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Home » Blogs » StuntDouble's blog » Exclusive! Top Secret Info on How NBC Makes Programming Decisions!

Exclusive! Top Secret Info on How NBC Makes Programming Decisions!

by
StuntDouble

Ever wonder how the network suits over at NBC assemble their primetime schedule every year? Believe it or not there's a logic to it. And thanks to a mole working on the inside, we've obtained secret documents showing just how things work there!

By following a simple, top secret formula the programming geniuses over at the Peacock Network have assembled a perfect primetime line-up which, as you'll see, makes perfect sense on paper — even if the rest of us are too dumb to get it.

Check out the NBC Programming Decision Tree after the break!

 

Note: Includes contributions from Michael Jensen

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    • Submitted by
    StuntDouble
    on Wed, 2009-10-14 10:47.
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    Whitetee's picture

    Whaaat?

    Submitted by
    Whitetee (3093 points) (668 posts)
    on Wed, 2009-10-14 11:45.
    Mercy already canceled? When?
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    Michael Jensen's picture

    It hasn't been canceled yet, but just seems like

    Submitted by
    Admin
    Michael Jensen (2510 points) (7116 posts)
    on Wed, 2009-10-14 11:47.
    the next likely step given their track record!
    no votes
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    Whitetee's picture

    Oh,thanks for clear that up.

    Submitted by
    Whitetee (3093 points) (668 posts)
    on Wed, 2009-10-14 12:04.
    I reeeaally like Guillermo Díaz. But since the reviews here on AE wasn`t exactly positive I didn`t watch any of it yet. If it`s not going to make it in the next few weeks I probably won`t be bothered with it then.
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    Lyle Masaki's picture

    FWIW, I'm liking Mercy

    Submitted by
    Lyle Masaki (3516 points) (4428 posts)
    on Wed, 2009-10-14 17:34.

    There's not enough Guillermo for my tastes but so far it reminds me of that Brit series No Angels, without the trying so hard to be naughty. It's a decent hospital soap without the tear jerker stories that made Grey's too hard for me to watch every week.

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    Mike Wong's picture

    Hehe

    Submitted by
    Mike Wong (342 points) (81 posts)
    on Wed, 2009-10-14 12:10.
    Someone sounds bitter...and I love it!  Hilarious.
    Average (1 vote):
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    JC's picture

    Leno

    Submitted by
    JC (1421 points) (298 posts)
    on Wed, 2009-10-14 12:23.

    I used to watch the tonight show with Leno. Hate Conan. I watched the first show, after that turned to watching other shows on other networks or watching shows I missed during the past week on Hulu or Fancast. I will not watch Leno now, especially after cancelling Southland. I wonder just how much lower can NBC go.  

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    Kraylessa's picture

    Mercy

    Submitted by
    Kraylessa (311 points) (63 posts)
    on Wed, 2009-10-14 13:27.

    I actually don't hate Mercy. I even thought last week's episode was kind of good. Howeve, in general, I don't watch much NBC. I watch A LOT of TV... at least 3-4 hours of new programming every day, but I only have 3.5 total hours a week of NBC on my schedule. Trauma and Mercy I started watching after reading here that they have gay characters. I think Trauma is the stronger of the two, but I don't know that either of them will make it on NBC in the long run. I also watch The Office (my favorite show), Parks and Recreation, and will be watching 30 Rock when it starts up again this week. So of the 25-ish hours of TV I watch per week, NBC definitely has the tiniest share.

     

    "It's weird. It's just different. It's not men. It's just him. It's only him." - Ianto Jones

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    joeyhegele's picture

    Funny diagram

    Submitted by
    joeyhegele (1147 points) (331 posts)
    on Wed, 2009-10-14 13:30.
    However, if by saying Friday Night Lights has "jumped the shark" you are in any way saying it is not a well written and acted show...then clearly you do not care about or enjoy high quality shows like Southland or Kings.  Friday Night Lights is amazing television.
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    Mattie B's picture

    Friday Night Lights

    Submitted by
    Mattie B (25 points) (6 posts)
    on Wed, 2009-10-14 13:45.

