Looks like Chevy Chase won this one. Community was the NBC comedy most on the bubble, with flagging ratings and behind-the-scenes turmoil. Fans of the show rejoiced when it was renewed for a fourth season, but that joyous announcement came with some bad news – creator ]]>

Looks like Chevy Chase won this one. Community was the NBC comedy most on the bubble, with flagging ratings and behind-the-scenes turmoil. Fans of the show rejoiced when it was renewed for a fourth season, but that joyous announcement came with some bad news – creator Dan Harmon would be stepping down as showrunner.

At the upfronts in New York, NBC chief Bob Greenblatt revealed that Community‘s fourth season would see the show moving from Thursday to Friday nights, and it would have a pair of new showrunners and producers: David Guarascio and Moses Port, most recently of Happy Endings, are the new bosses. Greenblatt did comment on Harmon’s future involvement that “I expect his voice to be part of it.”Harmon took to his blog to respond. It’s a great read, but here are some of the important bits.

The important one is this quote from Bob Greenblatt in which he says he’s sure I’m going to be involved somehow, something like that. That’s a misquote. I think he meant to say he’s sure cookies are yummy, because he’s never called me once in the entire duration of his employment at NBC. He didn’t call me to say he was starting to work there, he didn’t call me to say I was no longer working there and he definitely didn’t call to ask if I was going to be involved.

However, if I actually chose to go to the office, I wouldn’t have any power there. Nobody would have to do anything I said, ever. I would be “offering” thoughts on other people’s scripts, not allowed to rewrite them, not allowed to ask anyone else to rewrite them, not allowed to say whether a single joke was funny or go near the edit bay, etc. It’s….not really the way the previous episodes got done. I was what you might call a….hands on producer. Are my….periods giving this enough….pointedness? I’m not saying you can’t make a good version of Community without me, but I am definitely saying that you can’t make my version of it unless I have the option of saying “it has to be like this or I quit” roughly 8 times a day.

So obviously we’re in for a very different show without Harmon at the helm. Don’t feel too bad for him, though – he already has an Adult Swim pilot in production called Rick & Morty, and I’m sure he’ll be back on his feet. How about you? Will you watch the new Community when it returns in the Fall?

Do you really want to get practical jokes played on you by geriatrics? NBC thinks so. The network has announced that 90 year old Betty White, former Golden Girls star turned inexplicable pop culture phenomenon, will executive produce and host Betty White’s Off Their Rockers, a ]]>

Do you really want to get practical jokes played on you by geriatrics? NBC thinks so. The network has announced that 90 year old Betty White, former Golden Girls star turned inexplicable pop culture phenomenon, will executive produce and host Betty White’s Off Their Rockers, a hidden camera prank show in the vein of Punk’d that uses old people as the jokesters. Who wants to put $5 against there being a “I’m having a heart attack” bit in the first three episodes? I’ll also lay $10 that one of the aged actors actually does have a heart attack and they have to shut the show down, Luck-style. Betty White’s Off Their Rockers premieres Wednesday, April 4th at 8PM.

So Community was pulled back from the brink of death only to publicly commit suicide, is that what you’re saying? After the return of NBC’s funniest show to the airwaves, fans breathed a sigh of relief that the drama seemed to be over. But the drama ]]>

So Community was pulled back from the brink of death only to publicly commit suicide, is that what you’re saying? After the return of NBC’s funniest show to the airwaves, fans breathed a sigh of relief that the drama seemed to be over. But the drama was just beginning!

On the last day of filming Season 3, star Chevy Chase walked off the set in a huff. There are a few explanations as to why – some sources say he hadn’t received scripts, while others claim that he just thought the material wasn’t funny. It was a pretty cruddy way to wrap up a triumphant return to production, but it seemed like a minor issue.

