Nick At Nite 30th Anniversary Interviews (First Interview Peak) - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Adem422 · 01-09-2015, 01:02 AM

Nick At Nite 30th Anniversary Interviews -

Iv been getting a hold of and talking to current and former Nick At Nite staff, vice presidents, etc.

So I was wondering some questions to ask them and i already have a few in mind. So really hoping to hear from everyone Thanks!

These will either be a shoot and uploaded to YouTube or Q&A Print and posted on a blog or my Facebook page.

This from Tom Hill

He is currently VP/Creative Director at TV Land

What was your position at Nick At Nite?

I was a freelance writer on some Nick at Nite projects as early as 1987, but it was 1989 when I joined the staff as a writer in the on-air promos group – which at that time was a single group that did both Nickelodeon and Nick at Nite. I later became editorial director and VP of Creative. I became a sort of head writer for marketing and promotions, both with Nick at Nite and TV Land, and finally exclusively for TV Land.

Do You think since Nick At Nite was so successful and has been around for 30 years, Will it continue to be successful and be around for many years to come or even another 30 years?

It is increasingly difficult to know what will happen next in the world of television. But so long as people are watching television, I think there will always be a desire to revisit the shows you “grew up with” – whatever those particular shows are. In fact, the same will probably be true of video games, websites – just has it been true of music, movies and TV.

What was it like behind the scenes at Nick At Nite?

It was lots of fun as you can imagine. Frankly, there were low expectations from a business perspective. The acquired shows were perceived to be more or less “past their prime” and it was considered a small miracle that would could get anyone to watch old reruns of Donna Reed or Mr. Ed, much less build a fan base and a powerful advertising brand. There were lots of talented and smart people working for Nick at Nite and we has some core values that really made it work. We never took the shows too seriously, but we never treated them derisively either. We always walked that line. We all knew they were ephemeral pop culture – and always treated them like nothing was more important or worth analyzing.

Nick At Nite was so successful from 1985 to 1995 that in 1996 it got its own TV channel known as TV Land. Did that bring more success to Nick At Nite and was TV Land the reason Nick At Nite starting changing in the early from 2000's 50's, 60's, and 70's to 80's, 90's, and 2000's shows?

TV Land was indeed the heir to most of the core ideas born at Nick at Nite. As for the programming – it isn’t easy to generalize, there were lots of different managers, all with constantly shifting goals, large research teams informing the decisions and so on. But certainly, Nick at Nite and TV Land carved out different territory with distinct branding and audiences. Nick at Nite remained attached to Nickelodeon and that had a natural impact. TV land was independent and 24 hours. TV Land continued for years to air classic TV, but today – with the media world in flux and content available in so many different ways and places ¬– TV Land is moving on to become a channel focused exclusively on creating original comedy.

I should be getting more from him and others!!

factsoflife · 01-09-2015, 01:39 AM

I want to know why N@N lost the rights to "The Facts of Life" even though it was getting excellent ratings for them? Why didn't they renew it?

Why did N@N never get the rights to air Blossom when it would have fit perfectly with their other programs?

Was there ever a show they tried desperately to get but were unable to?

Adem422 · 01-09-2015, 10:01 AM

Thanks for the reply and I'll do my best to try to get some of those questions answered. Keep ask everyone! I will try to get as many interviews between now now and Nick At Nite 30th Anniversary on July 1.

mets82 · 01-09-2015, 05:58 PM

Are you really doing this? If so, well I wish you the best of luck!!

My questions if you can say to them ever so gently:

1) How come there is off the clock programming?
2) Will Nick at Nite be rebranded anytime soon?
3) Do you feel like current or ex presidents who were in charge of the network threw in the towel for the network?

factsoflife · 01-09-2015, 11:58 PM

Did launching TVLAND hurt N@N's ability to program or in any way create a situation where N@N was forced to stop airing classic shows?

why did N@N decide to essentially abandoned classic shows in favor of modern shows?

Adem422 · 01-10-2015, 01:01 AM

Yes i am and by the way i'm doing it this early because a lot of the people i'm contacting are busy business people. Between now and July 1 i should get alot of interviews done!

tenter · 01-10-2015, 11:17 AM

I have some questions:
-Why on facebook, twitter or any social media Nick at Nite hasn't updated since Sept 2013?
-How long will George Lopez stay on Nick at Nite, when contract expires?
-Why are there more adult level commercials on Nick at Nite, especially primetime?
-Any new aqusitions of Nick at Nite in the future?
-When will new episodes Instant Mom and See Dad Run return Nick at Nite? Instant Mom is still in 2nd season, and had been renewed season 3. See Dad Run is currently in last season.
-How long will Full House stay on primetime? Sure the ratings are good, despite overall ratings are down.

