http://entertainment.time.com/2012/07/24/tcas-2012-nbcs-monkey-business/?

No more sophisticated, grown-up, risk-taking comedies. Instead, NBC will seek out sitcoms with a broad appeal. "We're in a transition," says NBC boss Robert Greenblatt. "We're trying to broaden the audience."

Sell-outs.

Here's the problem, other than the fact that they have basically come out and admitted they are now in the business of making ****: by doing this, NBC is chasing away the few people that are still watching their network. They are clearly trying to go for the broad CBS audience, but that audience has been gone since Friends ended, and it's not going to come back because they're airing a show with Matthew Perry again. NBC's best bet would've been to come up with some way to make their current audience profitable, or at the very least, come up with another The Office or a Modern Family - a show that can appeal to the "sophisticated" (I hate that term, by the way, liking good comedy shouldn't make you "sophisticated") and also to the broad audiences. Instead, they're only scaring even more people away from their network. They went "broad" this year with Whitney and Are You There, Chelsea? and neither succeeded (no matter how hard NBC tries to pretend Whitney did). What makes them think this year will be any different? Because there's more of them? They are in deep, deep trouble.

LOL it's pretty obvious when upper management in any industry, not just television, is lost in the woods. When talking points are limited to vague half-hearted terms like 'transition' and 'rebuilding' and 'broaden our product' it's a dead give away that the lights are on but nobody's home.

I could see a comedy shift at NBC turning out either way. They could either have tactful shows that engage an audience in large numbers (which they did for 20 years with Must See TV) or simply churn out blatant crummy ripoffs that do absolutely nothing to improve ratings. Given NBC's seemingly endless supply of managerial blunders, I'd be willing to bet they choose the latter route.

NBC is just in need of some good leadership. Frankly they've been lost for years. They failed to use Friends, Seinfeld, Will & Grace, ER or Frasier to build new hits and once they went off the air NBC was left with nothing of worth to air and were lucky to strike creative gold with 30 Rock, The Office, Parks & Recreation and Community, and should be happy that these shows got them any buzz at all. They are desperate for a hit, but the problem they seem to not understand is that you can't just program crap and expect people to show up. The CBS comedy series work because they are tailored to their audience, NBC can't seem to figure out WHO their audience is, and frankly the people watching 30 Rock or Community aren't going to tune into just anything.

They went "broad" this year with Whitney and Are You There, Chelsea? and neither succeeded (no matter how hard NBC tries to pretend Whitney did). What makes them think this year will be any different? Because there's more of them? They are in deep, deep trouble.

NBC apparently doesn't measure success by ratings, profits, cultural relevancy, or critical acclaim like the rest of the world. I guess their definition of success means a larger audience than an Emergency Alert System broadcast. Coincidentally, I find the EAS announcers much funnier than Whitney Cummings.

NBC does need to go broader. I love Parks and Recreation, but it's just not working all that well. They tried the "smart" comedies, and with that, their Thursday Night "MUST SEE TV" lineup collapsed. Its time for a change. Kudos, NBC.

It's about time! NBC's niche, "sophisticated" comedies have sucked and are very unfunny. Animal Practice (a broad appealing show) looks promising.

NBC does need to go broader. I love Parks and Recreation, but it's just not working all that well. They tried the "smart" comedies, and with that, their Thursday Night "MUST SEE TV" lineup collapsed. Its time for a change. Kudos, NBC.
Can you please explain to me how Parks and Recreation is any smarter and more sophisticated than other comedies on TV? They had an extended sequence this past season of the entire cast slipping on ice to the tune of Gloria Estefan's Get On Your Feet. It was wonderful, but how the hell is that "sophisticated"?

It seems "sophisticated and niche" has become code for "well-written" while "broad and mass appeal" has become code for "crap". Which is really, really sad. It wasn't always that way. What happened to the days when shows like Cheers or The Mary Tyler Moore Show could become mass appeal hits?

Anyway, I think I made a pretty good point as to why NBC can't just get up and change audiences all of the sudden. Not to mention they already TRIED to do that this year and it didn't work. Why will it work this year? Because there's more of them? Because they have Matthew Perry? (Having him certainly helped Mr. Sunshine, right? Having Courtney Cox has really turned Cougar Town into a mass appeal hit for the ages!). All NBC is doing is looking at CBS and saying "we want that!". But what network doesn't? Unfortunately for them, not every network is CBS. They need to find their niche and capitalize on it, like ABC, FOX, and tons of cable networks have done. They used to have their niche, but they're shooing them away, and who's going to be left now?

It's about time! NBC's niche, "sophisticated" comedies have sucked and are very unfunny. Animal Practice (a broad appealing show) looks promising.
Again, how is this mass appeal? I watched the preview and it looks just as weird and out-there as most of NBC's current crop, with the notable exception that it looks far less well-crafted and way stupider. So again, I guess broad appeal really just means "lazy and stupid".

im glad inevver seen 30 rockor the community i don'tlike Parks & Recreation t or the ofice al they do is se andtalk to each otheri was never big fan of cheers

Can you please explain to me how Parks and Recreation is any smarter and more sophisticated than other comedies on TV? They had an extended sequence this past season of the entire cast slipping on ice to the tune of Gloria Estefan's Get On Your Feet. It was wonderful, but how the hell is that "sophisticated"?

It seems "sophisticated and niche" has become code for "well-written" while "broad and mass appeal" has become code for "crap". Which is really, really sad. It wasn't always that way. What happened to the days when shows like Cheers or The Mary Tyler Moore Show could become mass appeal hits?

Anyway, I think I made a pretty good point as to why NBC can't just get up and change audiences all of the sudden. Not to mention they already TRIED to do that this year and it didn't work. Why will it work this year? Because there's more of them? Because they have Matthew Perry? (Having him certainly helped Mr. Sunshine, right? Having Courtney Cox has really turned Cougar Town into a mass appeal hit for the ages!). All NBC is doing is looking at CBS and saying "we want that!". But what network doesn't? Unfortunately for them, not every network is CBS. They need to find their niche and capitalize on it, like ABC, FOX, and tons of cable networks have done. They used to have their niche, but they're shooing them away, and who's going to be left now?


