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Fixing NBC at 10

by Brett Love, posted Jan 30th 2007 2:14PM

NBCWhen 10PM rolls around, it's generally not a pleasant time for NBC. Mostly it's where the network goes to get its hat handed to it by somebody. What the strategy is for the 10 o'clock slot boggles me. So far, my best explanation sounds like the plot from a bad Lucy episode.

Imagine Lucy and Ethel get a gig cleaning the offices at NBC. Some crazy hijinks erupt and somehow all the shows get knocked off of the big magnetic schedule board. They do their best to try and put them back, but it seems they have mixed up a few of the shows at 10. The executives all come in the next day and everyone assumes that someone else made the change. Not wanting to rock the boat, they all just roll with it, to the detriment of the shows and the network. Here's what Lucy and Ethel got wrong, and what NBC needs to fix.

Starting with Sunday, pull Crossing Jordan and give that slot to Studio 60. The Apprentice doesn't offer the same ratings lead-in that Heroes does, but Studio 60 is losing half of that anyway. The Apprentice audience might be more compatible, and more willing to stick around.

The vacated Monday slot should go to Medium. I wouldn't expect it to hold all of the Heroes audience, but I'd bet it will do better than Studio 60, and probably better than the Wednesday Medium numbers. Also, Heroes/Medium makes so much more sense than Deal Or No Deal/Medium.

With that, Wednesday at 10 goes to Law & Order. It's not an ideal situation, but L&O is as capable as any show in creating its own audience. Finally, Crossing Jordan takes over the Friday spot, following Las Vegas. The two have already had a couple successful crossovers so it would be a natural fit.

None of that is an earth-shattering revelation that is going to carry NBC to #1, but I'm betting there would be gains for shows and time slots all over the place. Does anyone have a theory as to why this wouldn't be a win for the network? Or better yet, a clue as to just what they are up to with the current schedule?

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13 Comments

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Nanio

"Other then Lost,ABC is dead. And without Heros and LAO and Tuesday Comedy,NBC is dead."

Humm...Ugly Betty, Grey's Anatomy, Desperate Housewives, and Brothers and Sisters...which network are they from?

January 30 2007 at 7:28 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
tobin92

Hence why I dislike NBC, CBS has so many criminal shows the same audiences stays and stays as well as its comedy night.

And Fox is God on Monday with Prison Break and 24 back to back. Tuesday hold it own with Idol and House.And Friday draws and older audience with Nanny 911 and Trading Spouses.

Other then Lost,ABC is dead. And without Heros and LAO and Tuesday Comedy,NBC is dead.

January 30 2007 at 4:18 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
ac

I think your time shifting idea is great! I dont watch anything Sunday night and since I go to bed early that night I stay home. So Studio 60 on Sunday would give me something to do while preparing for Monday. Medium back on Mondays is good too because I have no time for TV on Wed (I had to force LOST/Day Break in my schedule, I need Tivo). I might actually watch it again. Oh and Studio 60 doesn't suck.

January 30 2007 at 4:09 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Gene

I think that probably they should just replace ALL of the 10pm shows with... reruns of I Love Lucy.

January 30 2007 at 3:24 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
w0psim

studio 60 sucks just watch repeats of SNL. Law and Order was already on Wed at 10 and Medium was already at 10 on Mon and Crossing Jordan already came on following Las Vegas. so maybe Lucy and Ethyl did screw shit up. as far as im concerned the only thing NBC has done to redeem itself for cancelling SURFACE was greenlight HEROS and put two differnt Law & Order seris on the same night

January 30 2007 at 3:12 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
w0psim

studio 60 sucks just watch repeats of SNL. Law and Order was already on Wed at 10 and Medium was already at 10 on Mon and Crossing Jordan already came on following Las Vegas. so maybe Lucy and Ethyl did screw shit up. as far as im concerned the only thing NBC has done to redeem itself for cancelling SURFACE was greenlight HEROS and put two differnt Law & Order seris on the same night

January 30 2007 at 3:09 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Sam

The problem, I think, it not at 10 but at 8. Game shows do great ratings in and of themselves, but their audiences are usually way too disparate for them to exist as good lead-ins (that's my theory anyway). I would put the game shows on at 10, move everything an hour up and pray that the PTC doesn't get pissed at you for putting mature shows on during "family hour."

Oh, and I would put Crossing Jordan and Heroes-two Tim Kring shows-together. CJ, in my opinion, has survived despite NBC's efforts, not because of them, and some extra promotional oomph (like a Heroes lead-in) going that show's way would be well-rewarded.

Finally, how's this for a thought: Isn't there someone at NBC who might think a comedy block might do well opposite the juggernaut that is Jack Bauer?

January 30 2007 at 2:57 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
ron

sTUDIO 60, IN MY OPINE, IS OUT. I DOUBT IT WILL BE RENEWED, IF IT DIDNT GET A AUDIENCE BY NOW, IT PROBALLY NEVER WILL. bESIDES, IT PRETTY BORING, AND I DONT CARE IF THE CHARACTERS LIVE OR DIE. HEROS TOO, IS STARTING TO SUCK.

January 30 2007 at 2:50 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
ron

sTUDIO 60, IN MY OPINE, IS OUT. I DOUBT IT WILL BE RENEWED, IF IT DIDNT GET A AUDIENCE BY NOW, IT PROBALLY NEVER WILL. bESIDES, IT PRETTY BORING, AND I DONT CARE IF THE CHARACTERS LIVE OR DIE. HEROS TOO, IS STARTING TO SUCK.

January 30 2007 at 2:50 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Porchland

It's all spit and twine for the remainder of this season: "Studio 60" is done. Even with good demographics, there's just not enough audience or buzz to sustain a second season.

NBC should be better going into fall '07 than it was fall '06. "Heroes" is a marginal hit (though you'd think from the buzz that's it's a Top 5 show; it's not). Sunday night football did well. Thursday night is hanging in there. The "Law and Order" shows are doing well.

Personally, I think NBC's lineup top to bottom is a little boring. I think "The Office" is the only NBC show I make a habit to watch live.

January 30 2007 at 2:39 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply

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