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May 27, 2012

NBC would rather pay a huge penalty than air Legally Mad

by Jason Hughes, posted May 12th 2009 3:01PM

Kristin ChenowethIf there's a seven-figure penalty clause attached to your pilot if the network doesn't pick it up for series, how much does it have to suck ass if the net says, "Yeah, we'll pay the penalty rather than put that piece of crap on the air." That's what Warner Bros. is hearing as NBC has passed on Legally Mad.

This is David E. Kelley's much ballyhooed next legal drama starring Kristin Chenoweth and Loretta Devine. See that's good talent right there and still they'd rather pay millions than put it on the air? Damn!

This does open up a slot on NBC's tight schedule, which means more room for Chuck, Medium or Law & Order. Or if you think about it, there's room for all three of them. Give them 14-16 episode seasons and they can all share the slot.

Reruns don't play as well anyway and NBC really needs to up the content if they want to lure viewers back. Shorter seasons and more original programming all year round would set them apart. Plus, it keeps some shows in the wings in case America isn't ready for that much Leno in prime time.

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Ryan

Perhaps "Legally Mad" would have turned out like "Studio 60" -- that is a marquee prestige show from a big-name showrunner that turned out to be overbloated and underrated.

I kinda liked "Studio 60," but it was pretty ridiculous and viewers turned it off. NBC doesn't need another one of those shows right now.

May 13 2009 at 1:42 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
jake

I wouldn't be surprised if Legally mad was GREAT -- david E kelly -- come on -- NBC makes bad decision after bad decision that someone over there in their programming dept should be fired. Next thing is that CW will surpass NBC to be the fourth place network.

May 12 2009 at 7:26 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Vince

Maybe DEK legal stuff doesn't play as well now that there's a Democrat in White House.

May 12 2009 at 5:51 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Cait

That's ashame, would've been nice to see what that grouping of talent put together before being written off so harshly. American television seasons are definitely almost insanely long. Sure, we all love 22 - 24 episodes per year, but I'd certainly sacrifice a few of those hours if it gave everyone a bit more time and energy to devote to the quality of what is being produced. While I don't think we in the US could ever adjust to the short series length found in the BBC [approx. six episodes per year], we surely don't need two dozen episodes every season.

May 12 2009 at 4:49 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Johnzo

isn't it possible that the pilot did just suck? it's david e kelly.... he's prolific, he's made good long-running stuff (ally mcbeal, the practice) and short lesser quality stuff (the wedding bells, snoops). it's all cyclical my friends.

May 12 2009 at 4:43 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
segsig

I would assume from this that Legally Mad was amazing, because that network shows Nothing But Crap.

May 12 2009 at 4:32 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
mterrific

That's a great idea about give shows shorter seasons and airing less reruns. As a matter of fact it's such a good idea that I'm sure no one at NBC will even consider it.

May 12 2009 at 4:22 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
RevJonathan

Only 7 figures?
That's really not a lot to a network. Sure they can't do it all the time, but even if it was 9,999,999 I would not be that much to NBC. Sure, it hurts, and they'd rather not do it, but still.

I look at this more as confirmation that Chuck has been saved. CELEBRATE!

May 12 2009 at 4:16 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Bob Jones

I bet Warner Bros. are oh-so-happy they nabbed David E. Kelley from 20th Century Fox, for this.

Whatever the man had, I think he's lost it.

May 12 2009 at 3:38 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to Bob Jones's comment
Will Harris

I don't think he's lost anything. I think it's more likely that he pitched an idea for a creative series that NBC wasn't willing to accept because it didn't mesh with their preferred demographic. "Boston Legal" enjoyed catering to the rarely-appreciated older viewers, and NBC all but LOATHES playing to that crowd.

May 12 2009 at 4:33 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
levydr

First thing I thought of was "Room for Chuck." Hope this means that the good news is coming next week...

May 12 2009 at 3:31 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to levydr's comment
scott

makes two of us!

May 12 2009 at 3:46 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply

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