If Network TV Goes By The Wayside, Should We Care?

NBC and their "Leno Experiment," Comcast potentially taking over NBC - the entertainment industry in recent weeks is aflutter with speculation on these topics.

But what some people are asking is, should we care?

From the perspective of a small survey of folks on the production side of the table, the answer seems to be, "not necessarily."

Grips, assistant directors, production assistants, writers, actors - most people don't care where their job is coming from...as long as they have one.

Granted, an absence of network shows could mean fewer jobs overall - but perhaps not:  Cable television (pay TV included) appears to be picking up the slack admirably, has been for a over decade and continues to gain momentum with shows like "Mad Men" that are both critically acclaimed and viewer beloved. The breakdowns (the daily list of castings that actors aren't supposed to get, but many do) is replete with postings for original programming projects on USA, TNT, Lifetime, TBS, FX, and of course, HBO and Showtime.

Is the urge to "save the networks" born more out of nostalgia than anything else?  Are wistful memories of gathering around the boob tube as a family and recalling memorable TV moments with friends the next day the driving force behind debates over recent rumors and network decisions?

Perhaps local network affiliates and their employees would disagree...

Another Strange Move by NBC

In August NBC decided to postpone John Wells' Southland's fall premiere, a move that was purportedly designed to prevent the series from having to compete too heavily with rival network starters; but this week, the Peacock announced that the sophomore season of the scripted police drama will not return as planned.

With six episodes in the can, it is reported that Wells is already seeking a new home for the show.

Should it get snagged up by a rival network, the situation would be eerily reminiscent of NBC's earlier decision to cancel Medium, only to have it picked up by CBS.

With the decision to fill up its Monday through Friday 10pm time-slot with The Jay Leno Show, it would appear that the struggling network is focusing its efforts on cost-saving measures; however, as reported by the LA Times, cutting a show short of its promised 13 episodes is pricey, as NBC is required to pay for completed installments in addition to fees associated with shutting down a production.

It is unclear whether monies saved will outweigh monies lost.

The only two new scripted dramas that remain, in an apparent attempt to fill the void left by ER, are the medical-centric dramas Trauma and Mercy.  According to people familiar with the situation, overtime outlays on the latter could be high:  Mercy was not intended for a fall premiere, and the New York production is therefore often pulling grueling extended work-weeks at the behest of suits on the Left Coast to complete ready-to-air-episodes prior to shortened holiday schedules.

NBC was noticeably absent from Nielsen's Top Ten in the week of September 28th, earning a rank only for its airing of Sunday Night Football.