ABC Upfront: Fall 2009

[Pavan]

Originally Posted by Superbowl

Good bye and good riddance. I have never forgiven that guy for canceling 8 Simple Rules while renewing that bunch of garbage he renewed in 2005, and not coming up with a successful sitcom from 2005 all the way until Modern Family in 2010. He basically leaves ABC as the network in the worst shape of any network this side of NBC. ABC has had terrible development for years and has almost no hits thanks to him except for Modern Family and DWTS/The Bachelor.

Considering the ABC pilots are getting absolutely no buzz going into this season they are bound to have a barren slate of new shows once again. ABC needs to hire someone to deliver the next hits. We all know McPherson never did that.

You're saying good riddance for someone losing their job? How nice. You're very vindictive and holding a grudge on something you had nothing to do with? The cast and crew of that series have totally moved on. And I love the show, too. But nothing in this business is fair or accurate (Nielsen). I would have brought back 8SR in a heartbeat, but it didn't happen--move on.

And ABC has not had "terrible development" for years, because each year they are the network with the most buzzed pilots (Pushing Daisies, FLASHFORWARD, etc), you just can't tell what shows will be big hits or not. If it were that easy, everyone would have hits. And this year while they might not have the buzz for their pilots, you can't say nothing will work (No Ordinary Family has a shot). Maybe buzz is something they don't need. Heck it has worked for CBS for most of their shows (don't remember any buzz for Big Bang's pilot?). Not saying McPherson did everything right, but he developed quality shows over the years (Samantha Who, Pushing Daisies, Dirty Sexy Money), some worked, some didn't unfortunately. All networks have new duds each year. To say ABC has no other hits besides Modern Family, Dancing, Bachelor makes no sense because they still have big hits that any other network would take in a heart beat like Desperate, Grey's, and upswinging Castle. He did his job because he put out the best pilots available I thought (with a few questionable non pick-ups like Secrets of a Small Town, Football Wives), but maybe it was time for a change as president of a network is not a long-term job historically.

Best of luck to Stephen McPherson and congrats to Paul Lee.


Official statement:

Statement on behalf of the Disney/ABC Television Group:

Steve McPherson today submitted his resignation as President, ABC Entertainment Group, and the Company accepted. Mr. McPherson said, "I want to thank the wonderful team of individuals who have worked with me throughout my time here and wish them nothing but the best.” A replacement for Mr. McPherson will be announced shortly.

[Superbowl]

How about all those people who lost their jobs on 8 Simple Rules, because that idiot canceled the show ? What still makes me angry to this day is not only did he move 8SR to the Friday death slot, and canceled it, but it was the shows he renewed instead of 8SR. You remember those shows like Jake In Progress, Rodney and Less Than Perfect that all had about 1-5 episode runs during that 2005-2006 season. ABC's development has terrible for years. Other than Modern Family they have nothing to show for the last several years. ABC is better off without that incompetent fool.



Here is what some of the media is saying about McPherson's failures :

Hollywood Reporter :

Although McPherson is credited for ordering last season's breakout comedy hit "Modern Family," which rival studio 20th Century Fox TV produced, he has had a modest track record during recent years for finding successful shows. ABC routinely develops more programs than any other major broadcaster but has had difficulty following up on such aging hits as "Grey's Anatomy," "Lost" and "Desperate Housewives" -- all of which were in development at Touchstone TV when McPherson was president.
Last season, ABC tied NBC for third place in primetime ratings, averaging a 2.7 in the adults 18-49 demographic.

"They haven't really done anything major since 'Housewives,' 'Lost' and 'Grey's,' and none of those shows generate a lot of money going into syndication," a rival executive said. "There's a performance failure the last few years. They've covered up a lot with 'Grey's' and 'Desperate Housewives' and 'Dancing With the Stars,' but it's a very hollow schedule at this point; there are no hits on the horizon. And while 'Modern Family' has done well, it's not like any of their other comedies that are close to being hits. They spend money like drunken sailors -- on talent, on development. For what they're spending, you'd expect bigger results."

From The Los Angeles Times :

McPherson, who played an instrumental role in ABC's turn-around in 2004 by shaping such hits as "Desperate Housewives," and later "Grey's Anatomy," was unable to produce a crop of new hits to pick up the slack as those popular but aging shows.

Originally Posted by Pavan

You're saying good riddance for someone losing their job? How nice. You're very vindictive and holding a grudge on something you had nothing to do with? The cast and crew of that series have totally moved on. And I love the show, too. But nothing in this business is fair or accurate (Nielsen). I would have brought back 8SR in a heartbeat, but it didn't happen--move on.