    FNL and Heroes shouldn't be in the same sentence, unless to say "FNL is infinitely better than Heroes".  I wish it had a bit more (read: any) gay content, but it's still a fantastic show.  Which is why it was so shocking when NBC renewed it, since apparently, unless it's a 30 minute sitcom or Chuck, that doesn't happen.  

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    Pops's picture

    Agree

    Submitted by
    Pops (35 points) (8 posts)
    on Wed, 2009-10-14 14:09.
    Friday Night Lights has not jumped the shark and it is the one program that NBC can be proud of.  I admire them for giving such a low-rated show 5 seasons.  Heroes, it is not!
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    Kraylessa's picture

    Chuck

    Submitted by
    Kraylessa (311 points) (63 posts)
    on Wed, 2009-10-14 15:20.

    To be fair, getting Chuck renewed was like pulling teeth and they only agreed to a shortened season on a very tight budget that won't begin airing until after the Winter Olympics.

    I happen to love Chuck, btw. I love dorky guys and hot blonde women and spy-like comedic intrigue. The show's not for everyone, but there is a lot to love about it if you can get past the silliness (or actually enjoy the silliness).

     

    "It's weird. It's just different. It's not men. It's just him. It's only him." - Ianto Jones

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    twin88's picture

    Agreed.

    Submitted by
    twin88 (110 points) (22 posts)
    on Wed, 2009-10-14 15:20.
    Friday Night Lights is an anomaly for NBC.  A truly GREAT show that they renew despite the low ratings.  But, of course, they've got DirectTV to split the costs.
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    Brett's picture

    I second that... He's

    Submitted by
    Brett (175 points) (35 posts)
    on Wed, 2009-10-14 14:36.

    I second that...

    He's either swimming in the wrong ocean or hasn't watched enough of this stupendous show to offer such a poor judgment of quality TV.  FNL is one of the few gems on TV right now and, despite my loathing of Leno, I'm grateful for it and 30 Rock.

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    woodroad34's picture

    My ex, who was a die-hard

    Submitted by
    woodroad34 (340 points) (77 posts)
    on Wed, 2009-10-14 14:40.
    My ex, who was a die-hard Tonight Show, just hates this Leno show.  He finds it uninspired and boring.  NBC has been on the "Cheap" when I left there roughly 10 years ago.  Horrible place to work, btw, and it shows in it's programming, imho.
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    fitzylane's picture

    the office....

    Submitted by
    fitzylane (15 points) (4 posts)
    on Wed, 2009-10-14 15:42.

    LOVE the diagram...

    ...but one little thing jumped out at me.  The office was the creation of two geniuses called stephen merchant and ricky gervais who I am fairly sure have nothing to do with parks and recreation.

    Also, I absolutely agree with all the comments about FNL. Great show despite poor (or non-existent) gay content.

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    Michael Jensen's picture

    Apologies to all you FNL fans. The show wasn't

    Submitted by
    Admin
    Michael Jensen (2510 points) (7116 posts)
    on Wed, 2009-10-14 16:48.
    supposed to be in that spot, but wound up there due to a miscommunication. Now please stop pelting my office with rotten tomatoes.
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    RanderDeon's picture

    ooooh boy. . .

    Submitted by
    RanderDeon (65 points) (13 posts)
    on Wed, 2009-10-14 18:55.

    I get my talk show fix from Craig Ferguson and Chelsea Handler. . the rest I don't watch. But this is the most hilarious chart I've ever seen.

    "Do we want the audience to be entertained?"

    "Nah"

    JAY LENO!

     

    It sucks that they canned all of those shows for his show, though.  And the ratings have been bad. Great job NBC! You hit the nail on the head with this one!

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    Chuckles's picture

    Sadly true...

    Submitted by
    Chuckles (1031 points) (214 posts)
    on Wed, 2009-10-14 22:19.

    This chart is funny, but in a sad and depressing way.  I wonder, what happens when a network ends up folding?  If they keep going on this trend of poor ratings, can another network buy them out?  Or is there more to it than that?  

    Btw, in semi-related news, Will & Grace has been airing for a while over here in South Korea, so at least NBC did something right with creating a somewhat universally funny and interesting show...

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