or


[05/13/12 - 01:14 PM]
Greenblatt: Not Necessarily Final Season of "30 Rock"; Dan Harmon May Be Out as "Community" Showrunner
By Brian Ford Sullivan (TFC)

LOS ANGELES (thefutoncritic.com) -- "I'm just determined to build momentum from night to night, which is something that has eluded us in recent years," NBC Entertainment chief Robert Greenblatt told reporters following the announcement of the network's 2012-13 schedule. The executive pointed to "Sunday Night Football," TV's number one show, and the need to push the strength of that audience through "The Voice" on Mondays and Tuesdays with its new shows helping to carry the torch thereafter.

Among the hot topics:

-- "I think broad is synonymous with ratings. I think we're always trying to be broader," Greenblatt said about their newcomers. Ted Harbert (Chairman, NBC Broadcasting) added that they're equally proud of their returning shows. "The advertising community loves them," he said. "We still get a premium on these shows because of the upscale audience that they deliver. Yes, it's smaller than some but [it's] certainly good business for us."

-- "We knew it wasn't gonna get that plum lead out of 'The Voice' forever because it makes sense for us to launch a new show there and try to grow that," Greenblatt noted about the decision to hold "Smash" for midseason. He added that they plan to order 16-18 episodes this year, a season size that likely will continue going forward.

-- On moving "Community" and "Whitney" to Friday nights: "We wanted to get more comedy on the schedule in general, I just think it will be good for the health of the network," Greenblatt said. "There aren't these kinds of shows at 8 o'clock [on Friday nights]. We love 'Grimm' at 9, which is where it's staying, and we thought we're going to help 'Grimm' if there are scripted shows in front of it. And there seems to be an opportunity for some comedy on Friday."

-- "These things take a long time... they've done some fantastic work this year," Harbert said about the Thursday-bound "Rock Center With Brian Williams." "Brian Williams is a huge asset that we want on television. We talked about different scheduling opportunities."

-- On changes in store for "The Voice": "We know that people love the revolving chairs and so we've got a plan to get them into the battle rounds," Greenblatt said. "I think we have some changes and tweaks in the format that are going to make it even better and more competitive." He would later add, "There was never any doubt that we were going to do two cycles a year eventually after we got our sort of sea legs, which is no different than any other of these big reality shows."

-- "You do have to look at the demo of a show like 'Harry's Law,'" Greenblatt said about the show's cancellation. "It did have a big household number - that audience skewed very old - and you have to factor that into the decision. It's just harder to monetize that older audience." Ted added, "We're not against older audience. But we would love it if a show could bring some of 18-49 as well... there's a lot of CBS dramas that have a very large, healthy 50 plus audience but they also have a good size 18-49 audience."

-- Greenblatt on if this is the final season of "30 Rock" or any of their other shows: "As they age it's obviously something you look at each year but we haven't definitively said that to any of them yet."

-- Greenblatt on the status of "The Office" actors: "At this moment in time I expect to see all of that cast back except Mindy [who's going to her own show on FOX]."

-- On if Dan Harmon will return as showrunner of "Community": "I think those conversations are happening as we speak. And I guess what I would say is I expect Dan's voice to be a part of the show somehow, I'm just not sure if that exactly means him running it day to day or consulting on it," said Greenblatt. Pressed if it's a result of the public flare up with Chevy Chase, Greenblatt responded, "I don't think so. I know that was blown up into something. I don't really think that it would determine him running the show or not based on one of the actors. I think it's larger issues that have to do with a lot of things. But I don't think Chevy, I don't think it's that."





  [may 2012]  
S
M
T
W
T
F
S
  


· 30 ROCK (NBC)
· COMMUNITY (YAHOO)
· HARRY'S LAW (NBC)
· OFFICE, THE (NBC)
· ROCK CENTER WITH BRIAN WILLIAMS (NBC)
· SMASH (NBC)
· SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL (NBC)
· VOICE, THE (NBC)
· WHITNEY (NBC)





[05/08/26 - 11:01 AM]
NBC Announces Four Series Orders for the 2026-27 Season
Dramas "Line of Fire" and "The Rockford Files" and comedies "Newlyweds" and "Sunset P.I." are on tap.

