Back To You Creator Steve Levitan Will NEVER Work For FOX Again! - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Brian Damage · 07-11-2009, 10:54 PM

Modern Family creator and executive producer Steve Levitan will “never” work with the Fox Network again.

“I’ve done about four to five shows in a row on Fox,” he said July 9 at an LATV Fest luncheon Q&A moderated by B&C Executive Editor Melissa Grego. “I have sworn off the Fox network. I’m done.”

Levitan also revealed that he flips the Fox network building the bird every time he passes it. He put up both fingers to explain what he does whenever he drives by the Fox lot (his producing deal is at the network’s sister studio 20th Century Fox TV).

His disdain for the network was spurred by the cancellation of the Kelsey Grammer and Patricia Heaton starrer Back To You, his series which aired on Fox from 2007-2008 and delivered respectable ratings and reviews. Many in the industry expected the show to get picked up, and Levitan said he was told it was – earlier on the same day he was later told it was done.

Levitan and his producing partner Christopher Lloyd, had originally shopped Back To You around to all four networks and the only one without interest was NBC, where then NBC Entertainment President Kevin Reilly was calling the shots. Reilly later moved to his current post as Fox Entertainment President. At the time the show was pitched, Fox had shown the most interest in the project, so they decided to take the series there.

“It was a giant mistake on our part,” Levitan said. “It wasn’t the right fit.”

The series was canceled when Reilly left NBC and came over to Fox.

“The person who didn’t want it originally decided its fate,” Levitan said.

TVSeriesFinale.com quoted Reilly responding to the show’s cancelation in an article in May 2008: “This was not an easy decision but with that kind of top-profile talent and… proximity to [American Idol] in the second half of the season, the expectations were higher.” He continued, “The show did not seem to be striking a chord, and in terms of creative direction… it was a pretty mixed bag.”

After it’s cancellation, ratings in the slot went down, according to Levitan. His partner Lloyd, apparently on the same page with his feelings toward Fox, let Reilly know how he felt with a regular dispatch of emails, Levitan said. “Every Thursday morning, Chris would ‘congratulate’ Kevin Reilly on the ratings for the other show,” Levitan said, adding Lloyd never got a response.

Fox declined to comment at press time.

Levitan now sees the cancellation as perhaps for the best.

“If it had not been cancelled, I probably wouldn’t have done [Modern Family],” he said, noting that he sees Modern Family’s long-term viability as better than Back to You’s was. “Maybe it is the best thing that could have happened.”

http://www.broadcastingcable.com/blo...x_The_Bird.php

Mr. Television · 07-11-2009, 10:57 PM

I don't blame him one bit. Fox is a terrible network for sitcoms. I think if he took BTY to CBS, it would still be on today.

Brian Damage · 07-11-2009, 11:00 PM

Agreed, but I don't really blame him for taking the show to FOX, because they promised him and the show so much.

Marvo301 · 07-11-2009, 11:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brian Damage

Agreed, but I don't really blame him for taking the show to FOX, because they promised him and the show so much.

Promises don't mean didley in Hollywood!

Brian Damage · 07-11-2009, 11:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marvo301

Promises don't mean didley in Hollywood!

Very true

Mr. Television · 07-11-2009, 11:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marvo301

Promises don't mean didley in Hollywood!

Yea that's true.

I would like to know what the creator of 'Til Death has over the executives at Fox? I don't have any idea why that show is still on the air with the ratings they get. lol

Brian Damage · 07-11-2009, 11:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Clint Eastwood Fan

Yea that's true.

I would like to know what the creator of 'Til Death has over the executives at Fox? I don't have any idea why that show is still on the air with the ratings they get. lol

nude photos of Rupert Murdoch perhaps???

Marvo301 · 07-11-2009, 11:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brian Damage

nude photos of Rupert Murdoch perhaps???

Mr. Television · 07-11-2009, 11:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brian Damage

nude photos of Rupert Murdoch perhaps???

JulieSomoski · 07-12-2009, 12:02 AM

It still saddens me everytime I watch Back to You to know that there's no more, and there never will be. FOX made one big mistake with this show. I love how they say expectations were higher when BTY aired after Idol - for one, it was for 2 episodes, and two, it did over 12 million viewers both nights, something Fringe and Glee or anything else did since then.

