NBC Pulls Plug on JUST SHOOT ME - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

trekkie · 04-24-2003, 06:54 PM

Saw this today:

NBC has fired what could be a fatal bullet into Just Shoot Me. Following a deadly ratings performance Tuesday, the network has pulled the aging sitcom from its schedule and is holding 13 unaired episodes until summer, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Now, exec producer Steve Levitan is firing back, claiming Peacock President Jeff Zucker broke his word. "Jeff Zucker promised our cast that [NBC] would not pull us and they would be airing these episodes. Now it's clear to me his word meant nothing." This story does, however, have a happy ending: Just Shoot Me is no longer on the air.

TJ · 04-28-2003, 11:10 PM

http://tv.zap2it.com/news/tvnewsdaily.html?31205

LOS ANGELES (Zap2it.com) - NBC unceremoniously dropped "Just Shoot Me" from its schedule after the show performed poorly in its return Tuesday, prompting harsh words from executive producer Steven Levitan.

Levitan says NBC Entertainment President Jeff Zucker reneged on his word to give the show an uninterrupted run through the end of the season. The show had been off the air for the past several weeks and was set to run back-to-back episodes at 8 p.m. ET Tuesdays through May sweeps.

"Jeff Zucker came and assured our cast, promised our cast, that [NBC] would not pull us and they would be airing these episodes," Levitan tells The Hollywood Reporter. "Now it's clear to me his word meant nothing. It's a real slap in the face to the show and the crew."

NBC is declining comment.

"Just Shoot Me" has seen its ratings decline significantly this season. Some dropoff was expected, as the show moved from NBC's powerful Thursday lineup, where it drew 14 million viewers a week, to Tuesdays.

The show has been averaging about 6.8 million viewers a week this season. NBC didn't help by switching it back and forth between the 8 and 8:30 p.m. ET spots several times.

Tuesday's (April 22) episodes each drew fewer than 5 million people, prompting NBC to pull the series and replace it with several specials, including another installment of "The Most Outrageous Game Show Moments," during sweeps.

Levitan says the quick hook his show received is indicative of network higher-ups' increasing lack of patience with scripted programming.

"If they're going to toss you aside for 'Game Show Moments,' where's the integrity and dignity in this business?" he says.

There's a chance that NBC will air some of the remaining "Just Shoot Me" episodes over the summer.

04-24-2003, 06:54 PM	#1
trekkie Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Mar 22, 2003 Posts: 224	NBC Pulls Plug on JUST SHOOT ME Saw this today: NBC has fired what could be a fatal bullet into Just Shoot Me. Following a deadly ratings performance Tuesday, the network has pulled the aging sitcom from its schedule and is holding 13 unaired episodes until summer, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Now, exec producer Steve Levitan is firing back, claiming Peacock President Jeff Zucker broke his word. "Jeff Zucker promised our cast that [NBC] would not pull us and they would be airing these episodes. Now it's clear to me his word meant nothing." This story does, however, have a happy ending: Just Shoot Me is no longer on the air.
	__________________ Get a VAULT DISNEY or DISNEY FAMILY CHANNEL on television: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/preservethemagic "You've got to stand for something or you'll fall for anything; you've got to be your own man, not a puppet on a string" -- Aaron Tippin

04-28-2003, 11:10 PM	#2
TJ Site Owner Administrator Forum Star Join Date: Feb 03, 2000 Location: Marietta, GA Posts: 10,676	NBC Yanks 'Just Shoot Me'; Producer Goes Off http://tv.zap2it.com/news/tvnewsdaily.html?31205 LOS ANGELES (Zap2it.com) - NBC unceremoniously dropped "Just Shoot Me" from its schedule after the show performed poorly in its return Tuesday, prompting harsh words from executive producer Steven Levitan. Levitan says NBC Entertainment President Jeff Zucker reneged on his word to give the show an uninterrupted run through the end of the season. The show had been off the air for the past several weeks and was set to run back-to-back episodes at 8 p.m. ET Tuesdays through May sweeps. "Jeff Zucker came and assured our cast, promised our cast, that [NBC] would not pull us and they would be airing these episodes," Levitan tells The Hollywood Reporter. "Now it's clear to me his word meant nothing. It's a real slap in the face to the show and the crew." NBC is declining comment. "Just Shoot Me" has seen its ratings decline significantly this season. Some dropoff was expected, as the show moved from NBC's powerful Thursday lineup, where it drew 14 million viewers a week, to Tuesdays. The show has been averaging about 6.8 million viewers a week this season. NBC didn't help by switching it back and forth between the 8 and 8:30 p.m. ET spots several times. Tuesday's (April 22) episodes each drew fewer than 5 million people, prompting NBC to pull the series and replace it with several specials, including another installment of "The Most Outrageous Game Show Moments," during sweeps. Levitan says the quick hook his show received is indicative of network higher-ups' increasing lack of patience with scripted programming. "If they're going to toss you aside for 'Game Show Moments,' where's the integrity and dignity in this business?" he says. There's a chance that NBC will air some of the remaining "Just Shoot Me" episodes over the summer.