[05/08/26 - 10:50 AM]
"Law & Order" to Return for Season 26 on NBC
The network confirmed the news on social media this morning.

[05/08/26 - 09:26 AM]
"FOX College Football Friday" Returns to Primetime with Biggest Season Yet
The network's strongest Friday night slate to-date features elite matchups across partner conferences - with appearances from the defending national champion Indiana Hoosiers, projected Top-25 matchups, and culminating with the Mountain West Championship.

[05/08/26 - 09:18 AM]
TNT Sports Delivers Its Most-Watched MLB Regular Season Start Since 2015
The Yankees/Mariners season opener on March 31 delivered 562,000 viewers and peaked at 735,000, making it the most watched opener on TBS since 2012.

[05/08/26 - 09:02 AM]
ABC Renews "R.J. Decker" for Second Season
Get your flip flops and your lawn flamingos ready.

[05/08/26 - 08:30 AM]
Video: Trailer & Key Art Debut - Hulu's "Not Suitable For Work"
The series will premiere with three episodes on June 2, then two episodes weekly until the finale on June 23, only on Hulu and Hulu on Disney+ for bundle subscribers in the U.S. and Disney+ internationally.

[05/08/26 - 08:01 AM]
ABC Announces Summer 2026 Premiere Dates and Unscripted Renewals
New seasons of "Celebrity Family Feud," "Press Your Luck," and "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire" will join the previously announced newcomer "Dancing with the Stars: The Next Pro."

[05/08/26 - 07:31 AM]
Video: "James." - Official Trailer - Netflix
A raw and honest look at the man behind Colombia's iconic No. 10 on his road to the 2026 World Cup.

[05/08/26 - 07:16 AM]
CNN Film "Why We Dream" to Premiere Memorial Day at 8PM ET/PT
The film chronicles the final generation of World War II veterans as they return to France and is produced by Delta Air Lines' Window Seat Studios in partnership with Vice Media's Pulse Films.

[05/08/26 - 07:01 AM]
"Forever" Season 2 Starts Production in Los Angeles
Additionally, Malaika Guttoh is set to join the cast as a series regular with Avery Wills Jr. and Tre McBride joining as recurring guests.

[05/08/26 - 02:31 AM]
Netflix Announces Standalone Sequel to Global Hit "La Palma"
"Florida" (working title) picks up just hours after the volcanic eruption on the island of La Palma, shifting the focus to a Norwegian community in Florida that is still unaware that a devastating tsunami is on its way.

[05/07/26 - 04:01 PM]
Video: "Viral Hit" - Official Trailer - Netflix
When he accidentally goes viral after a brawl, a weak and broke teen realizes livestreaming fights against delinquents could change his life.

[05/07/26 - 02:00 PM]
Class Is in Session: FOX Announces New Celebrity Game Show "Nation's Dumbest" - The Only Competition You Don't Want to Win
Taking attendance as host is acclaimed comedian Jack Whitehall, who presides over the chaos as contestants relive the highs and humiliations of school life - from pop quizzes and report cards to recess and parent teacher conferences - all while trying to stay out of last place.

[05/07/26 - 01:10 PM]
ESPN Debuts Short Documentary "Messi: The Forgotten Tape / Messi: La Cinta Olvidada"
Debuting Sunday, May 10 at 5:30 p.m. ET on ESPN and ESPN Deportes, the documentary highlights the pivotal moment that helped shape Lionel Messi's international future and altered the trajectory of global football.

[05/07/26 - 12:21 PM]
FOX Television Network Renews "Murder in a Small Town" for Season Three
Joining the cast is Peter Gallagher as Rod Finlayson, a charismatic, uber-independent, capable yet unreliable figure.