Dear NBC: Your ‘Broader Is Better’ Strategy Failed. Can We Keep ‘Community’ Now?

[TMC]

http://www.uproxx.com/tv/2013/01/dea...community-now/

Robert Greenblatt, the chairman of NBC Entertainment, outlined at the Television Critic’s Association last summer his new strategy for comedies:

“We’re in a transition,” Greenblatt said. “We’re trying to broaden the audience.” And while he called the network’s Thursday roster–and Community, moving to Fridays, “great shows,” he frankly said: “We just can’t get the audience for them. They tend to be a little bit more narrow and more sophisticated than you want for a broad audience.”

The argument he made then, and continued to make all fall, is that broader is better. If NBC is going to succeed, it would need less sophisticated comedies with “niche” audiences, and more sitcoms that catered to a broader swath of viewers.

Greenblatt was wrong. His plan failed.

The numbers don’t lie, folks. Animal Practice was quickly canceled, for instance, and here is the list of NBC sitcoms and their ratings among the 18-49 demo for their last first run episode.

Go On: 1.3
New Normal: 1.2
30 Rock: 1.3
Parks and Rec: 1.9
The Office: 2.1
1600 Penn: 1.2
Whitney: 1.4
Guys with Kids: 1.3

You see that, folks? Without The Voice lead-in to bolster it, NBC’s only marginal success, Go On, gets ratings on par with Guys with Kids, and less than Whitney. The broad comedies are failing. They are getting Ben and Kate ratings. You see which of those shows had the highest ratings? The Office and Parks and Recreation (which is why Parks and Rec was moved to the renewal category this week).

Read more: http://www.uproxx.com/tv/2013/01/dea...#ixzz2J2TYOY6a

[benjamoon]

NBC definitely has problems with their comedies - but renewing "Community" is not the answer, that show has consistently gotten bottom of the barrel ratings. It's not a niche vs broad issue, it's making quality sitcoms - something will hit eventually like "Modern Family" for ABC and they can build from there.

NBC still has plenty of trouble but their dramas have been stronger than in years past - Revolution was a big success, Parenthood regularly won its timeslot, Chicago Fire has surprised, and Grimm continues to do well by Friday standards. I can see them cutting way back on comedy blocks next fall in favor of more dramas because that's where they're finding more success

[James28]

This is why NBC Primetime is a total flophouse.

[robyrob]

Community may be a "niche" show, but it has excellent writing with original stories to tell - it's just not everyone's thing

those new "broad" comedies on the other hand are just plain terrible, rehashed crap.

[Regulus]

"Broader is Better" = "Least Common Denominator" = More Dumbed-Down Shows.