This show will always be missed by many people. They should have taken it to CBS, sure, but FOX promised them a bright future and then turned their backs on it. Hopefully Modern Family will live upt to expectations this fall.

catlover79 · 07-12-2009, 12:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Clint Eastwood Fan

I don't blame him one bit. Fox is a terrible network for sitcoms. I think if he took BTY to CBS, it would still be on today.

Sonny, I couldn't have put it better myself. I don't blame him one bit for not wanting to work for FOX again - I know I wouldn't.

catlover79 · 07-12-2009, 12:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brian Damage

nude photos of Rupert Murdoch perhaps???

Ewwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww...

07-11-2009, 10:54 PM	#1
Brian Damage I'm Rich Bitch Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 03, 2002 Location: What Ain't No Country I Ever Heard Of...They Speak English in What? Posts: 63,108	Back To You Creator Steve Levitan Will NEVER Work For FOX Again! Modern Family creator and executive producer Steve Levitan will “never” work with the Fox Network again. “I’ve done about four to five shows in a row on Fox,” he said July 9 at an LATV Fest luncheon Q&A moderated by B&C Executive Editor Melissa Grego. “I have sworn off the Fox network. I’m done.” Levitan also revealed that he flips the Fox network building the bird every time he passes it. He put up both fingers to explain what he does whenever he drives by the Fox lot (his producing deal is at the network’s sister studio 20th Century Fox TV). His disdain for the network was spurred by the cancellation of the Kelsey Grammer and Patricia Heaton starrer Back To You, his series which aired on Fox from 2007-2008 and delivered respectable ratings and reviews. Many in the industry expected the show to get picked up, and Levitan said he was told it was – earlier on the same day he was later told it was done. Levitan and his producing partner Christopher Lloyd, had originally shopped Back To You around to all four networks and the only one without interest was NBC, where then NBC Entertainment President Kevin Reilly was calling the shots. Reilly later moved to his current post as Fox Entertainment President. At the time the show was pitched, Fox had shown the most interest in the project, so they decided to take the series there. “It was a giant mistake on our part,” Levitan said. “It wasn’t the right fit.” The series was canceled when Reilly left NBC and came over to Fox. “The person who didn’t want it originally decided its fate,” Levitan said. TVSeriesFinale.com quoted Reilly responding to the show’s cancelation in an article in May 2008: “This was not an easy decision but with that kind of top-profile talent and… proximity to [American Idol] in the second half of the season, the expectations were higher.” He continued, “The show did not seem to be striking a chord, and in terms of creative direction… it was a pretty mixed bag.” After it’s cancellation, ratings in the slot went down, according to Levitan. His partner Lloyd, apparently on the same page with his feelings toward Fox, let Reilly know how he felt with a regular dispatch of emails, Levitan said. “Every Thursday morning, Chris would ‘congratulate’ Kevin Reilly on the ratings for the other show,” Levitan said, adding Lloyd never got a response. Fox declined to comment at press time. Levitan now sees the cancellation as perhaps for the best. “If it had not been cancelled, I probably wouldn’t have done [Modern Family],” he said, noting that he sees Modern Family’s long-term viability as better than Back to You’s was. “Maybe it is the best thing that could have happened.” http://www.broadcastingcable.com/blo...x_The_Bird.php
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07-11-2009, 10:57 PM	#2
Mr. Television 22 Years at Sitcoms Online Forum Icon Join Date: Jun 06, 2003 Location: Somewhere you're Not Posts: 62,125	I don't blame him one bit. Fox is a terrible network for sitcoms. I think if he took BTY to CBS, it would still be on today.
	__________________ Sonny

07-12-2009, 12:02 AM	#10
JulieSomoski Roseanne Reboot - March 27! Forum Veteran Join Date: Nov 06, 2004 Location: Michigan Posts: 7,558	It still saddens me everytime I watch Back to You to know that there's no more, and there never will be. FOX made one big mistake with this show. I love how they say expectations were higher when BTY aired after Idol - for one, it was for 2 episodes, and two, it did over 12 million viewers both nights, something Fringe and Glee or anything else did since then. This show will always be missed by many people. They should have taken it to CBS, sure, but FOX promised them a bright future and then turned their backs on it. Hopefully Modern Family will live upt to expectations this fall.
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07-11-2009, 11:00 PM	#3
Brian Damage I'm Rich Bitch Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 03, 2002 Location: What Ain't No Country I Ever Heard Of...They Speak English in What? Posts: 63,108	Agreed, but I don't really blame him for taking the show to FOX, because they promised him and the show so much.