Again, how is this mass appeal? I watched the preview and it looks just as weird and out-there as most of NBC's current crop, with the notable exception that it looks far less well-crafted and way stupider. So again, I guess broad appeal really just means "lazy and stupid".one thing that i think that nbc is forgetting is that cbs did not change the audiences overnight ether because before the big hats loke 2 and a helf men and big bang theory most of cbs;s hits had been older skewing shows like murder she wrote and touched by an angrl and what they did was smart they just let those run there course whil gradualy bringing in the newer younger show with no public downgrading of the olderaudience or ther then current line up and besides former nbc entertianmenr head warren littlefiled already tried the whole change route back in 1992 afet thry lost carson cosby and night court all at once he has admitted that it did not work because you have to do it a little at a time

Can you please explain to me how Parks and Recreation is any smarter and more sophisticated than other comedies on TV? They had an extended sequence this past season of the entire cast slipping on ice to the tune of Gloria Estefan's Get On Your Feet. It was wonderful, but how the hell is that "sophisticated"?

It seems "sophisticated and niche" has become code for "well-written" while "broad and mass appeal" has become code for "crap". Which is really, really sad. It wasn't always that way. What happened to the days when shows like Cheers or The Mary Tyler Moore Show could become mass appeal hits?

Anyway, I think I made a pretty good point as to why NBC can't just get up and change audiences all of the sudden. Not to mention they already TRIED to do that this year and it didn't work. Why will it work this year? Because there's more of them? Because they have Matthew Perry? (Having him certainly helped Mr. Sunshine, right? Having Courtney Cox has really turned Cougar Town into a mass appeal hit for the ages!). All NBC is doing is looking at CBS and saying "we want that!". But what network doesn't? Unfortunately for them, not every network is CBS. They need to find their niche and capitalize on it, like ABC, FOX, and tons of cable networks have done. They used to have their niche, but they're shooing them away, and who's going to be left now?


Again, how is this mass appeal? I watched the preview and it looks just as weird and out-there as most of NBC's current crop, with the notable exception that it looks far less well-crafted and way stupider. So again, I guess broad appeal really just means "lazy and stupid".by the way ai agree anamil pratice does look stupid good luck on that one nbc

Can you please explain to me how Parks and Recreation is any smarter and more sophisticated than other comedies on TV? They had an extended sequence this past season of the entire cast slipping on ice to the tune of Gloria Estefan's Get On Your Feet. It was wonderful, but how the hell is that "sophisticated"?

It seems "sophisticated and niche" has become code for "well-written" while "broad and mass appeal" has become code for "crap". Which is really, really sad. It wasn't always that way. What happened to the days when shows like Cheers or The Mary Tyler Moore Show could become mass appeal hits?
Yes to all of this. People call these shows sophisticated, but for those of us who actually sit down and watch them on a regular basis, I can tell you that they're just as silly as the rest of them. The only difference is that they're calculated, well-crafted silly. Which used to work and for some reason doesn't anymore. Now all it is is re-hashed jokes, no innovation, poorly written trash.

I don't know what's happened to people, but for some reason trash really sells lately. Look at 50 Shades of Grey. And I'm not talking about the content of it, either. I'm talking about the quality of writing. You can find better written kink fic on the internet for free.

Can you please explain to me how Parks and Recreation is any smarter and more sophisticated than other comedies on TV? They had an extended sequence this past season of the entire cast slipping on ice to the tune of Gloria Estefan's Get On Your Feet. It was wonderful, but how the hell is that "sophisticated"?

It seems "sophisticated and niche" has become code for "well-written" while "broad and mass appeal" has become code for "crap". Which is really, really sad. It wasn't always that way. What happened to the days when shows like Cheers or The Mary Tyler Moore Show could become mass appeal hits?

:clap :clap :clap

I agree with this 100 percent!

For the record, Parks & Recreation, The Office and Community are my three favorite current sitcoms.

Yes to all of this. People call these shows sophisticated, but for those of us who actually sit down and watch them on a regular basis, I can tell you that they're just as silly as the rest of them. The only difference is that they're calculated, well-crafted silly. Which used to work and for some reason doesn't anymore. Now all it is is re-hashed jokes, no innovation, poorly written trash.

Yup, I agree.

This is a world where Two and a Half Men is a huge hit, and I just don't understand why.

one thing that i think that nbc is forgetting is that cbs did not change the audiences overnight ether because before the big hats loke 2 and a helf men and big bang theory most of cbs;s hits had been older skewing shows like murder she wrote and touched by an angrl and what they did was smart they just let those run there course whil gradualy bringing in the newer younger show with no public downgrading of the olderaudience or ther then current line up and besides former nbc entertianmenr head warren littlefiled already tried the whole change route back in 1992 afet thry lost carson cosby and night court all at once he has admitted that it did not work because you have to do it a little at a time
Exactly. CBS has been catering to the broad, older audiences for a long time now. NBC's niche has always been a little younger and a little more "working professional", at least since their Friends/Seinfeld heyday. The problem is that audience has become less profitable in the internet age...but NBC should find a way to make them profitable rather than just trying to get an entirely new audience, one already claimed by another network.

And yeah I have no idea why trash sells so much suddenly. It's pretty sad, really.

Yes to all of this. People call these shows sophisticated, but for those of us who actually sit down and watch them on a regular basis, I can tell you that they're just as silly as the rest of them. The only difference is that they're calculated, well-crafted silly. Which used to work and for some reason doesn't anymore. Now all it is is re-hashed jokes, no innovation, poorly written trash.

I don't know what's happened to people, but for some reason trash really sells lately. Look at 50 Shades of Grey. And I'm not talking about the content of it, either. I'm talking about the quality of writing. You can find better written kink fic on the internet for free.


