kevinreilly

Following this spring's upfronts presentation and lackluster response from advertisers, NBC Universal president Jeff Zucker fired entertainment president Kevin Reilly. But, it appears Reilly will not be out of work for long. Various reports today say that he is in final negotiations to join Fox, under his former FX boss Peter Liguori.

This is a smart pairing for Fox. Liguori and Reilly brought mega-hits to FX including The Shield and Nip/Tuck. And, judging from this spring's upfronts presentation from Fox, the network could use some edgier programming. There's no doubt that Reilly has an eye for quality programming (Friday Night Lights), but his downfall with NBC was his inability to bring the network out of fourth place.

So, NBC's fall schedule sucks. At least, that's the message I'm getting today with the news that president of NBC entertainment, Kevin Reilly, has lost his job.

I'm trying to understand why NBC Universal president Jeff Zucker would hold on to Reilly for the crucial planning of the fall schedule after his lackluster performance with last fall's expensive-but-low-rated Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip, Kidnapped, etc. And this spring, NBC once again came in last in the ratings among the big four networks (NBC, ABC, CBS, FOX).

After NBC's upfronts presentation earlier this month, advertisers didn't really leap at any of the offerings on the new fall lineup (because they're boring). That's an obvious reason to get rid of Reilly, but it also doesn't put a lot of confidence in the fall schedule.

You know, our readers are very good at pointing out our mistakes. Many of them are small: copy edits, grammar issues, etc. Some are bigger: we miss some important part of an episode we're reviewing. Hey, we're human.

But we (and by "we" I mean "me") were deservedly taken to the woodshed last fall when we made one of our biggest whoppers, reporting that NBC Entertainment president Kevin Reilly was about to be fired. Of course, not only did he not get fired, but rumors started swirling about that he was going to sign a new contract. Well, those are the rumors that actually came true, as he signed a multiyear deal to stay at the network.

Besides announcing the renewal of four shows, NBC Entertainment Kevin Reilly spent his executive session talking about "tent posts" and spewing sports analogies. But all of it said that he was pretty optimistic about the future of his network.

He definitely thinks being patient with shows is imperative, especially when you're working from behind as his network is. "Vision is a word that gets thrown around a lot but is in short supply," he spoke of shows like The Office, that started out slow and built audience. "When you got it, grab it." Among his new "vision" shows are 30 Rock, Friday Night Lights, and Studio 60.

NBC Entertainment president Kevin Reilly started his network's portion of the TCA press tour by announcing full-season renewals for four shows: My Name Is Earl, Heroes, Law & Order: SVU, and The Office. This means all four shows will be back for new seasons in the fall. Reilly called those shows, and a number of others, "tent posts" that he thinks will bring the network back to a much stronger position than it has been in recent years.

In other news, Reilly announced the pickup of a new improv pilot called Thank God You're Here, where improv comics will don a costume unknown to them, enter a scene, and attempt to improvise through it. It will be hosted by David Alan Grier, and the improv comic's skills will be "judged" by Dave Foley. Where does the name of the show come from? Well, when the comic enters with his costume on, the other comics in the scene will say, "Thank God You're Here!" Clever, ain't it?

More on the executive session later today.

I'm just catching up after the closest thing that I have ever seen to a hurricane blew through volcano country and knocked out the power for 30 hours, and my internet has just gone all Dunder Miflin on me. Anyway, there is a good article over at the L.A. Times about writers as actors and what that means for comedy on television.

The focus is on The Office as many of the members of the cast are also the writers of the show. Executive producer Greg Daniels (The Simpsons) goes through his reasons for choosing to move people from the writers room in front of the camera. And it's not just because he's lazy. There is a method to his madness. Given the mockumentary style of the show, he feels that unpolished actors that may seem awkward at times add to the realism of the show.

They also touch on the character of Toby. Played by Paul Lieberstein, Toby was originally intended as a bit part. But when NBC President Kevin Reilly saw the character he responded, "He's funny. More of him." And Paul's acting career was born. The story for Mindy Kaling's character, Kelly, is much the same. Both of them say that they prefer writing to acting. Joel talked with Kelly about this back in March as well. It's a good behind the scenes piece, and worth a look.

According to The New York Times, NBC will announce some shifts in its schedule this week-- which will likely include a new night and/or time for Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip. In an article about the network's announcement that it is picking up Studio 60 for the entire season, there's also a little quote from NBC entertainment president Kevin Reilly, saying Studio 60 will "not necessarily stay on Monday."

Where can it go? There's an open time slot on Wednesdays at 10pm since NBC pulled Kidnapped off the air. That would put Studio 60 up against The Nine on ABC and CSI: NY on CBS. Or, NBC could separate the two Law & Order franchises on Tuesday night and slide Studio 60 into one of those time slots.

Any other ideas? Maybe NBC stole my ideal schedule.

To add on to all of the "these shows are going to be canceled" talk going around the web for the past week, a quote from NBC chief Kevin Reilly about Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip, Friday Night Lights, and 30 Rock:

"I'm sitting here right now with some very good television shows that I think have a lot of promise that need to be nurtured a little bit...I'm pulling for these shows and I'm trying to figure out what's the midseason schedule that can give them a chance, because I really believe some of these can really grow into bigger commercial assets."

NBC has just announced that they are bringing back Scrubs to Thursday night and moving the new comedy 30 Rock to Thursday too, in an effort to bring back a little old glory to the night. The two comedies will join My Name Is Earl and The Office for a new two-hour comedy block: Earl at 8, followed by The Office, Scrubs, then 30 Rock. ER, the only non-comedy on the night, will stay at 10pm. The new lineup starts on November 16.

One question remains: will the Deal Or No Deal that is currently on at 9 get moved or removed from the schedule?

[via TV Tattle]

Just got a tip into TV Squad HQ; there is scuttlebutt that NBC Entertainment president Kevin Reilly is going to be fired sometime later this afternoon. Apparently, Reilly's failure to create a hit for NBC during his tenure is going to cost him his job.

If you recall, Reilly programmed a number of expensive, lavishly-done pilots for this fall season, like Kidnapped, Friday Night Lights, and Studio 60, all of which are tanking in the ratings. That along with a history of tentative decision-making was his undoing. The announcement will be made this afternoon; expect to see it in the trades tomorrow.

(Update 11:49 ET: No announcement tonight, as our tipster told us would happen. We contacted NBC for a response to this rumor and they didn't confirm or deny it. Guess we'll just keep waiting.)

(Update 10/19 8:23 PM: Well, folks, looks like the rumor -- as with all the past rumors of Reilly's firing -- didn't pan out, since he spoke at a panel of network heads earlier today. Our tipster has been thrown into TVS HQ's moat. Let's hope said tipster can avoid the crocs and piranha...)

At the Television Critics Association meeting on Friday, NBC Entertainment president Kevin Reilly said the network is entering calmer waters. He said, "I feel a shift in the winds coming and I think our ill-fated three-hour tour is about to come to an end." I have to agree. I've seen their fall offerings and, while I'm not in love with all of them, they do have some very strong shows to offer this season, including Kidnapped and Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip (which you can rent from Netflix). I don't think NBC is suddenly going to rise to the top but at least it's not going to be embarrassing anymore.

During the meeting, Reilly also announced that the network has ordered up another round of the popular summer unscripted series, America's Got Talent and Last Comic Standing.