NBC programming in dire straits

[quadraphonic]

Speaking of Dire Straits, maybe NBC will bring back "Friday Night Videos."
Or a whole show designed around the video for "Money for Nothing." Those guys were movers, weren't they? The sit-comedy in a moving company could practically write itself, it would be an improv show. ;D

You can watch any music video you want on the internet, so why watch the music videos NBC tells you to watch?

Times have changed. I highly doubt NBC will ever restore Friday night videos.

Yeah I know, "dire straits" and no writers just made me think of that idea.
It was just a stream of consciousness thing, nothing binding.

 

[NHRadio]

Whatever happened to "Don Kirshner's Rock Concert"? There's something I'd like to see back on TV. I remember it running on WBZ 4 Boston at 1AM after Saturday Night Live approx. 1977 or 78.

 

[dhett]

Speaking of Dire Straits, maybe NBC will bring back "Friday Night Videos."
Or a whole show designed around the video for "Money for Nothing." Those guys were movers, weren't they? The sit-comedy in a moving company could practically write itself, it would be an improv show. ;D

"Money for Nothing" appropriately describes what NBC is spending on programming, and what they're getting in return, i.e., ratings.

 

[ixnay]

Speaking of Dire Straits, maybe NBC will bring back "Friday Night Videos."
Or a whole show designed around the video for "Money for Nothing." Those guys were movers, weren't they? The sit-comedy in a moving company could practically write itself, it would be an improv show. ;D

"Money for Nothing" appropriately describes what NBC is spending on programming, and what they're getting in return, i.e., ratings.

Money for nothing, **** for free!!! ;D

ixnay

 

[Nate Wesley]

You have to admit, American Gladiators is pretty low-brow stuff. Come on, it's like NBC fired off another salvo on network TV's desperate race to the bottom!

As for the reprise of Knight Rider, I totally believe that the idea has been there for a long time. It shows the lack of originality that permeates network programming departments these days. And, has for at least 10 years.

Apologists for the big networks may say that they are just "giving the public what it wants" while quietly spending 80% of their efforts in going after the 18-34 demo. The trouble is that network TV viewership is shrinking every year. Yes, there is a lot more competition than in the "old days". However, the really good shows still garner big ratings. But the majority of what is on is pretty blah material. Cable networks are now eating old media's lunch for them. And, NBC is the first in line to go hungry at midday. Certain cable nets are coming out with some pretty interesting fare.

If AG is pulling down great ratings, then that says some not-so-flattering things about how low we have collectively sunk as a society.

Or, instead of the exaggerations of gloom and doom predicted above, it could simply reflect an interest in capturing the interest of the older (but not that old) male Generation X audience that the movie studios have been mostly successful at attracting (Transformers, Batman Begins, the Spider-Man Trilogy, the upcoming G.I. Joe movie, etc. etc.). The same audience most likely to invest in DVDs, HDTVs, home theater systems, and the like.

 

[BRNout]

Or, instead of the exaggerations of gloom and doom predicted above, it could simply reflect an interest in capturing the interest of the older (but not that old) male Generation X audience that the movie studios have been mostly successful at attracting (Transformers, Batman Begins, the Spider-Man Trilogy, the upcoming G.I. Joe movie, etc. etc.). The same audience most likely to invest in DVDs, HDTVs, home theater systems, and the like.

Gloom and doom!

More like a pretty realistic analysis of the situation. Over the past few years, the trend has not been encouraging. Interestingly enough, I am right in the demo that you have cited and much of what's on the major networks now tends to drive me away. More than anything, the reality show revolution was the single event that really seemed to send the quality of TV programming into a tailspin. Now it averages somewhere between Davy Jones' Locker and The Deep.

In the end, I watch very little programming on the big 4 networks. Naturally, there are exceptions which include the venerable "Simpsons," "Family Guy," "American Dad," "The Unit," and (oddly) "Wife Swap." Most of my favorite shows now reside on the Discovery Channel, History Channel, and their sister networks. They're doing a lot of great stuff right now. As for NBC, aside from the occasional Sunday Night Football or playoff game, I never watch them anymore. So much for "Must See TV."

 

[Nate Wesley]

It's a personal taste thing, I certainly realize that.

 

[WPPCProductions]

Whatever happened to "Don Kirshner's Rock Concert"? There's something I'd like to see back on TV. I remember it running on WBZ 4 Boston at 1AM after Saturday Night Live approx. 1977 or 78.

Yaeh ,That show was a classic.get a chance to see favorite bands and upcoming new acts. I dont see many of these type of shows on network tv lately.We have to deal with American Idol.PBS has Soundstage and long running Austin City Limits.On the cable side , MTV,VH1 sucks these days with their lackluster of quility programing. Cheap produced reality shows that air a half a dozen times a day.