I think "trash" has almost always been a big seller. The reason we don't remember the "trash" of the past however is because we choose to only remember the best of an era. If trashy media is remembered it's in a "Oh my God, I can't be we liked that; SO EMBARRASSING" kind of way. I have no doubt that in 20 years our children will be making fun of us for Jersey Shore, YOLO, and 50 Shades of Grey. And perhaps, shows like 30 Rock and Community will be revered as classics.

I think "trash" has almost always been a big seller. The reason we don't remember the "trash" of the past however is because we choose to only remember the best of an era. If trashy media is remembered it's in a "Oh my God, I can't be we liked that; SO EMBARRASSING" kind of way. I have no doubt that in 20 years our children will be making fun of us for Jersey Shore, YOLO, and 50 Shades of Grey. And perhaps, shows like 30 Rock and Community will be revered as classics.
God, I hope so. I'll be sitting there telling them, "IT WASN'T ME!"

Well I am going to reply to this and cover some of the ground on this...

NBC lost me years ago... Chuck with its on, off, on, off, on, ended was a turn off.

That Grisham thing continuing the movie... hmm were it not for Molly Parker, it would never have gotten even a sampling...

I watch a lot of CBS, and have for years..

NCIS, NCIS:LA, The Good Wife, pretty much most of the schedule except suvirordorq, bigger dorgther, stupid trip show, 60 minutes...

NBC has NOTHING TO OFFER me, NOTHING, mostly. TWO shows out of 7 days of schedule. Would have been 3 but they caved to the uptight puritans.

I was never a seinfeld fan, more hater. Same on friends. Cheers, I could watch or not watch. Mostly not... Fraiser was good Jane Leeves and to a point Peri Gilpin, again I could take it or leave it, miss it, not upset.

So some here trot out...

community, parks & rec, 30 rock, the office... PUUUUUHHHHKKKKE! :nonono:

I actually like Tina Fey outside of SNL, and 30 rock, more like Date Night and I would be fine. Aubrey Plaza, more please, but not in that stupid show.... didn't really find out about till those commercials for some stupid lamer gamer thing, but they were great, and she's hot.

The show with Laura Prepon, I tried desparately to find any thing of value in it, same with some of the others, PUUUUUHHHHKKKKE! Its just not happening. How any of that made it on the air, I have no clue... now I get it... it was a huge experiment... which FAILED, massively. How many years has NBC been at the bottom or near the bottom? That will continue till they come up with some thing any one with a brain and higher than an 8th grade education would want to watch.

What do I watch:

Grimm, although I prefer Once Upon a Time more, but its inline to stay. PVR it and watch later, if I remember.

Smash, Megan Hilty and NBC alum Messing alone. Then throw in the Marilyn subtext... (NOTE: HILTY IS Marilyn!) I am in love. Big Monroe fan, but I like old classic golden era movies.

The third would have been The Playboy Club, every one was loving it. Set in the 60's, Playboy bunnies aka scantily clad hotties, OK were in! Then the uptights got their panties in a bunch...

That stupid show with a monkey... ok it was cute with Mr. Muggs on the Today show 50+ years ago its done, its over. Move on!

Few of the shows on the upcoming fall schedule look promising... Chicago Fire, maybe 1600 Penn, maybe...Crossbones... maybe... continue on down, sample it, and then 99.9999% of it will be rejected and move on.

So when NBC wants to program for the adults in the audience lets us know. You can see where its current programming has gotten it.

NBC pretty much lost me years ago. I watched quite a bit of their shows during the 1980's but after TCS and the other hit shows ended in the early 90's, I didn't find much to like on NBC. I never cared for Friends even though I tried. I tried watching Caroline in the City and Suddenly Susan. they were just blaaa. Seinfeld I did like but I never watched it all the time. The 2 NBC sitcoms that I thought were very underrated in the 90's were 3rd Rock from the Sun and Newsradio. NBC never treated them right though....moving them all over the schedule every year they were on. On the drama fronts I did like L & O , SVU and ER although NBC dragged them out until they weren't good anymore. In the 2000's I just watched less and less of NBC. I loved Chuck and I'm grateful it aired on NBC because it never would have last that long on another network. I do watch Community and 30 Rock sometimes and while I like them, it's never must see TV for me. The only new show on NBC that looks interesting to me is Revolution. I'll give that a shot. I might check a couple of the new sitcoms but I doubt I'll like them.

I feel like there is room for all kinds of comedy series on their schedule; I can understand the need to try and broaden the audience; however broad doesn't have to me crappy.

And maybe it's just me, but none of this fall's new NBC shows feel all that much broader to me. Yes, some of them suck a lot. I think they should just focus on developing shows that are FUNNY.

I feel like there is room for all kinds of comedy series on their schedule; I can understand the need to try and broaden the audience; however broad doesn't have to me crappy.

And maybe it's just me, but none of this fall's new NBC shows feel all that much broader to me. Yes, some of them suck a lot. I think they should just focus on developing shows that are FUNNY.
I don't see how they are mass appeal either. In fact, Go On looks like a straight-up Community rip-off, right down to the characters.

I think "trash" has almost always been a big seller. The reason we don't remember the "trash" of the past however is because we choose to only remember the best of an era. If trashy media is remembered it's in a "Oh my God, I can't be we liked that; SO EMBARRASSING" kind of way. I have no doubt that in 20 years our children will be making fun of us for Jersey Shore, YOLO, and 50 Shades of Grey. And perhaps, shows like 30 Rock and Community will be revered as classics.
I sort of feel like it will be. I hope so anyway! 30 Rock apparently does fairly well in syndication so that's good. But yeah, today's trash is tomorrow's "I Love the 2010s" subject matter.

I have no doubt that in 20 years our children will be making fun of us for Jersey Shore, YOLO, and 50 Shades of Grey. And perhaps, shows like 30 Rock and Community will be revered as classics.
No need to wait 20 years to make fun.

:rofl:

And I think 30 Rock is a "modern classic."

