In these tough economic times, networks are looking to the sitcom to boost both the American spirit and their ratings (not necessarily in that order). NBC one again rules as the comedic king of Thursday nights with a solid lineup consisting of “Community,” “Parks and Recreation,” “The Office,” and “30 Rock.” I’m reminded of NBC in the 90s, when Thursday nights featured “Frasier,” “Mad About You,” “Friends,” and “Seinfeld.” Comedy has always been NBC’s forte, so the network’s recent moves come as no surprise. Discounting “The Jay Leno Show,” NBC only airs comedy during primetime on Thursday. Given their success in that genre, the network has inked deals with Adam Carolla (”The Man Show”), Bill Oakley (”The Simpsons”), and Aaron McGruder (”Boondocks”).
The Carolla project will feature the comic as a contractor and father whose life is turned upside down when his wife leaves him. Carolla is set to exec produce the multicamera sitcom along with Kevin Hench, as well as Jimmy Kimmel, Daniel Kellison, Gail Berman and Lloyd Braun.
Comedian also knows a thing or two about being a contractor, having worked in the construction industry before his big break as a radio personality on radio station KROQ. Universal Media Studios is behind the project, along with Jackhole Industries and BermanBraun.
As for the Cheadle/McGruder comedy, project revolves around mismatched brothers who reunite to open a private security company.
Universal is producing, along with Cheadle’s Crescendo Prods. label (which includes partner Kay Lieberman). McGruder, who’s writing, is EP with Cheadle and Lieberman. Project has a script order at the Peacock.
For the Oakley project, scribe will exec produce along with Dave Bartis and Doug Liman. Laffer centers on the youngest judge in a circuit courthouse.
I don’t know where NBC is going to find room for these shows. Obviously, Thursday nights are out of the question. The network can try their hand at competing with the CBS comedies on Mondays or the ABC comedies on Wednesdays. I would say Tuesday nights, but “The Biggest Loser” already takes up the two-hour block.
How can you possibly say “NBC once again rules as the comedic king of Thursday nights with a solid lineup”? Now, I will be the first person to jump to the defense of NBC, because I (like you, presumably) think their Thursday night line-up is very good. But to say they “once again rule” and that they are “king” is going too far.
The Office is the only real hit on Thursday nights… in fact, The Office is one of NBC’s only hits full stop. I believe it is getting around a 4.0 in the ratings… the other shows could only dream of that right now. Community is hovering around 2.0, as is Parks. 30 Rock is getting around 3.0.
What NBC needs are viewers. Until at least two, if not three, of their Thursday night comedies are pulling in 4.0 to 5.0 and 10+ million viewers, you can’t throw around words like “rules”, “king”, etc.
You can read my thoughts of NBC’s Thursday night lineup at: http://www.cricketmx.com/articles/read/a-look-at-nbcs-new-comedies-
after-one-month/
Yeah, but, really, the average viewer isn’t sitting around and thinking, “You know what rules? NBC’S RATINGS!” They’re thinking, “These SITCOMS rule!” And from that standpoint, NBC’s Thursday night line-up from 8 – 10 PM is indeed pretty kick-ass.
In truth, though, each of the big three networks have a relatively solid sitcom line-up for a change. Although I can take or leave the 8:30 – 9:30 shows, CBS has the perfect bookends on Monday nights with “How I Met Your Mother” and “The Big Bang Theory.” And for as much as I like Kelsey Grammer, if ABC would just dump “Hank” and bring “Better Off Ted” back early, they’d have a Wednesday night line-up that – dare I say it? – would rival Thursday nights on NBC.
Will Harris, the flaw in your argument is that “the average viewer” won’t be saying “these sitcoms rule” because they will be watching CBS…
I agree that NBC’s Thursday night is very good. Hell, I’ll build the bandwagon… but what I’m saying is you can’t go out and make these proclamations about NBC being king once again without the viewing numbers to back it up. Emmy’s and critical acclaim are great, but they only go so far. Ultimately it will be the ratings that decide the future of a show.
Battye,
I’m specifically talking about comedy on Thursday nights. I’m drawing a comparison to the lineup they had in the 90s.
The fact is, NBC does “own” comedy on Thursday nights, and only Thursday nights. They don’t air primetime sitcoms on any other day. So, it’s not an outlandish statement when I’m just talking about Thursday.
They finally have four shows that may actually stick. “30 Rock” and “The Office” are give-ins, but “Community” and “Parks” are slowly drawing a gathering. I think all these shows will be back next season, so yes, NBC is the king of comedy on Thursday nights. CBS is the king on Mondays, and ABC is the king on Wednesdays.
And who can argue with the quality of the shows. I don’t care how well CBS does in the ratings — I think all of their comedies are pretty weak. The last great traditional sitcom died with “Everybody Loves Raymond,” and I can’t get through an episode of “How I Met Your Mother” and “2.5 Guys” (kidding here) given all the canned laughter and meager jokes. Single cam comedies have swayed the smarter audience (a la NBC) and ABC has taken notice — everyone of their new comedies (sans “Hank”) is single cam. “Modern Family” is the only one with any staying power.
Will people really watch a show called “Cougar Town” for more than 10 minutes? I guess anything is possible.
NBC’s ratings are a shame. “Community” draws such a smaller audience compared to anything on CBS. Come on, America.
Chris Glotfelty, NBC are the only network with comedies on Thursday night. So by your interpretation, to say “NBC once again rules as the comedic king of Thursday nights” means as much as “NBC is the top ranking network based at Rockefeller Center”. It stands to reason, as there is no competition.
As for comparing it to the 90’s, besides the fact they are all sitcoms there really isn’t much to compare. NBC of the 90’s aired multi-cam, laugh-track, “traditional style” sitcoms. Friends, Seinfeld etc all appeal to a much larger audience than say 30 Rock or even Parks and Recreation to an extent. NBC air “intelligent” comedies now – which is fantastic – but it is hurting them in the ratings. The “lowest common denominator” type shows (such as Two and a Half Men on CBS) do exceedingly well.
It’s not quite true about NBC only airing their primetime comedies exclusively on Thursday. 30 Rock started its run on Wednesday, and I have a feeling 100 Questions will follow a 90 minute Biggest Loser on Tuesday nights to give it a good lead-in; so there are precedents. What is certain though (and I suspect this may be what you were trying to say originally), is that NBC are renowned for programming quality comedy on Thursday nights. And for the first time in a few years, they have found 2 hours with great potential.
I did mean “comedic king of Thursday nights” in reference to their days in the 90s, when NBC aired the BEST comedies on that day of the week. The statement had nothing to do with ratings. What follows the phrase is: “with a solid lineup consisting of…”
I’m just talking about the quality of the shows, not how many viewers are watching. In my opinion, these shows live up to the quality of their Thursday night shows in the 90s. Yes, those shows used canned laughter, but the single-cam format was yet to be used. Of all those traditional comedies, NBC had the best. Thus, NBC currently has the best sitcoms on television. Still, I understand why you interpreted the statement differently.
But you’re correct, their intelligent comedies are hurting them in the ratings. You have to admire NBC for not putting on the same junk that kills on CBS. I don’t know why they stick with these “smarter” comedies, as they’re not bringing in the audience. Like Arrested Development, awards won’t keep you on the air.
We’ll have to wait and see. Maybe one of the new shows will be huge, though I doubt it.