I’ve said this before: There is as much scripted/acted television now, with FX, TNT, HBO, et al, as there was in the Golden Age of television in the 70s. (actually, more hours now than in the 70s/80s. And a lot of it is just as good or better. Well, much of it.)
I, for one, don’t subscribe to the “Oh, No! 5 hours less of programming per week!” fear that my fellow actors are expressing. Yes, it sucks, but, as I said, the shortfall is made up elsewhere.
No, I think the issue is much larger than that.
NBC is a terrible place in a terrible situation right now. The leadership there has all but abandoned the creative legacy of its past. Do you think the Peacock is the first place on any creative’s list to bring a show to? (I have it on 1st hand authority that, indeed, it is not.) Why would you? There are only a few hours of programming and the network has shown disregard for much of what it has. I would bring my pilot to a network where there are more opportunities to get it on the air.
Besides, Fox has traditionally eschewed the 10 o’clock hour, yes? Why aren’t we all up in arms about that??
Because of what Jay @ 10 represents not just for actors but for everyone. The quarterly bottom line. The profit margin on a shit show like Jay’s is remarkable. You don’t even have to spend time in the editing room cutting a “story” like reality TV. Nope. This is a golden hour of prime time that costs nothing and can turn a profit by way of advertising.
NBC has been tossing the “3 million dollars an hour” phrase like it’s the conventional wisdom but they forget an even more wise notion:
If you build it, they will come.
Why, if there are only 7 stories, do people continue to queue up at movies, rent dvds, watch tv?
Because from the dawn of communication human beings have all wanted the same thing that they want as children: To be told a story. The power of storytelling is majestic and epic. And, a good story that hooks you (Winnie the Pooh, The Cat in the Hat, Watership Down, Harry Potter, The Shining) you go back to over and over. You watch it in all it’s varied forms. You re-re-read it.
Why? If you’ve seen it once, why bother to read it again?
Because it’s that damned good. And we need the comfort of being told stories.
TV is storytelling. Reality, scripted, sketch, the news. All stories.
But, NBC has forgotten that. This team, at least.
Or so it seems.
I think they know damned well that storytelling is where the money is. They know that if they come up with a really great show that grabs attention that the ad dollars will come in. Because it isn’t the size of the audience that matters, it’s the demographic and THEN the size. If they create a show that every single 18-22 college student in the country tunes in to, in whatever form, advertisers will pay. Maybe not as much as the past, but, believe me, enough. Its too attractive not to.
Only, NBC let itself become a ghetto. So who is going to bring material to them? I mean, really? They have no reputation as a place that will foster a good idea and talent.
What are they left to do but cut off the leg before the leprosy spreads?
NBC will tell you that it’s not cost effective to do scripted drama at 10.
CBS says, “really? Um……CSI/NCIS much?”
If I was an exec at ABC do you think I would want Timothy Daly or Nathan Fillion appearing on Leno? Maybe if they go on and say, “You like me? Change the channel! My show’s on RIGHT NOW ON ABC!”
No, I think NBC has created this hot mess themselves and this is the only way they can think of to salvage their name. In part, at least.
I’m not mad at Jay. In fact, I feel bad for him. He looks really embarrassed out there. He KNOWS this show is crap. But, what the heck, a job’s a job and it isn’t up to him to carry the torch for actors. Or writers. or…anybody.