I'm actually surprised that they are considering doing any new sitcoms at all. It seems that stations have gone for reality and talent shows instead. Very sad.

I'm actually surprised that they are considering doing any new sitcoms at all. It seems that stations have gone for reality and talent shows instead. Very sad.
Not really. There's been a huge upswing in comedies the past 2 years or so. Reality shows are fading a bit.

NBC does need to go broader. I love Parks and Recreation, but it's just not working all that well. They tried the "smart" comedies, and with that, their Thursday Night "MUST SEE TV" lineup collapsed. Its time for a change. Kudos, NBC.
I can see how the "comedy night done right" era was/is "sophisticated." They can also be just as silly and as much a sitcom as any other. Anyone can enjoy them. But at this point, the workplace comedy could use a rest for a while, IMO.

Is "Up All Night" considered in the new direction? It's a workplace sitcom AND a family sitcom.

Although the three are bunched into the "sophisticated" genre, they're very different. I never got into Community and mainly just like Parks and Rec for the funny Amy Pohler. 30 Rock is hilarious because it combines the sophisticated sitcom genre with just plain old stupid comedy and it works so well. Tracy Jordan is a legend in his own time!

Sophisticated sitcoms do seem to have a limited range of appeal, but that's not to say they can't be hugely successful. In the early '90s, Frasier really capitalised on the market.

30 Rock apparently does fairly well in syndication so that's good.30 Rock started out in primetime on WGN but quickly got pulled from primetime. It also had an 11PM slot that got pushed to 1AM. And while 30 Rock is in local syndication none of my locals thought it was worth picking up. That doesn't exactly sound like it's doing well.

Sophisticated sitcoms do seem to have a limited range of appeal, but that's not to say they can't be hugely successful. In the early '90s, Frasier really capitalised on the market.The difference is Frasier was actually funny most of the time! Today's sophisticated comedies aren't funny, they don't have the good acting and writing Frasier did.

30 Rock started out in primetime on WGN but quickly got pulled from primetime. It also had an 11PM slot that got pushed to 1AM. And while 30 Rock is in local syndication none of my locals thought it was worth picking up. That doesn't exactly sound like it's doing well.

No. it's doing very well. Nationally it's pulling in very respectable numbers in syndication.

30 Rock started out in primetime on WGN but quickly got pulled from primetime. It also had an 11PM slot that got pushed to 1AM. And while 30 Rock is in local syndication none of my locals thought it was worth picking up. That doesn't exactly sound like it's doing well.

http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2012/05/15/new-yorkers-flock-to-syndicated-30-rock/134317/

http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2012/03/08/30-rock-soars-in-february-2012-sweep-in-syndication/123630/

Oops! Sorry actual facts and numbers trumped your extremely hypothetical argument.


The difference is Frasier was actually funny most of the time! Today's sophisticated comedies aren't funny, they don't have the good acting and writing Frasier did.


Well, that's it then. I thought 30 Rock, Community, and Parks & Rec were better than Fraiser, but since you disagree, they must not be funny at all. Thanks for pointing that out.

I can see how the "comedy night done right" era was/is "sophisticated." They can also be just as silly and as much a sitcom as any other. Anyone can enjoy them. But at this point, the workplace comedy could use a rest for a while, IMO.

Is "Up All Night" considered in the new direction? It's a workplace sitcom AND a family sitcom.
I believe one of the many ridiculous things Greenblatt said at this session was that Up All Night and Whitney were "steps in the right direction". But considering Whitney's ratings were exactly the same as the shows he blasted for being too sophisticated (and lower than P&R's) and Up All Night was even lower, I wonder what direction they're planning on taking here.

I thought 30 Rock, Community, and Parks & Rec were better than Fraiser,And I think Frasier is better than all 3 of those shows combined. :D

Oops! Sorry actual facts and numbers trumped your extremely hypothetical argument.I posted facts in my "hypothetical" argument as well.
FACT: 30 Rock started out in primetime on WGN but quickly got pulled from primetime.
It couldn't even last two months in its weeknight primetime slots, it lost all ten of them!
FACT: It also had an 11PM slot that got pushed to 1AM.
That sounds like a timeslot downgrade to me!
FACT: Despite it being available in syndication none of my locals are airing it.
Ok I worded that a bit different but the above statement is still true.

Can you please explain to me how Parks and Recreation is any smarter and more sophisticated than other comedies on TV? They had an extended sequence this past season of the entire cast slipping on ice to the tune of Gloria Estefan's Get On Your Feet. It was wonderful, but how the hell is that "sophisticated"?

It seems "sophisticated and niche" has become code for "well-written" while "broad and mass appeal" has become code for "crap". Which is really, really sad. It wasn't always that way. What happened to the days when shows like Cheers or The Mary Tyler Moore Show could become mass appeal hits?

100% agree. Parks & Rec is a hilarious show and it's not for a niche audience but for whatever reason, it can't find a mainstream audience. I don't know why. NBC is making a bad decision if they are sacrificing quality for broadness... it's not going to work and they'll get similar numbers but with lesser quality shows. They need to keep making quality shows and hope one sticks like Modern Family did for ABC.

And I think Frasier is better than all 3 of those shows combined. :D
http://i849.photobucket.com/albums/ab52/Ashlee5665/Random/lizclap.gifhttp://i849.photobucket.com/albums/ab52/Ashlee5665/Random/rondrunkdance.gifCongratulations!!!http://i849.photobucket.com/albums/ab52/Ashlee5665/Random/lizclap.gifhttp://i849.photobucket.com/albums/ab52/Ashlee5665/Random/tinahighfiveself.gif

nbcshow i do watch are grimm american ninja warrio and american got tlant i hated when they cancled hereos it seem ike every newshow come on theyget ridof iti also just got into awake do es any onek nowi f its been caned? their coming out with new show called revoultion it kind of looks like lost or jericho

http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2012/05/15/new-yorkers-flock-to-syndicated-30-rock/134317/

http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2012/03/08/30-rock-soars-in-february-2012-sweep-in-syndication/123630/

Oops! Sorry actual facts and numbers trumped your extremely hypothetical argument.
It may be "soaring", but when you go from nothing to something, it's not that big of a deal. From the data I've seen, its tied with It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia for the second lowest rated sitcom in syndication (for the numbers that are reported, anyways). The sitcom that it actually does better than: 'Til Death.