And ABC has not had "terrible development" for years, because each year they are the network with the most buzzed pilots (Pushing Daisies, FLASHFORWARD, etc), you just can't tell what shows will be big hits or not. If it were that easy, everyone would have hits. And this year while they might not have the buzz for their pilots, you can't say nothing will work (No Ordinary Family has a shot). Maybe buzz is something they don't need. Heck it has worked for CBS for most of their shows (don't remember any buzz for Big Bang's pilot?). Not saying McPherson did everything right, but he developed quality shows over the years (Samantha Who, Pushing Daisies, Dirty Sexy Money), some worked, some didn't unfortunately. All networks have new duds each year. To say ABC has no other hits besides Modern Family, Dancing, Bachelor makes no sense because they still have big hits that any other network would take in a heart beat like Desperate, Grey's, and upswinging Castle. He did his job because he put out the best pilots available I thought (with a few questionable non pick-ups like Secrets of a Small Town, Football Wives), but maybe it was time for a change as president of a network is not a long-term job historically.

Best of luck to Stephen McPherson and congrats to Paul Lee.


Official statement:

Statement on behalf of the Disney/ABC Television Group:

Steve McPherson today submitted his resignation as President, ABC Entertainment Group, and the Company accepted. Mr. McPherson said, "I want to thank the wonderful team of individuals who have worked with me throughout my time here and wish them nothing but the best.” A replacement for Mr. McPherson will be announced shortly.

[winger321]

Boston Med is a very good show. I would have aired that twice a week (Tuesdays and Thursdays). I'm sure they had hours of material that was not included which could easily have made for a second episode on a weekly basis.

[Pavan]

And if it were not for McPherson developing 8 Simple Rules at Touchstone there would be no show. You failed to mention that. I already said he was not perfect and made some moves I would not have done, but he was one of the few network execs who made bold moves and went with series that had quality instead of the regular cookie-cutter crime that you see on other networks. There has been no other shows on TV like Pushing Daisies, Eli Stone, etc. He took risks, obviously some worked, some didn't, some bad luck (writers' strike). To say he was a fool is idiotic. He had his job for 6 years, which is a lifetime for a network exec. It was this past TV season where he wasn't successful as he was in past seasons (yet they still beat NBC minus the Olympics), mainly because of declines in the second half of the season for its hits minus Dancing with the Stars. On the plus side, he did a good job with Comedy Wednesday and the patience on Castle. It was just last year ABC gave him the title of ABC Studios President as well. You don't give that to a fool.

[tvcrazed]

Nicely said Pavan. He also takes more chances creatively than any other broadcast net and a show like Pushing Daisies getting on the air is a prime example.

[Superbowl]

Originally Posted by Pavan

And if it were not for McPherson developing 8 Simple Rules at Touchstone there would be no show. You failed to mention that. I already said he was not perfect and made some moves I would not have done, but he was one of the few network execs who made bold moves and went with series that had quality instead of the regular cookie-cutter crime that you see on other networks. There has been no other shows on TV like Pushing Daisies, Eli Stone, etc. He took risks, obviously some worked, some didn't, some bad luck (writers' strike). To say he was a fool is idiotic. He had his job for 6 years, which is a lifetime for a network exec. It was this past TV season where he wasn't successful as he was in past seasons (yet they still beat NBC minus the Olympics), mainly because of declines in the second half of the season for its hits minus Dancing with the Stars. On the plus side, he did a good job with Comedy Wednesday and the patience on Castle. It was just last year ABC gave him the title of ABC Studios President as well. You don't give that to a fool.

Well, apparently Anne Sweeney agrees with me. ABC is better off without McPherson. They now can find the next hits.

[Pavan]

And if any of these new series hits big this season, it is because of McPherson. That will prove buzz doesn't mean anything.

[Superbowl]

Originally Posted by Pavan

And if any of these new series hits big this season, it is because of McPherson. That will prove buzz doesn't mean anything.

I guess anything can happen, but if any of these new ABC shows hit it big next season than it will be the upsest of the century. The buzz certainly helped Modern Family and Glee become hits last year. The potential hits for next season are Hawaii 5-0 for CBS (maybe The Defenders). Lonestar and Raising Hope on FOX. Nikita on the CW. Maybe The Event on NBC.

I have not heard a single new ABC show generating huge interest or buzz.

[Pavan]

Since when does CBS rely on buzz? The Defenders has about the same buzz as The Whole Truth. Buzz doesn't always mean anything or shows like FLASHFORWARD, The Class, Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip, etc would still be on today.

ABC has two great pilots in No Ordinary Family and My Generation. The former will work for sure I think as it fits ABC's brand very well and is very mainstream. My Generation is a risk and a good one because it is a quality show. I think Better With You might be one of the best new sitcoms, right up there with Raising Hope, but ratings might not show that for Hope. Detroit 1-8-7, The Whole Truth are CBS style, so who knows they could work. Well maybe Detroit is a bit like NYPD Blue, but I was never into that. Lonestar is a quality show for Fox, but I don't see it being a huge hit. But I commend Fox for putting a quality show.

