.



Burke, the chief operating officer at Comcast, was widely expected to fill the role. Zucker announced Friday that he was asked to leave his post once Comcast's acquisition of 51 percent of NBC Universal was complete.

The deal is expected to close by year's end.




"Steve Burke is an experienced, talented and visionary leader with over 25 years in the media and entertainment industry," Comcast CEO Brian Roberts said.

"Steve is one of the most well-respected executives in the industry, and I am confident that he will lead NBCU forward to a new era of growth."




More personnel shifts are expected, but Sunday's news release said no further announcements would be made "until the deal closing process and timing is certain."

http://www.tvguide.com/News/Steve-Burke-Replaces-Zucker-1023668.aspx

probably because over the years NBC has managed tp produce shows like the Office, and The Today Show is still on Top in the morning and the Apprentice.The Apprentice is doing lousy, worse than Leno did last year in the same slot. :lol:

The Apprentice is doing lousy, worse than Leno did last year in the same slot. :lol: i know according to the ratings the season opener was a ratings nightmare of the highest order and this past thursday it fell by another 10th of a point pretty soon donald trump will know how the words your;e fired sond because he woll be hearing them with his own ears

i know according to the ratings the season opener was a ratings nightmare of the highest order and this past thursday it fell by another 10th of a point pretty soon donald trump will know how the words your;e fired sond because he woll be hearing them with his own ears

No way is NBC cancelling Trump's Apprentice

The regular versions of The Apprentice have significantly declined in ratings, which is probably why this is the first one in a while. The Celebrity Apprentice did well enough in the Spring on Sundays, which is why they gave every episode 2 hours. It wouldn't surprise me if they only stick to the Celebrity version from now on after this current season ends.

Hopefully NBC's programming gets better now.

Jeff Zucker.........................................................................................

**imitates Vince McMahon's voice**

"YOURRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR'EEEEEEEE FIIIIIIIIIIIIIIRRRRRRRRRRRRRRREEEEEDDD!!!"

NOW GET OUT! AND DON'T EVER COME BACK TO ANOTHER TV NETWORK AGAIN! GOOD RIDDANCE! GOOD GRIEF!