You know what I don't understand. Is why can't they make a variety of different kind of shows. I am a fan of a wide variety of different sitcoms and, let me just say this parks and recreation is not sophisticated lol WTH. That being said I do think it is absolutely hilarious and I do like the show a great deal. I have seen the first 2 seasons and I’m waiting on the 3rd to arrive.30 rock is also a funny show. The little bit of it. I have seen I just haven't seen a lot of it yet.

http://i849.photobucket.com/albums/ab52/Ashlee5665/Random/lizclap.gifhttp://i849.photobucket.com/albums/ab52/Ashlee5665/Random/rondrunkdance.gifCongratulations!!!http://i849.photobucket.com/albums/ab52/Ashlee5665/Random/lizclap.gifhttp://i849.photobucket.com/albums/ab52/Ashlee5665/Random/tinahighfiveself.gif



Aubrey is hot:)

NBC needs a Big Bang Theory :D

It's about time! NBC's niche, "sophisticated" comedies have sucked and are very unfunny.


I agree with that. I just don't watch NBC anymore except for SNL sometimes and the today show occasionally but that's all. I watch CBS more than NBC.

This phrase "sophisicated comdey" keeps getting bannitied around and then 30 rock, community, parks & rec, the office are listed.

ARE you SERIOUS!:mad: :mad:

NONE of these are "sophisticated" :rolleyes: in any shape, matter, form, or even on the third thursday of a week.

I have a word for them: puerile

And poehler, is neither funny, nor attactive.

Thats the whole reason similar are not going to be made, and the sooner they are cancelled the better for NBC and the TV viewing audience. Basically NBC should just cancel all but 2 shows and start over.

The audience has spoken and there is nothing to watch in the shows mentioned, and this announcement would not have even been made. The general aka wider aka broader audience doesn't go for these shows. They watch Last Man Standing (PIE RACK!), Happy Endings, Modern Family.

Yeah, there may be an audience for them, not me and I am in the key demo, and I find the revolting, and so does the rest of this block. Which is why NBC is in this position and taking this action.

Enjoy while they last, they are on the way out. With possibly nothing worth being on to replace them too, but thats the chances you take.

This phrase "sophisicated comdey" keeps getting bannitied around and then 30 rock, community, parks & rec, the office are listed.

ARE you SERIOUS!:mad: :mad:

NONE of these are "sophisticated" :rolleyes: in any shape, matter, form, or even on the third thursday of a week.

I have a word for them: puerile

And poehler, is neither funny, nor attactive.

Thats the whole reason similar are not going to be made, and the sooner they are cancelled the better for NBC and the TV viewing audience. Basically NBC should just cancel all but 2 shows and start over.

The audience has spoken and there is nothing to watch in the shows mentioned, and this announcement would not have even been made. The general aka wider aka broader audience doesn't go for these shows. They watch Last Man Standing (PIE RACK!), Happy Endings, Modern Family.

Yeah, there may be an audience for them, not me and I am in the key demo, and I find the revolting, and so does the rest of this block. Which is why NBC is in this position and taking this action.

Enjoy while they last, they are on the way out. With possibly nothing worth being on to replace them too, but thats the chances you take.




Ok buddy while I agree with you that these are not my fav type of shows. I do still think there is a place for them. I think parks and recreation is a very funny show with very funny characters. That being said my fav show on TV today is Modern Family.

It may be "soaring", but when you go from nothing to something, it's not that big of a deal. From the data I've seen, its tied with It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia for the second lowest rated sitcom in syndication (for the numbers that are reported, anyways). The sitcom that it actually does better than: 'Til Death.
Since you clearly didn't bother to read the articles before posting, I'll quote this part of them for you:

In fact, ratings for “30 Rock” have increased 60 percent over the show it replaced, megahit “The Simpsons” (WNYW at 11:30 pm daily), in the first full week (ending May 6) of the all-important May sweep.

On New York’s WNYW, the “30 Rock” achievement is especially notable since the program in the February 2011 sweep which it replaced is the legendary “Seinfeld.”

Didn't realize two of the biggest syndication giants of our time were "nothing".

30 Rock and Always Sunny both air in mostly late timeslots, meaning their numbers will naturally be lower. But both shows do well for their time, especially 30 Rock.

For this little gem, I needed a whole seperate post.

This phrase "sophisicated comdey" keeps getting bannitied around and then 30 rock, community, parks & rec, the office are listed.

ARE you SERIOUS!:mad: :mad:

NONE of these are "sophisticated" :rolleyes: in any shape, matter, form, or even on the third thursday of a week.
I'm not sure I should even continue since you apparently live in a different world from us, a world where there are three Thursdays in a week. But anyway...

I have a word for them: puerile
Aw, you used a big word. YOU'RE the sophisticated one!

And poehler, is neither funny, nor attactive.
But sexism is very attractive.

Thats the whole reason similar are not going to be made, and the sooner they are cancelled the better for NBC and the TV viewing audience. Basically NBC should just cancel all but 2 shows and start over.
You're right, the entire TV viewing audience should have these shows taken away because you don't like them. Your opinion is truly the only one that matters.

The audience has spoken and there is nothing to watch in the shows mentioned, and this announcement would not have even been made. The general aka wider aka broader audience doesn't go for these shows. They watch Last Man Standing (PIE RACK!), Happy Endings, Modern Family.
Last Man Standing and Happy Endings (a show I love, by the way) are not doing so much better than any of these shows, so...

