NBC's future?


Growing up, NBC was "Must-See TV" on Thursday nights. Since "ER" went off the air in 2009 — and arguably for a while before that final ending — Thursdays were no longer the domain and province of NBC.

That changed on December 5 with "The Sound of Music Live." The show drew more than 18 million viewers and a 4.6 in the coveted 18-49 demographic, making it the most successful non-sports event for the network in years.

So what does it mean? The reviews of the show have been mixed. Some suggested the lack of a live audience hurt the efficacy of the show. Some suggested that Carrie Underwood wasn't the right choice to play Maria. Some questioned the show overall.

Having watched the whole thing, I think a live audience could have helped. That being said, with the number of complex sets you have to wonder if they needed a large sound stage that wouldn't accommodate a live audience. Also, I think because the special was on TV some people were expecting something different. This wasn't a re-make of the movie. It wasn't a TV movie. It was live theater. The performances and style of theater is different that TV. For my part, I didn't find Carrie Underwood amazing, but I thought she handled the role well and did a great job singing some tough songs. And all of it was performed live in a vacuum.

What's more interesting is the long-term implications. A TV Critic I like, Andy Greenwald, has long suggested that the advantage the networks have over the cable channels eating their ratings is event TV. "The Sound of Music Live" was event TV, and it proved that there is a mass audience for something like this.

With a floundering slate of dramas and comedies, NBC had already turned large portions of its schedule over to reality shows and holiday specials. "The Sound of Music Live" shows that big event productions could be the path to redemption for NBC. If they're done as well as "The Sound of Music," that could be something for everyone to look forward to.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Burial a courtroom drama with heart

Image
Willie Gary (Jamie Foxx) is a brash trial lawyer who is good at rallying a jury to his cause. Jeremiah O’Keefe (Tommy Lee Jones) is a quiet grandfather who is trying to ensure the business his family built remains viable after he’s gone. These two don’t appear to have much in common on the surface. But when they’re brought together by young lawyer Hal Dockins (Mamoudou Athie) brings them together, a connection is formed over their shared background of working hard to become self-made men. And it turned out that Willie was just who Jerry needed in his corner to win the fight of his life. The new Prime Video film The Burial, which opened in theaters October 6 and started streaming October 13, captures that trial against the Loewen Group that changed the course of their lives. The film is based on the true story and covers the trial, but more importantly captures the relationship between the men. The film plays out like a traditional courtroom drama. Foxx is solid as Willie Gary, while Ju...
Read more

Broncos Draft Targets

Image
  The NFL Draft is just a few days away. On April 25, the Denver Broncos will head into the draft in the midst of something of a rebuild. In the draft, the Broncos have the No. 12 pick in Round 1, then have a Third Round Pick, Fourth Round Pick, three Fifth Round Picks, a Sixth Round Pick, and a Seventh Round Pick. So, what might they be targeting? Let's dive in and look at possible positions. Quarterback : The team clearly needs a long-term quarterback. Jarrett Stidham and Ben DiNucci are there but the team could certainly use someone else. Could they move up for Drake Maye or J.J. McCarthy? Yes, they could. Will the take Bo Nix at 12? It's possible. Or will the Broncos wait until next off-season to make a move? Anything is in play for the Broncos in 2024, but quarterback is surely a need. Tight End: The team brought back Adam Trautman and still has Greg Dulcich, but it's still a need. Dulcich hasn't been able to get on the field and Trautman hasn't been great. Co...
Read more

Favorite Westerns, No. 43

Image
  Do you like a good Western? It's a classic genre in film and this year I've decided to look at some of my favorite Westerns. So, join me each Friday as I count down my favorite Westerns from No. 50 to No. 1. Rooster Cogburn : [ watching Mattie ford the river hanging on the back of her horse] By God. She reminds me of me. True Grit (1969) Starring : John Wayne, Kim Darby, Glen Campbell, Robert Duvall, and Dennis Hopper Director : Henry Hathaway About: This is the third straight week with a film from Wayne. As you might guess, we're not done. As I've mentioned, he sets a standard for the genre. Here, we seen him bring to life an iconic character. This one is based on a novel, and it has endured. He's great as Rooster Cogburn, so good that he got a sequel in the same character. But this is a later film in his career. This is a different, more grizzled Wayne. He's still quite good and this is a film that really has stood the test of time. It's not the only ve...
Read more