"Caroline in the City": Why it aired on NBC instead of CBS

[James28]

Caroline in the City, a sitcom starring Lea Thompson as the title character (Caroline Duffy), ran for four seasons on NBC from 1995 to 1999. It should be noted, however, that despite the sitcom airing on NBC, it was produced by CBS Productions (and is currently owned by CBS television Distribution), aside from that, it was co-produced by 3 Sisters Entertainment, the same company that would later co-produced Will & Grace, another NBC sitcom that was produced by NBC Studios.

While I was researching that piece of trivia, I found an article on the Baltimore Sun website titled, "'Caroline', promising CBS-made show, headed for hottest spot on NBC schedule". Some excerpts from the article, which may contain some info on the reason CitC aired on NBC rather than CBS:

The prospect of a CBS-produced show becoming a hit for NBC is the latest example of how far the networks are willing to go to become suppliers of programs as well as their distributors. In this case, CBS's programming department passed on the opportunity to place 'Caroline' on its own schedule. But the network's production division, acting like any other studio in Hollywood, sought out other buyers for the series -- and found one in a competing network."

Warren Littlefield, president of NBC Entertainment, says "Caroline" has a chance to follow in the tradition of NBC hits that have thrived on Thursdays, among them 'Seinfeld', 'Cheers' and 'Frasier'.

If 'Caroline' does become a success of that magnitude, CBS will certainly benefit financially, because reruns of hit comedies often bring their owners $100 million or more in syndication profits. "CBS Productions would have a tremendous asset," Mr. (Andy) Hill said. "That would be great news for CBS corporately."

Still, it would be far better economically for CBS if the show was part of its own ailing prime-time schedule. Instead, 'Caroline' has a chance to do even more damage to the CBS lineup by pulling more viewers to NBC.

Executives at all the networks say this kind of arrangement will be repeated more often as increasingly tangled alliances between networks and producers and writers create situations in which traditional rivals become partners. Last fall, for example, CBS had high hopes for a comedy called 'The Boys Are Back', a show owned by ABC Productions. (It failed.)

It was also stated in the article that Hill said that "'Caroline in the City' simply works better as a NBC show".

"For one thing, the comedy would have been substantially different had it remained at CBS, especially at the top of the bill.

The actress Lea Thompson, who plays Caroline, had a contract with NBC. "Warren Littlefield delivered Lea Thompson," Mr. Hill said, "and he deserves all the credit for that."

As Mr. Hill explained it, NBC had a surer sense of how to turn "Caroline" into a hit. When first presented to CBS, the show centered on the romantic relationship between an older woman and a younger man. Program executives at CBS passed on the idea, Mr. Hill said, 'because they felt they had similar shows in development that they liked better'.

Still convinced that 'we had a hit show in this script', Mr. Hill went across the street to NBC, where he thought the show might get a warm reception. It did.

Two NBC development executives, Jamie McDermott and Bob Levy, found the main character and comedic voice promising, though they thought the show should be substantially changed. "They gave us very smart notes," Mr. Hill said. The writers revamped the comedy to include NBC's suggestions.

The show was essentially retailored to fit NBC's prime-time comedy style and was no longer the series that CBS had rejected. "It is a considerably different show," Mr. Hill said."

The article:http://articles.baltimoresun.com/199...e-hit-comedies

What do you think? Should Caroline in the City have aired on CBS instead of NBC anyway?

[waichingliu81]

for years until i received the first season DVD set, 11 years ago in the UK, i had always thought the show was an NBC show.

so when it was cancelled, it was NBC who axed it, not CBS?

as for saying had the show been on CBS, it would have been different. if that had been the case, the last 2 seasons of the show would have turned out differently, plus, it could've got a 5th season.

[Schmoopie]

Originally Posted by waichingliu81

for years until i received the first season DVD set, 11 years ago in the UK, i had always thought the show was an NBC show.

so when it was cancelled, it was NBC who axed it, not CBS?

as for saying had the show been on CBS, it would have been different. if that had been the case, the last 2 seasons of the show would have turned out differently, plus, it could've got a 5th season.

It's too bad that it never had a fifth season, especially with the way they ended it so "abruptly" (No spoilers for those who haven't sen the show's ending!)! But I think they should have at least had a reunion show or some kind of follow up show, given the circumstances!

[waichingliu81]

Originally Posted by Schmoopie

It's too bad that it never had a fifth season, especially with the way they ended it so "abruptly" (No spoilers for those who haven't sen the show's ending!)! But I think they should have at least had a reunion show or some kind of follow up show, given the circumstances!

exactly. i was pretty much annoyed with the unresolved finale. if the writers knew during the middle of the final season the ratings were so low, it was on the verge of being cancelled, then they should've went all out and gave us a proper ending with caroline and richard being married.

personally, if it was up to me, i'd preferred a 5th and final season.