or


[08/01/11 - 10:49 AM]
Greenblatt: "We Want to Restore NBC to Its Leadership Position in Quality"
By Brian Ford Sullivan (TFC)

LOS ANGELES (thefutoncritic.com) -- "I think like anyone in a job like this, I will take all the credit for the shows that work and blame people who are no longer at NBC if they don't," NBC Entertainment Chairman Robert Greenblatt joked at the start of the network's executive session at the TCA Summer Press Tour.

Greenblatt was on hand to tout the Peacock's freshman series, manage expectations considering its status as the fourth place network and make a few programming announcements:

-- Bela Bajaria has been tapped to oversee the revamping of Universal Media Studios. She comes from CBS where she served as SVP, Cable Programming for CBS TV Studios, and SVP of Movies and Miniseries for the network.

-- Greg Daniels has inked a new overall deal with Universal Media Studios. "It's a new deal to develop all kinds of programming but we also want to emphasize animation which is something Greg is very key on getting back into."

-- Will Ferrell and Adam McKay's Gary Sanchez Productions likewise have set up shop at the studio.

-- NBC is developing a new comedy to star former network mainstay turned producer Sean Hayes. "It's [early] but we're honing in on an idea that I'll let you know more about in the coming weeks." He adds that they have "an incredible writer/creator" to spearhead the project. "I really think it's time for him to star in a comedy again."

-- "The Voice's" Adam Levine is developing a new comedy at the network. "He's expanding his growing empire," Greenblatt adds. Dick Wolf ("Law & Order") likewise is behind a new firefighter drama to be written by Michael Brandt and Derek Haas ("3:10 to Yuma"). "We're very happy to get them in the tent."

-- Michael Buble will topline a new holiday special produced by Ben Silverman and Lorne Michaels.

-- On the producing side, Sean Hayes and Todd Milliner are developing "Celebrity Game Night," a reality game show pilot in which celebrities crash people's weekly game nights. "That will be going forward in the next few months."

-- Greenblatt reveals that "The Voice" will indeed premiere following the Super Bowl on Sunday, February 5. The series will then move into its regular home on Monday, February 6 at 8:00/7:00c leading into the launch of "Smash" that same night at 10:00/9:00c.

-- Greenblatt affirms that Mariska Hargitay, despite a purported reduced workload, will be in every episode of "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" this season.

-- As far as his goals for the season: "We want to restore NBC to its leadership position in quality. We're going to do attention getting shows. Hopefully we will have patience to see those attention getting shows get [their] shot at success."

-- "Yes, I wasn't complete surprised," Greenblatt says with regards to KSL's decision not to air "The Playboy Club." "That brand name is very polarizing. The show isn't all that revealing shall I say. But that station in Utah, they don't program 'Saturday Night Live.' They don't take 'Saturday Night Live' so I think when you look at that market they have decisions to make for their own audiences."

-- On if shows from his previous home, Showtime, could work on NBC: "I think those shows work in those smaller universes where you're not really expecting, where the business model isn't based on the most people watching your show." He would later add, that being said, "I think we've got to find ways to conceptually excite the audience."

-- On the decision to pass on "I Hate That I Love You": "It's just a pilot that didn't ultimately come together. I loved the script and sometimes these pilots go through the process and get all of the elements working. And it's just a pilot that didn't quite come together."

-- "I would be thrilled if it continued to do what it was doing," Greenblatt said about his expectations for "The Office" going forward. "There's a new actress coming besides [James] Spader," he added coyly without giving a name. "I think as the season goes on you'll see a couple of, this is a playground for really extraordinary comic actors... I think there's going to be a few people that are going to come in and sort of guest star as the season goes on. But I didn't mean to tease you with there's some big name to be revealed that's coming."





