Starcom MediaVest Group CEO Lauren Richards is attending the U.S. networks’ annual upfront presentations in New York this week. First up: NBC/Universal
NBC/Universal touted Monday’s scaled back upfront presentation at Rockefeller Center as the “NBC/Universal Experience.”
It was an experience alright. More like a trade show though; and not one I would offer if I was running the network.
The intent was to thank buyers and clients, and while the cocktails were great and the appetizers pleasing, hype about the schedule was definitely absent.
The invitations were timed so that NBC could take attendees on an interactive walk through NBC/Universal properties. As the invited audience sat in a theatre prior to the walk-through, a sense of disappointment filled the air since the only video clips that were presented were for upcoming Universal movies.
There were numerous photo opportunities—The American Gladiators on a make-shift stage; the cast of The Office (minus Steve Carell)—but very little promotion of the new shows and no presentation from NBC. A huge missed opportunity as far as I’m concerned.
Given their fall lineup, it looks like NBC felt it had no alternative but to try and be daring by releasing the schedule for the year in advance and changing the up-front experience. In fact, I think they were masking the sorry state of affairs. This from a network that was so strong for so long.
As evidence of this, look to Wednesday night. Starting off the evening is KITT, the talking car reprised in Knight Rider. Any show that celebrates “The Hoff,” as they are by touting David Hasselhoff’s cameo experience, is a bit worrisome. Not only that, NBC is running Knight Rider repeats again on Saturday night.
Friday at 8 p.m brings us Crusoe. As in Robinson. Robinson is shipwrecked for 28 years and longs to return to the wife he left behind. Will she really be pining for him after 28 years? What a woman if she is.
Kath and Kim, airing after The Biggest Loser at 9:30 p.m. Tuesdays, has a bit more potential, since it stars the very talented Molly Shannon as the mother to Selma Blair. Based on a successful Australian sitcom, the show’s premise has spoiled princess Kim running home to mom after her marriage ends up on the rocks.
Christian Slater stars in My Own Worst Enemy, airing in the post-Heroes timeslot at 10 p.m. Mondays. Slater plays a modern day superman/suburban dad with a wife, two kids, dog and a minivan, who turns into a edgy crime fighter when the time is right.
Keep in mind it is almost impossible to provide any real opinion on the quality of the shows, since no clips were available for viewing. Rather a strange way to promote excitement in NBC’s new schedule.
The real up-fronts should begin tonight with ABC (see story above).
However there was other excitement to be had at the Art of Shaving on Madison Avenue this morning when Al Hudak, sales manager extraordinaire at CTV, shaved off all his hair. The commitment was made during dinner at Buddakan last night (with charitable donations promised), and he followed through after being told he’d look 10 years younger. And he does. The things we gotta do to keep up in this business.