Yeah, there may be an audience for them, not me and I am in the key demo, and I find the revolting, and so does the rest of this block. Which is why NBC is in this position and taking this action.
I'm so glad you've appointed yourself as the spokeman of all human beings aged 18 to 49.

Enjoy while they last, they are on the way out. With possibly nothing worth being on to replace them too, but thats the chances you take.
Thanks, I will! In the meantime, maybe you should shut off the internet for a while while learning the definition of "opinion". Perhaps you could stop by the dictionary on your way to the thesaurus while looking for more great words like "puerile".

Aubrey is hot:)
Thanks.

NBC needs a Big Bang Theory :D
omg we need another big bang theory like we need a hole in the head

jk there's a plethora of them over at TBS

This phrase "sophisicated comdey" keeps getting bannitied around and then 30 rock, community, parks & rec, the office are listed.

ARE you SERIOUS!:mad: :mad:

NONE of these are "sophisticated" :rolleyes: in any shape, matter, form, or even on the third thursday of a week.

I have a word for them: puerile

And poehler, is neither funny, nor attactive.

Thats the whole reason similar are not going to be made, and the sooner they are cancelled the better for NBC and the TV viewing audience. Basically NBC should just cancel all but 2 shows and start over.

The audience has spoken and there is nothing to watch in the shows mentioned, and this announcement would not have even been made. The general aka wider aka broader audience doesn't go for these shows. They watch Last Man Standing (PIE RACK!), Happy Endings, Modern Family.

Yeah, there may be an audience for them, not me and I am in the key demo, and I find the revolting, and so does the rest of this block. Which is why NBC is in this position and taking this action.

Enjoy while they last, they are on the way out. With possibly nothing worth being on to replace them too, but thats the chances you take.
OMG dude. Calm down. CALM DOWN! Your side is winning! You should be dancing in the streets!

lol, that is until my generation takes over the TV. We're going to **** some serious **** up. But I mean in the mean time...street dancing! party:

P.S. Amy Poehler is borderline God and her personality radiates sunshine and rainbows so I'm sorry you're missing out on that.

http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m7r3ngECps1qebseoo4_250.jpg

Since you clearly didn't bother to read the articles before posting, I'll quote this part of them for you:

Didn't realize two of the biggest syndication giants of our time were "nothing".

30 Rock and Always Sunny both air in mostly late timeslots, meaning their numbers will naturally be lower. But both shows do well for their time, especially 30 Rock.
A 1.3HH number is good? 'Til Death, which has had even worse timeslots and limited exposure, has pulled in 0.8's and 0.9's.

Seinfeld and The Simpsons could have just had bad numbers in the timeslots. If you have a 1.0HH and beat the 0.6HH it had, the percentage would be quite drastic. Yes, it is an improvement, but I'm guessing its run in syndication will be a short one. The numbers simply are not there for 30 Rock.

I will say that it's interesting that we're arguing over ratings, as if ratings dictates whether a show is good or bad. I think it's pretty clear the majority of America likes crap.

A 1.3HH number is good? 'Til Death, which has had even worse timeslots and limited exposure, has pulled in 0.8's and 0.9's.

Seinfeld and The Simpsons could have just had bad numbers in the timeslots. If you have a 1.0HH and beat the 0.6HH it had, the percentage would be quite drastic. Yes, it is an improvement, but I'm guessing its run in syndication will be a short one. The numbers simply are not there for 30 Rock.
Oh cool! You actually read the article this time! Now we can actually discuss things!

Anyway, a 1.3 HH number is not bad for syndication. Is it The Big Bang Theory? No, but most shows aren't. The Big Bang Theory has much more timeslots and exposure (many of them primetime). In comparison to other shows that air with similar timeslot and exposure, 30 Rock is doing well.

And uh...Seinfeld and The Simpsons are GIANTS. I highly doubt they were doing poorly in those slots, but even if they were, its impressive 30 Rock has gained on them 60% regardless.

But hey, if you want to ignore actual data in favor of baseless hypothetical statements, go ahead! It's your life bro!

Oh cool! You actually read the article this time! Now we can actually discuss things!

Anyway, a 1.3 HH number is not bad for syndication. Is it The Big Bang Theory? No, but most shows aren't. The Big Bang Theory has much more timeslots and exposure (many of them primetime). In comparison to other shows that air with similar timeslot and exposure, 30 Rock is doing well.

And uh...Seinfeld and The Simpsons are GIANTS. I highly doubt they were doing poorly in those slots, but even if they were, its impressive 30 Rock has gained on them 60% regardless.

But hey, if you want to ignore actual data in favor of baseless hypothetical statements, go ahead! It's your life bro!
No need to go after me for not reading something in the link you posted. I simply glanced over it. :confused:

Most recent syndication numbers (via Broadcasting and Cable):
The Big Bang Theory - 6.2
Two and a Half Men - 5.1
Family Guy - 4.0
How I Met Your Mother - 2.9
Seinfeld - 2.4
King of the Hill - 2.4
Everybody Loves Raymond - 2.1
Friends - 1.9

And where is 30 Rock? All the way at the bottom with 'Til Death.

I'd have to think The Simpsons and Seinfeld were doing poorly enough in those timeslots for them to be replaced. Plus those results were from ONE city, not every city in the country that broadcasts it. In the one article (February sweeps) it only mentions increases in six cities - wahoo how good *sarcasm*.

I'm sorry, but I fail to see how 30 Rock's ratings are all that good in syndication.

I just checked my locals and 30 Rock airs here on 2 stations. One is in the 11:00 hour and the other is at midnight. It's probably doing okay for latenight. I haven't seen it in any of the prime hours this year. I will say though that all the comedies on NBC are better then reality shows. Even if I don't like some of them, at least they are script.

Ratings or what anybody else likes virtually doesn't matter to me, because most people have terrible tastes. The only thing that matters to me is if I like the show.

