or


[07/27/12 - 11:20 AM]
ABC at TCA: Lee "Optimistic" About "Modern Family" Negotiations
By Brian Ford Sullivan (TFC)

LOS ANGELES (thefutoncritic.com) -- "We're in the middle of negotiations at the moment," ABC Entertainment Group President Paul Lee told reporters at the network's executive session at the TCA Summer Press Tour about its much-publicized talks with the cast of "Modern Family" and producer 20th Century Fox Television. "And we're hopeful, we're optimistic that we'll be able to resolve it." The word "optimistic" was used four times by the executive in response to various attempts by reporters to get specifics of the negotiations. Not surprisingly - and understandably - Lee stuck to the script of avoiding comment beyond "it's a wonderful show" and "we are optimistic about it."

Ultimately, Lee only let one piece of hard news slip during the session: the network is re-piloting "Kings of Van Nuys," its attempt to import the U.K. comedy "Only Fools and Horses." John Leguizamo, Christpher Lloyd, Wendi McLendon-Covey, B.J. Bales and Dustin Ybarra starred in the original pilot shot this past spring from writers Brian Bradley and Steven Cragg. Lee would later add that no recastings are planned. "We're going to give it another crack," he told me in the post-session scrum. "It's one that I have a little glint in my eye for."

Lee likewise affirmed his intentions to re-pilot CBS castoff "Super Fun Night," starring Rebel Wilson. "We're likely to make that show a single-camera [comedy], which I think is perfect for us," he said. "If we can get that right she could be a great compliment to our comedies."

As for other topics:

-- On why "The Neighbors" and "Suburgatory" were swapped on Wednesday nights: "I think 'The Neighbors' sits better in the 8:00 hour than the 9:00 hour. And you know what? Candidly, there's so much pressure at 9:30 after "Modern Family." I wanted to make sure that people started to enjoy the show because I want it to be on the air for a very long time." Adding, "'Suburgatory' is such a good show, we think that's going to be a really good bridge for 'Modern Family' through to 'Nashville,' maybe a better bridge than 'Neighbors.' And we think 'Neighbors' is going to be a better bridge from 'Middle' through to 'Modern Family.'"

-- On if "Rookie Blue" could work in season rather during the summer: "We have not made a decision to put it in the season. We think it is a really strong player for us, and we are actually looking for next summer to do more plays like that."

-- Lee hasn't passed on a second season of "Duets." "I mean, look, we haven't made a decision about it yet," he said. "You know, I think our cast was fantastic, and we love the twist that you actually had Jennifer Nettles or Kelly Clarkson getting up there and doing a scene, not just being the judges. You know, reality is hard because it's very much more difficult now to find the shock of the new." As for fellow summer entry "The Glass House," Lee admitted that the network's legal dust up with CBS "was totally worth it... we were right in the lawsuit, and that lawsuit is over."

-- On why they passed on "Gotham": "We were super excited by some of the shows that we had... so it's a very high bar to meet. And we had less needs this year than we did last year. You know, if you remember, I would think there were something like seven new shows that we brought out. So, look, in the end, it didn't quite make it."





  [july 2012]  
S
M
T
W
T
F
S


· DUETS (ABC)
· GLASS HOUSE, THE (ABC)
· GOTHAM (ABC)
· KINGS OF VAN NUYS (ABC)
· MIDDLE, THE (ABC)
· MODERN FAMILY (ABC)
· NASHVILLE (CMT)
· NEIGHBORS, THE (ABC)
· ROOKIE BLUE (ABC)
· SUBURGATORY (ABC)
· SUPER FUN NIGHT (CBS)





[10/24/25 - 02:30 PM]
Video: First Look at Upcoming New Drama "Memory of a Killer" Starring Patrick Dempsey and Michael Imperioli - Premiering This January on FOX
Dempsey stars as a hitman, Angelo Doyle, leading a dangerous double life while hiding an even deadlier personal secret - he has developed early onset Alzheimer's.

[10/24/25 - 02:02 PM]
"20/20" Is Friday's Most-Watched Newsmagazine Across the Board
In addition, "20/20" posted its best Adults 25-54 in more than four months.