Adem422 · 01-11-2015, 12:23 AM

Great a lot good question i putting to get answered. Thanks and keep them coming!

factsoflife · 01-11-2015, 05:01 AM

Will we ever see a DVD release of N@N's classic original series Hi Honey, I'm Home? That show was clever, funny and holds up today. Fans would LOVE to see it again.

tooltime1987 · 01-13-2015, 07:23 PM

1. When will you bring back the classic TV shows?
2. Are you ever going to bring back Home Improvement to Nick at Nite?

mets82 · 01-16-2015, 05:33 PM

Adem-422, I wish you nothing but the best on this!!

Also, is Nick at Nite planning on doing anything for its 30th anniversary?

Adem422 · 01-17-2015, 11:42 AM

Thank You Very Much mets82!! I don't know but i will be sure to ask one of the current people at Nick @ Nite and TV Land. Also it take time to bring each interview out but they becoming between now and July 1.

Adem422 · 01-28-2015, 12:36 PM

First Interview Peak Above!! More to come!!

factsoflife · 03-03-2015, 08:20 PM

When will you be posting other interviews?

mets82 · 03-04-2015, 06:37 PM

Adem422, read the sneak peak above and its very good. You've done a good job!! Cant wait to read some more of the interview.

01-09-2015, 01:02 AM	#1
Adem422 Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Oct 01, 2011 Posts: 140	Nick At Nite 30th Anniversary Interviews (First Interview Peak) Nick At Nite 30th Anniversary Interviews - Iv been getting a hold of and talking to current and former Nick At Nite staff, vice presidents, etc. So I was wondering some questions to ask them and i already have a few in mind. So really hoping to hear from everyone Thanks! These will either be a shoot and uploaded to YouTube or Q&A Print and posted on a blog or my Facebook page. This from Tom Hill He is currently VP/Creative Director at TV Land What was your position at Nick At Nite? I was a freelance writer on some Nick at Nite projects as early as 1987, but it was 1989 when I joined the staff as a writer in the on-air promos group – which at that time was a single group that did both Nickelodeon and Nick at Nite. I later became editorial director and VP of Creative. I became a sort of head writer for marketing and promotions, both with Nick at Nite and TV Land, and finally exclusively for TV Land. Do You think since Nick At Nite was so successful and has been around for 30 years, Will it continue to be successful and be around for many years to come or even another 30 years? It is increasingly difficult to know what will happen next in the world of television. But so long as people are watching television, I think there will always be a desire to revisit the shows you “grew up with” – whatever those particular shows are. In fact, the same will probably be true of video games, websites – just has it been true of music, movies and TV. What was it like behind the scenes at Nick At Nite? It was lots of fun as you can imagine. Frankly, there were low expectations from a business perspective. The acquired shows were perceived to be more or less “past their prime” and it was considered a small miracle that would could get anyone to watch old reruns of Donna Reed or Mr. Ed, much less build a fan base and a powerful advertising brand. There were lots of talented and smart people working for Nick at Nite and we has some core values that really made it work. We never took the shows too seriously, but we never treated them derisively either. We always walked that line. We all knew they were ephemeral pop culture – and always treated them like nothing was more important or worth analyzing. Nick At Nite was so successful from 1985 to 1995 that in 1996 it got its own TV channel known as TV Land. Did that bring more success to Nick At Nite and was TV Land the reason Nick At Nite starting changing in the early from 2000's 50's, 60's, and 70's to 80's, 90's, and 2000's shows? TV Land was indeed the heir to most of the core ideas born at Nick at Nite. As for the programming – it isn’t easy to generalize, there were lots of different managers, all with constantly shifting goals, large research teams informing the decisions and so on. But certainly, Nick at Nite and TV Land carved out different territory with distinct branding and audiences. Nick at Nite remained attached to Nickelodeon and that had a natural impact. TV land was independent and 24 hours. TV Land continued for years to air classic TV, but today – with the media world in flux and content available in so many different ways and places ¬– TV Land is moving on to become a channel focused exclusively on creating original comedy. I should be getting more from him and others!!
	Last edited by Adem422; 01-28-2015 at 12:28 PM.