No need to go after me for not reading something in the link you posted. I simply glanced over it. :confused:

Most recent syndication numbers (via Broadcasting and Cable):
The Big Bang Theory - 6.2
Two and a Half Men - 5.1
Family Guy - 4.0
How I Met Your Mother - 2.9
Seinfeld - 2.4
King of the Hill - 2.4
Everybody Loves Raymond - 2.1
Friends - 1.9

And where is 30 Rock? All the way at the bottom with 'Til Death.

I'd have to think The Simpsons and Seinfeld were doing poorly enough in those timeslots for them to be replaced. Plus those results were from ONE city, not every city in the country that broadcasts it. In the one article (February sweeps) it only mentions increases in six cities - wahoo how good *sarcasm*.

I'm sorry, but I fail to see how 30 Rock's ratings are all that good in syndication.
Three of those six cities were New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles...you know, the top three markets in the country that reach the most people.

Seriously, I don't know how many times I have to explain that you cannot compare a show that airs mostly in late night timeslots to shows that air mainly in primetime/afternoon slots (aka all of the shows you listed), but I'm going to do the opposite of what Liz Lemon would do and let you sit there and be wrong since the idea of 30 Rock not doing well in syndication seems to fill you with joy for some reason.

Ratings or what anybody else likes virtually doesn't matter to me, because most people have terrible tastes. The only thing that matters to me is if I like the show.
This is incredibly true of course.

Seriously, I don't know how many times I have to explain that you cannot compare a show that airs mostly in late night timeslots to shows that air mainly in primetime/afternoon slots (aka all of the shows you listed), but I'm going to do the opposite of what Liz Lemon would do and let you sit there and be wrong since the idea of 30 Rock not doing well in syndication seems to fill you with joy for some reason.
I've compared it to similar shows too. 30 Rock has won tons of Emmy Awards, yet does similar to a show that delivers half of the audience on FX and has little to no awards (It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia). They both air in late night timeslots, with Sunny getting even worse timeslots in bigger markets.

And it doesn't fill me with joy. I'm just stating the facts here. I'm using the numbers and leaving all personal hate/love of the show on the sidelines.

I've compared it to similar shows too. 30 Rock has won tons of Emmy Awards, yet does similar to a show that delivers half of the audience on FX and has little to no awards (It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia). They both air in late night timeslots, with Sunny getting even worse timeslots in bigger markets.

And it doesn't fill me with joy. I'm just stating the facts here. I'm using the numbers and leaving all personal hate/love of the show on the sidelines.
30 Rock and Always Sunny are both similarly niche comedies that don't appeal to mass audiences but have dedicated followings. Not sure what Emmy awards have to do with anything but they have similar followings so their syndication performance being similar is not surprising at all.

If you can give me ratings from other shows that aren't syndication giants airing in the very best timeslots, maybe I'll take your numbers to heart, but you've yet to do that, the exception being Till Death (whose numbers are significantly below 30 Rock's so that's really proving my point). From what I've seen, 30 Rock's numbers generally tend to hover around the 1.3-1.6 range, which isn't even all that much below Friends (which, again, is a much bigger show with much better timeslots) and above what I usually see for Sunny and Til Death (who have comparable timeslots and promotion).

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/bastard-machine/NBC-fall-season-Community-Parks-and-Recreation-354619

A closer reading of what NBC entertainment chairman Robert Greenblatt said about sophisticated sitcoms reveals that he's not giving up on smart comedies in an attempt to "broaden" the audience.

As much as I appreciate that reporter's attempt to spin this into a positive, I just think it's really clear what NBC is doing. It's not like this is all out of nowhere. The last "acclaimed" comedy they've launched was Community in 2009. In the past 2 years they've launched a string of truly stupid shows like Outsourced, Whitney and Are You There Chelsea. And the previews for all of these new shows just look very dumb (except for Go On which just looks like a boring version of Community, but is the only show that looks to me like it could possibly turn into something decent). Combine that with the fact that both 30 Rock and Community got the shaft this year with 13-episode orders and it all make sense.

I don't think it's going to work or last, but I do think it's happening.

30 Rock and Always Sunny are both similarly niche comedies that don't appeal to mass audiences but have dedicated followings. Not sure what Emmy awards have to do with anything but they have similar followings so their syndication performance being similar is not surprising at all.

If you can give me ratings from other shows that aren't syndication giants airing in the very best timeslots, maybe I'll take your numbers to heart, but you've yet to do that, the exception being Till Death (whose numbers are significantly below 30 Rock's so that's really proving my point). From what I've seen, 30 Rock's numbers generally tend to hover around the 1.3-1.6 range, which isn't even all that much below Friends (which, again, is a much bigger show with much better timeslots) and above what I usually see for Sunny and Til Death (who have comparable timeslots and promotion).
The highest I've seen 30 Rock is a 1.4HH. Friends was usually above a 2.0HH, but has fallen below a 2.0 since the summer season began.

But we're never going to agree on this issue so I guess we will have to agree to disagree. :lol:

Oh cool! You actually read the article this time! Now we can actually discuss things!

Anyway, a 1.3 HH number is not bad for syndication. Is it The Big Bang Theory? No, but most shows aren't. The Big Bang Theory has much more timeslots and exposure (many of them primetime). In comparison to other shows that air with similar timeslot and exposure, 30 Rock is doing well.

And uh...Seinfeld and The Simpsons are GIANTS. I highly doubt they were doing poorly in those slots, but even if they were, its impressive 30 Rock has gained on them 60% regardless.

But hey, if you want to ignore actual data in favor of baseless hypothetical statements, go ahead! It's your life bro!

I think we should also think about the fact that Seinfeld and The Simpsons have been in syndication now for over a decade so perhaps there syndicated ratings are lower because of viewer fatigue? Perhaps audience simply gravitate towards a show that hasn't aired in syndication forever?

I'm sure 30 Rock will get renewed for at least another cycle in syndication.

It's possible, although Seinfeld still pulls in big syndication numbers, as evidenced by the list posted on the previous page. The Simpsons seems like it probably doesn't do significantly better than 30 Rock on the whole. But either way, an improvement's an improvement, and I'm sure a timeslot on a major network in the massive market that is NYC with 2 big shows was getting a fair amount of viewers.