[10/24/25 - 02:01 PM]
ABC News' "Nightline" Ranks No. 1 Across the Board, Leading NBC in All Key Demos for the 4th Straight Week
"Nightline" grew year to year across the board: Total Viewers, Adults 25-54, and Adults 18-49.

[10/24/25 - 01:05 PM]
"Dancing with the Stars" Makes Television History - Rising for Fifth Straight Week
The October 21 episode scored 6.63 million Total Viewers and a 1.38 rating among Adults 18-49, hitting new season highs in both demographics.

[10/24/25 - 08:01 AM]
Netflix Announces "Hollywood Arts," A Brand-New Spinoff of Hit Live-Action, "Victorious," with Daniella Monet Returning as Star and Executive Producer
The series is set to debut on Netflix in 2026, followed by releases on Nickelodeon and Paramount+.

[10/24/25 - 07:14 AM]
FOX Sports Readies for Major League Baseball's 121st World Series Presented by Capital One
Action leads off Friday, October 24, between the National League and current reigning World champion Los Angeles Dodgers and American League champion Toronto Blue Jays from Rogers Centre in Toronto, Canada, on FOX, FOX Deportes, the FOX Sports App and FOX One.

[10/24/25 - 07:01 AM]
Video: "Love Is Blind" Season 9: The Reunion - Official Trailer - Netflix
Denver singles shake up their search for "the one" and step into the pods, braving twists, turns and love triangles to find their soulmate sight unseen.

[10/24/25 - 07:01 AM]
Experience the Family, the Fun, and the Fantastic! Marvel Studios' "The Fantastic Four: First Steps" Lands Exclusively on Disney+ November 5
Continuing the celebration of Marvel's First Family, the announcement was made live from SpaceCon 2025 in San Antonio, where The Fantastic Four: First Steps Immersive Pop-Up Experience invites attendees to step inside the iconic Baxter Building.

[10/24/25 - 06:00 AM]
The CW Network and Xfinity Celebrate 11 Years of the NASCAR Xfinity Series by Presenting the Third Stage of the Championship Race Commercial-Free
Taking place in Phoenix, Arizona, on Saturday, November 1, the commercial-free stage presented by Xfinity was created to thank the loyal race fans who have supported the NASCAR Xfinity Series for more than a decade - helping the series grow through their unwavering enthusiasm, increased viewership, and continued trackside attendance.

[10/23/25 - 05:01 PM]
Video: "As You Stood By" - Official Trailer - Netflix
When two women plot to end an abusive marriage through murder, an unexpected visitor arrives - threatening to shatter everything they've carefully planned.

[10/23/25 - 02:33 PM]
Largest Audience for "NBA Tip-Off" Doubleheader Since 2010 as NBA Returned to NBC and Debuted on Peacock
Tuesday night's audience across NBC and Peacock peaked at 7.1 million viewers from 10:45-11 p.m. ET as Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder to a one-point win over the Houston Rockets in double overtime.

[10/23/25 - 02:28 PM]
The 305 Just Got Hotter: "Love & Hip Hop: Miami" Moves to BET Season 7 Premieres Tuesday, November 4 at 8 PM ET/PT
The upcoming seventh season dives deeper than ever into Miami's thriving entertainment scene, following a cast of stars who are rebuilding, rebranding, and redefining success in real time.

[10/23/25 - 01:30 PM]
Critically Acclaimed Noir Thriller, "Dark Winds," to Return to AMC and AMC+ Sunday, February 15
The series' gripping fourth season focuses on the search for a missing Navajo girl, which takes Leaphorn, Chee and Manuelito from the safety of Navajo Nation to the gritty terrain of 1970s Los Angeles in a race against the clock to save her from an obsessive killer with ties to organized crime.

[10/23/25 - 12:01 PM]
Video: BET+ Releases Trailer for Horror Film "A Demon's Revenge"
In the film, following the bloodshed in Belize, Peaches, played by Jhoné Lucas, delves deeper into Caribbean folklore and the terrifying truth that lurks beneath.

[10/23/25 - 12:00 PM]
FOX Entertainment Acquires Equity Stake in Chain, Forging Strategic Partnership with Experiential Food Phenomenon Co-Founded by B.J. Novak
Included in the investment is a first look development deal through Chain Media.