Dear Broadcast Networks: Lose the Blues and Celebrate!

I use the word amp8220shockingamp8221 because this has never happened in the 25 years that I have been attending the Winter and Summer TCA events I was speechless when I first found out about it Others were not The esteemed Tim Goodman of The Hollywood Reporter immediately opened a can of thoughtful and thoughtprovoking whupass on them all Here at MediaVillagecom our own Simon Applebaum also weighed inThere really havenamp8217t been better or more thoughtful responses to this madness I use the word amp8220madnessamp8221 because the broadcast networks are federally regulated businesses and the assumption has always been that as such the people running them are beholden to appear before the press from time to time and explain to the American public why they do the things they doEditoramp8217s note The outcry from the press about this matter is having an impact As I was writing this column I was informed that Fox has changed its mindamp160 Apparently one or more of its top programming executives will appear at a press conference during the networkamp8217s day at TCAamp160 This paragraph will be updated in the future if the other networks follow suit as they shouldFor many TCA members in attendance sessions with the presidents andor CEOs from the Big Four networks along with the chiefs of The CW FX HBO and PBS among a select few others are the most important of the hundreds of press conferences scheduled during a typical tour Time with those individuals is one of the primary reasons why cashstrapped publicationsamp160continue to find the funding to send their people to TCA gatheringsThis TCAbroadcast kerfuffle comes at the close of what is increasingly referred to as a desultory fall season for the broadcasters amp8211 and it seems to confirm every bad thing the press has been saying about them and the programming they have chosen to put on their air The networks should challenge the press on this They shouldn39t turn away Thatamp8217s not smart They still know how to put on a good showLook itamp8217s a given that as the number of entertainment options continues to increase everyone is going to get a smaller piece of the pie During the 25 years that I have been covering television the broadcasters have taken annual blows first from cable then from the Internet and then from the further disruptions brought about by digital technologyAudiences are going to continue to fragment Nothing new there What is new is that despite competing at any given time with hundreds of established series on cable networks and a bottomless pit of content on the streamers and even though they are unfairly disadvantaged by FCC regulations while cable and the Internet run wild and free amp160this fall each of the Big Four has introduced a new drama series that can be qualified as a success for its network CBSamp8217 Bull ABCamp8217s Designated Survivor Foxamp8217s Lethal Weapon and the best of them all NBCamp8217s awardworthy This Is Us Acrosstheboard achievements of this kind donamp8217t often happen especially at the start of a new season when competition among networks rages at a fever pitchFurther CBS and NBC each have another new drama that has done well MacGyver and Timeless respectively Both hold much promise going forward Similarly Fox in The Exorcist has a new drama that may be struggling in the ratings but is nevertheless one of the most gripping on broadcast television It39samp160a surprisingly satisfying continuation of the story that started in the novel by William Peter Blatty and subsequent boxoffice smash directed by William Friedkin over 40 years ago and it deserves a strong show of support from network and press alikeOn the comedy front CBS seems to have a hit in Kevin Can Wait and though it needs a little finetuning another success in Man with a Plan And ABC has two new sitcoms that arenamp8217t going anywhere Speechless and American HousewifeWhatamp8217s more Fox couldnamp8217t have asked for a better World Series to pump up its fall performance amp160For some viewers it was the most exciting Series ever televisedamp160 ABC scored with its telecastof the 50th Annual Country Music Association Awards and the season finale of Dancing with the Stars Now that the fall finale of this longrunning franchise also serves as an introduction to the holiday season by presenting many of its performances in the festively decorated Grove shopping complex adjacent to its studio it has taken on the very welcome tone of an annual Christmas variety specialSpeaking of holidays letamp8217s all just stand back and admire NBC as it swings into gear with its sensational Christmas season programming including this weekamp8217s Tree Lighting at Rockefeller Center its second Dolly Partonproduced TV movie and its upcoming music special celebrating the 90th birthday of Tony BennettAnd letamp8217s not forget Hairspray Live the fourth of NBCamp8217s live December musicals now an invaluable holiday tradition Hairspray will be telecast on Wednesday night Iamp8217m comfortable stating right here and now that it is going to be huge With that cast how could it not be That39s a photo from a Hairspray Live rehearsal atamp160topMeanwhile that other broadcaster The CW hadamp160much to celebrate this week with ratings for its fourshow crossover that ran MondayThursday nights mixing and matching characters from Supergirl The Flash Arrow and DCamp8217s Legends of Tomorrow Significantly The CW was the only broadcster to not cancel itsamp160executive session during its day at TCAamp160There isnamp8217t another network or streamer on the planet currently in a position to pull off anything quite like that though NBC is getting close with its everexpanding interconnected series of Chicago shows which together comprise an exciting example of broadcast innovation If only they were better programs They need more humor more playfulness less perpetual tragedy and more sex appeal And better writing But Dick Wolfamp8217s strategy of having four series function as one superstory in the manner of the CW superhero showsamp160is well worth supportingIamp8217m sure all of the broadcasters have other shows to feel good about these days The point is they have much to celebrate amp8230 and they should get about doing exactly thatClick the social buttons above or below to share this content with your friends and colleaguesThe opinions and points of view expressed in this article are exclusively the views of the author andor subjects and do not necessarily represent the views of MediaVillagecomMyersBizNet Inc management or associated bloggersamp160

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Dear Broadcast Networks: Lose the Blues and Celebrate!

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Ed Martin

"About That with Carl Mayer": Involved Media Connected Audience Fall 2024 Report (Episode 5) - By Carl Mayer

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Dear Broadcast Networks: Lose the Blues and Celebrate!

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Ed Martin

"About That with Carl Mayer": Involved Media Connected Audience Fall 2024 Report (Episode 5) - By Carl Mayer

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