  [august 2011]  
S
M
T
W
T
F
S
 


· CHICAGO FIRE (NBC)
· HOLLYWOOD GAME NIGHT (NBC)
· I HATE THAT I LOVE YOU (NBC)
· LAW & ORDER (NBC)
· LAW & ORDER: SPECIAL VICTIMS UNIT (NBC)
· OFFICE, THE (NBC)
· PLAYBOY CLUB, THE (NBC)
· SMASH (NBC)
· UNTITLED ADAM LEVINE PROJECT (NBC)
· UNTITLED SEAN HAYES PROJECT (NBC)
· VOICE, THE (NBC)





[09/24/26 - 10:02 AM]
"The Beast in Me" Returning for a Second Season on Netflix as Netflix and Howard Gordon Forge Creative Partnership
Executive producer Claire Danes will reprise her Emmy-nominated role as Aggie Wiggs.

[09/24/26 - 10:01 AM]
What's New on HBO Max This October
Streaming premieres include "The Housemaid" (October 9), "The Death of Robin Hood" (October 16), and "The Invite" (October 23).

[09/24/26 - 10:01 AM]
Netflix Announces Sesame Street Expansion, New Shows from the World of "Gabby's Dollhouse," "Puppy Pirates" and More For Preschoolers and Kids
Highlights include "Gabby's Dollhouse: Makers and Bakers," hosted by Laila Lockhart Kraner as Gabby, as talented young baker-and-maker duos take on whimsical crafting and baking challenges judged by Aidy Bryant, Justin Willman and Melissa VillaseƱor.

[09/24/26 - 10:01 AM]
AMC Global Media Returns to New York Comic Con's Main Stage with Standout Panels and Never-Before-Seen Previews
"Kill Jackie," "Yaga," "Anne Rice's Mayfair Witches," "The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon," and "The Boulet Brothers' Dragula" are among the featured properties.

[09/24/26 - 09:16 AM]
Video: "SCTV: The Greatest Show You've Never Heard Of" - First Look - Netflix
Legendary "SCTV" cast members reunite in this documentary for a funny and heartfelt celebration of how a scrappy Canadian sketch show made comedy history.

[09/24/26 - 09:15 AM]
Video: "Elsbeth" Season 4 Official Trailer - CBS
The new season premieres Thursday, October 8 on CBS.

[09/24/26 - 09:01 AM]
Pluto TV's Double Feature Fridays Celebrates Halloween with a Month of Killer Movie Pairings of Fan-Favorite Frights and New Indies
Every Friday, audiences can settle in for two films back-to-back, featuring thrilling thematic pairings of modern favorites alongside indie films making their free streaming debut on the platform, offering some familiar tricks and new treats for audiences this Halloween.

[09/24/26 - 09:00 AM]
Former Two-Time UFC Champion Valentina Shevchenko Delivers a Knockout Twist on MTV's "The Challenge: Cutthroat"
Shevchenko catches the players off guard with a surprise Trial By Combat, putting the fate of the teams in jeopardy.

[09/24/26 - 08:46 AM]
Video: "Black Doves" Season 2 - Official Trailer - Netflix
As spy Helen navigates life as the prime minister's wife and Sam faces a deadly ultimatum, an attack on Reed pulls them into a desperate hunt for answers.

[09/24/26 - 08:31 AM]
There's No Place Like Apple TV for the Holidays
Highlights include the new family film "Way of the Warrior Kid," starring Chris Pratt and Linda Cardellini, premiering November 25.

[09/24/26 - 08:14 AM]
"Great Musicians of Our Time" Offers Intimate Portraits of Six Extraordinary Classical Music Artists
The six-part series premieres with "Itzhak Perlman: Virtuoso Violinist" Friday, October 9 on PBS.

[09/24/26 - 08:01 AM]
Video: Trailer Debut - "Adventure Time: Side Quests" Season 2
All episodes of the second season will be available to stream on October 2 on Disney+ and Hulu.

[09/24/26 - 08:00 AM]
Wonder Project Subscription Service Celebrates Its One-Year Anniversary in October with New Original Series "Leonard and Hungry Paul" Narrated by Julia Roberts
Additionally, "Young Washington" makes its streaming debut on Wonder Project following its successful theatrical run.

[09/24/26 - 07:01 AM]
Video: "Nobody Wants This" - Season 3 Official Trailer - Netflix
Joanne and Noah take their relationship to the next level amid sibling drama, maternal meddling and one giant leap of faith.

[09/24/26 - 06:11 AM]
Video: "Madden" - Official Trailer - Prime Video
Football wouldn't be football, without Madden.