I'm someone who enjoys both single-camera and multi-camera comedies equally. I grew up on multi-cams, and it wasn't until I discovered Scrubs a few years ago that I begun to truly understand what makes the single-camera format as distinct and unique as it is. A show like Scrubs, or Community or Modern Family... these aren't "sophisticated comedies," they're merely well written comedies and the writing is intelligent. I wouldn't necessarily say The Big Bang Theory is a worse show than Modern Family because it automatically isn't as "sophisticated" or "intelligent," and there's no reason why I can't enjoy Community and Two and a Half Men. If NBC wants to broaden their comedy brand, it's perfectly understandable given their ratings trouble, but renewing "Whitney" just to renew your first multi-camera in years isn't the solution. NBC's current comedy roster will never find broad appeal, and I understand that. There's no need to fight over syndication numbers though. That's just silly. It's also not the issue at hand. Greenblatt has lost any confidence I held that he was going to be the Peacock's solution, and that's a shame. I do however look forward to "Go On," especially since given NBC's current threshold for renewal, Matthew Perry might finally see a second season of one of his post-Friends shows!

I am a big fan of The Office and especially Parks and Recreation. Not so much on Community but they do have their fans.

The Office had its run. Although I have enjoyed the eighth season, many people turned off when Steve Carrell left. Parks has been on the edge of cancellation from day one, but, like Community has a cult audience. It is also on NBC, the fourth rating network. Parks would not have survived on ABC and FOX/CBS would have cancelled it three shows in.

I have always had a soft spot for NBC. Except for the 1980's, the network has always been low rated (well since the 1960's), but I have enjoyed many good shows from that network, many old shows that stand up today.

Puerile was the best word that describes it. It has nothing to do with "big word" or sophicsticated... some people just have a different vocabulary.

As for dancing in the street, yes I am! all the dreck on NBC is on its way out... with the possability that it might get replaced with some thing better! Just maybe... although most in hollywood can't seem to get past recycling inlcuding NBC. I don't need remakes, reboots, or worse "reimaging" of past shows or movies. Your the creative ones, your paid to be creative, so CREATE!

Clean up the rest of the dreck reality crap and it would be great. NBC or any one else.

Yes I happen to be the spokesperson for the 18-49, male group. We are the ones with the MONEY! And don't waste it on flatulence applications for our phone. I like to be amused as much of the next person, but the days of "whoopy cushions" etc. are long past... unfortunately some have not left this behind and think it should be mainstream. 8th grade is over for most of us and has been.

As for poehler, not attractive, not humorus, not funny, not amusing, never will be. Sexist it may be, but sex sells, has since day 1. Theres a reason that a nobody company from COLUMBUS OH has turned into a huge seller of sex with their own special. I can remember when their shops were little more than broom closests in most malls. Now they take up huge spaces, and before the sell off, they could probably fill the spaces that many major mall anchors like Macys etc. fill. They sold many of these brands including the companies name sake to concentrate on what, VSC, or in other words, SEX.

Theres alot of shows I like that may not be ratings hits... but the heads of the network didn't go out and make a speech about them and say "their crap, they don't work, were going to go a different direction.." and MORE IMPORTANT they have wider appeal than the 8th grade juvenille humour of the NBC shows.

The experiment is over,it failed, miserably. Thats one of the reasons GE sold the thing off!

If you honestly think the NBC shows are "8th grade juvenile humor" then you haven't seen enough of them to make a fully-formed opinion, and that's the last thing I can say because I don't know how to argue with someone who doesn't know what "sexism" means.

Puerile was the best word that describes it. It has nothing to do with "big word" or sophicsticated... some people just have a different vocabulary.

As for dancing in the street, yes I am! all the dreck on NBC is on its way out... with the possability that it might get replaced with some thing better! Just maybe... although most in hollywood can't seem to get past recycling inlcuding NBC. I don't need remakes, reboots, or worse "reimaging" of past shows or movies. Your the creative ones, your paid to be creative, so CREATE!

Clean up the rest of the dreck reality crap and it would be great. NBC or any one else.

Yes I happen to be the spokesperson for the 18-49, male group. We are the ones with the MONEY! And don't waste it on flatulence applications for our phone. I like to be amused as much of the next person, but the days of "whoopy cushions" etc. are long past... unfortunately some have not left this behind and think it should be mainstream. 8th grade is over for most of us and has been.

As for poehler, not attractive, not humorus, not funny, not amusing, never will be. Sexist it may be, but sex sells, has since day 1. Theres a reason that a nobody company from COLUMBUS OH has turned into a huge seller of sex with their own special. I can remember when their shops were little more than broom closests in most malls. Now they take up huge spaces, and before the sell off, they could probably fill the spaces that many major mall anchors like Macys etc. fill. They sold many of these brands including the companies name sake to concentrate on what, VSC, or in other words, SEX.

Theres alot of shows I like that may not be ratings hits... but the heads of the network didn't go out and make a speech about them and say "their crap, they don't work, were going to go a different direction.." and MORE IMPORTANT they have wider appeal than the 8th grade juvenille humour of the NBC shows.

The experiment is over,it failed, miserably. Thats one of the reasons GE sold the thing off!


Um... what? :confused:

If anything needs a serious retool, it's the Today Show.

I hate when networks make announcements like this. First off these types of things never stick. As soon as they find a pilot that is funny enough or would be popular enough they'll make a single camera comedy again. I just think they are trying to do anything they can to make their fall shows a hit. We'll see what happens.

It's also just a coincidence that a number of these shows are nearing their ends so NBC is using that as a way to pretend that they are changing gears when really they just want some attention.

Oh how the mighty have fallen since the glory days when Family Ties, Cheers, Frasier, Friends, ER, Law & Order and Will & Grace held the coveted spots on Thursday nights.

Just bring back ALF. That's the solution to everything.

NBC is nothing but JUNK.