01-09-2015, 01:39 AM	#2
factsoflife Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Sep 11, 2000 Posts: 8,747	I want to know why N@N lost the rights to "The Facts of Life" even though it was getting excellent ratings for them? Why didn't they renew it? Why did N@N never get the rights to air Blossom when it would have fit perfectly with their other programs? Was there ever a show they tried desperately to get but were unable to?
	__________________ "and to the fans. I was only supposed to be on every other Tuesday. But, thanks to you, I'm here, and I promise! I will try my best never to let you down. I am going back into that studio on Monday, and I'm going to play Erica Kane for all she's worth!"-- Susan Lucci, May 1999 Daytime Emmy Speech.

01-09-2015, 05:58 PM	#4
mets82 Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Mar 14, 2011 Location: Connecticut Posts: 5,058	Are you really doing this? If so, well I wish you the best of luck!! My questions if you can say to them ever so gently: 1) How come there is off the clock programming? 2) Will Nick at Nite be rebranded anytime soon? 3) Do you feel like current or ex presidents who were in charge of the network threw in the towel for the network?
	__________________ http://www.superbowlgreatness.blogspot.com/ Please check out my blog. I vent on all things. TV, sports etc. you name it. Its also a work in progress. Check out and see what you think.

01-13-2015, 07:23 PM	#10
tooltime1987 Member Forum Regular Join Date: Jan 03, 2013 Location: Easthampton,MA Posts: 559	1. When will you bring back the classic TV shows? 2. Are you ever going to bring back Home Improvement to Nick at Nite?
	__________________ Max Passa

01-09-2015, 10:01 AM	#3
Adem422 Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Oct 01, 2011 Posts: 140	Thanks for the reply and I'll do my best to try to get some of those questions answered. Keep ask everyone! I will try to get as many interviews between now now and Nick At Nite 30th Anniversary on July 1.

01-09-2015, 11:58 PM	#5
factsoflife Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Sep 11, 2000 Posts: 8,747	Did launching TVLAND hurt N@N's ability to program or in any way create a situation where N@N was forced to stop airing classic shows? why did N@N decide to essentially abandoned classic shows in favor of modern shows?

01-10-2015, 01:01 AM	#6
Adem422 Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Oct 01, 2011 Posts: 140	Yes i am and by the way i'm doing it this early because a lot of the people i'm contacting are busy business people. Between now and July 1 i should get alot of interviews done!

01-10-2015, 11:17 AM	#7
tenter Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Mar 28, 2014 Posts: 3,584	I have some questions: -Why on facebook, twitter or any social media Nick at Nite hasn't updated since Sept 2013? -How long will George Lopez stay on Nick at Nite, when contract expires? -Why are there more adult level commercials on Nick at Nite, especially primetime? -Any new aqusitions of Nick at Nite in the future? -When will new episodes Instant Mom and See Dad Run return Nick at Nite? Instant Mom is still in 2nd season, and had been renewed season 3. See Dad Run is currently in last season. -How long will Full House stay on primetime? Sure the ratings are good, despite overall ratings are down.

01-11-2015, 12:23 AM	#8
Adem422 Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Oct 01, 2011 Posts: 140	Great a lot good question i putting to get answered. Thanks and keep them coming!

01-11-2015, 05:01 AM	#9
factsoflife Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Sep 11, 2000 Posts: 8,747	Will we ever see a DVD release of N@N's classic original series Hi Honey, I'm Home? That show was clever, funny and holds up today. Fans would LOVE to see it again.

01-16-2015, 05:33 PM	#11
mets82 Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Mar 14, 2011 Location: Connecticut Posts: 5,058	Adem-422, I wish you nothing but the best on this!! Also, is Nick at Nite planning on doing anything for its 30th anniversary?

01-17-2015, 11:42 AM	#12
Adem422 Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Oct 01, 2011 Posts: 140	Thank You Very Much mets82!! I don't know but i will be sure to ask one of the current people at Nick @ Nite and TV Land. Also it take time to bring each interview out but they becoming between now and July 1.

01-28-2015, 12:36 PM	#13
Adem422 Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Oct 01, 2011 Posts: 140	First Interview Peak Above!! More to come!!

03-03-2015, 08:20 PM	#14
factsoflife Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Sep 11, 2000 Posts: 8,747	When will you be posting other interviews?

03-04-2015, 06:37 PM	#15
mets82 Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Mar 14, 2011 Location: Connecticut Posts: 5,058	Adem422, read the sneak peak above and its very good. You've done a good job!! Cant wait to read some more of the interview.