[Superbowl]

Originally Posted by Pavan

Since when does CBS rely on buzz? The Defenders has about the same buzz as The Whole Truth. Buzz doesn't always mean anything or shows like FLASHFORWARD, The Class, Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip, etc would still be on today.

ABC has two great pilots in No Ordinary Family and My Generation. The former will work for sure I think as it fits ABC's brand very well and is very mainstream. My Generation is a risk and a good one because it is a quality show. I think Better With You might be one of the best new sitcoms, right up there with Raising Hope, but ratings might not show that for Hope. Detroit 1-8-7, The Whole Truth are CBS style, so who knows they could work. Well maybe Detroit is a bit like NYPD Blue, but I was never into that. Lonestar is a quality show for Fox, but I don't see it being a huge hit. But I commend Fox for putting a quality show.

That is well put coming from an ABC person, such as yourself. The word around the web and the media is no buzz in the ABC pilots. No Ordinary Family gets some mixed reviews, but not much else. In fact, some of the media has speculated that McPherson was fired because some of the ABC/Disney hire ups are dissatisfied with his new shows for the fall. I agree that anything can happen, and buzz does not always make great ratings, but judging by ABC's track record the past few years I would not bet on any of these new shows becoming hits. Remember, Modern Family had great buzz and great critical acclaim coming into last season, and it was their only hit for the past few years. Sometimes buzz and critical acclaim does matter.

[Pavan]

I don't know what you're talking about, but No Ordinary Family is probably in the top 5 pilots this season. It's certainly better reviewed than some of the shows you mentioned as "buzz" worthy (like The Defenders, Raising Hope). ABC doesn't have the top pilot like they have the last few years. But that is OK.

TV.com user poll (thousands have voted) top Fall pilots, % of users who will watch: No Ordinary Family 82%, Undercovers 81%, Hawaii Five-0 81%, Blue Bloods 74%, The Event 72%. Lowest for fall: School Pride 19%, My Generation 40%, Raising Hope 42%, Law & Order: LA 46%, Outsources 51%.
http://www.tv.com/fall-preview/?tag=topslot;button; This is not an exact science, but it tells you what viewers want to try.

And hate to burst your bubble, but McPherson resigned because of a sexual harassment suit. So it had nothing to do with his job performance.

[Superbowl]

I hate to burst your bubble, but here is a scientific awareness poll as published by the Hollywood Reporter. Notice no ABC pilots.

Awareness tracking: ‘Hawaii,’ ‘LOLA’ lead fall
Like 0 Retweet 8 by James Hibberd | July 22, 2010 at 11:51 am | View Comments

A new poll says NBC's new "Law & Order" spinoff and CBS' "Hawaii Five-0" have the highest awareness among new fall shows. No surprise there, right?

But in third place is NBC's "The Event" -- the highest-ranked show that isn't a spinoff or remake. Here's the data:


Top 10 - Awareness

32% Law & Order: Los Angeles
32% Hawaii Five-0
16% The Event
15% $#*! My Dad Says
14% Outsourced
14% Nikita
14% Blue Bloods
12% Raising Hope
11% Undercovers
11% The Defenders
11% Hellcats
11% Mike & Molly
Source: Program Pulse Premiere Tracking, Wave 5 or as noted. Persons 13-54 (Total Base, n= 600). Top Ten includes ties.

http://livefeed.hollywoodreporter.co...lead-fall.html

[Pavan]

And awareness doesn't mean they will watch.

[Mr. Television]

It all depends if the show is any good or not. I let the critics point me in certain directions but I make my own mind if I continue watching. I remember Criminal Minds got awful reviews and I watched it and loved it and it became a big hit. I was hoping that No Ordinary Family would be given a better timeslot. It's going up against NCIS and Glee both of which I watch so I guess I can't watch it. Hopefully ABC moves it to a different time.

[JulieSomoski]

What an interesting conversation. lol. In my opinion, Steve McPherson may have taken some chances that paid off in his career, but those risks have diminished in recent years. While you can argue that Wednesday comedy block was a risk, that was hardly one - actually, it was more of a no-brainer. And, it's only been semi-successful up to now. Only one show can actually be called a hit. And this upcoming season was the nail in the coffin. He took absolutely no chances. ABC's fall schedule is terrible and lazy, IMO.

As for the pilots, let's face it - they're not very good. No Ordinary Family has had a lukewarm response, but a lot positive, and by far the most positive of all the pilots. Better with You seems like it'll get a good sampling with decent reviews, but will it last? Detroit 187 is being blasted for removing the documentary set-up, and now critics are liking it a lot less. The Whole Truth is being called generic, while My Generation is being completely shot down by nearly every critic out there.