Unfortunately, show creator Dan Harmon decided to pay Chevy back at the wrap party, giving a speech in front of Chase’s wife and daughters where he led the cast and crew in a “F— you, Chevy” chant. Chase and his family left immediately, and Chevy then proceeded to leave a profanity-laden voicemail on Harmon’s phone, calling the showrunner an “alcoholic fat s—” and telling him he’s going to die young because he’s fat and eats like crap.

Instead of the pair just hugging it out like bros, Harmon went on to play the voicemail for the crowd during one of his monthly comedy gigs. Some enterprising soul taped it, leaked it and a firestorm of horrible news began. With a show already on life support, why would the creators do anything to make things worse?

At press time, Harmon has issued an apology to Chase for playing the voicemail in public, but Chase has refused to apologize, telling reporters that it was the “right thing to do.” He also said “We’ve got comedy to make,” which gives me hope that he’ll come back to the show. And, hell, actors hate writers and producers all the time. It’s part of their job.

Those familiar with CSI:NY‘s use of Second Life should know what to expect: comedy gold.

The following is an oldie, but goodie, from some NBC show called Life that I’ve never heard off and am betting isn’t even on the air anymore. But instead of another MMO being ]]>

Those familiar with CSI:NY‘s use of Second Life should know what to expect: comedy gold.

The following is an oldie, but goodie, from some NBC show called Life that I’ve never heard off and am betting isn’t even on the air anymore. But instead of another MMO being used, cuz that’s where rapists and child pedophiles get their victims, you know, the center of it all is a relatively old Price of Persia game for the Xbox 1.

Of course it’s for an out of date system… But like CSI, Law & Order, and every other crime drama before them, there’s a case that needs to be cracked, but the vital clue is hidden in some fancy play thing for children, and it’s up to the resident nerd in the Life crew to crack it open…

… Not sure about anyone else, but when they showed the girl, messing around with an invisible controller, I was absolutely certain that she had hacked into the game and was assuming the role of the enemy, to prevent the nerd from beating the game and solving the case. With an actual invisible controller. Since that stuff already exists in Japan, naturally.

I also wonder how much Ubisoft got paid for such a nice chuck of the prime time spotlight? Anyhow, a bonus vid, which I only stumbled across since it pop up after the one above stopped playing. Dexter playing Counterstrike…

NBC has retained television rights for the Olympic games through 2020 according to the AP. NBC was bidding against Fox and ESPN but appears to have won it with a $4 billion dollar price tag.

It will have exclusive rights to the ]]>

NBC has retained television rights for the Olympic games through 2020 according to the AP. NBC was bidding against Fox and ESPN but appears to have won it with a $4 billion dollar price tag.

It will have exclusive rights to the 2014 Winter Games in Sochi, Russia, the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, as well as the 2018 Winter Games and 2020 Olympics, whose sites have not yet been chosen.

NBC has broadcast every Summer Olympics since 1988 and every Winter Games since 2002.

This will also be the first time NBC broadcasts the Olympics in quite some time without long time head honcho Dick Ebersol, who abruptly resigned two weeks ago.

You may have thought that Meatloaf suffered enough embarrassment after being called “bitch tits” in “Fight Club” or spending an entire song begging a woman for sex. You would be wrong. In this clip from last night’s “Celebrity Apprentice”, Meatloaf flips out over paint. Yes, paint.

I have to admit that I checked out on “The Office” last year (we get it…they’re all zany). But with Steve Carell’s Michael Scott character soon to be on the way out, they’re pulling out all the stops. In tonight’s episode, Michael Scott crossed paths with Ricky Gervais’s David Brent ]]>

I have to admit that I checked out on “The Office” last year (we get it…they’re all zany). But with Steve Carell’s Michael Scott character soon to be on the way out, they’re pulling out all the stops. In tonight’s episode, Michael Scott crossed paths with Ricky Gervais’s David Brent from the British version of “The Office” and it was an understated but suitably epic affair.

I can understand why they had to make Gervais’s cameo so brief. He was in something of a rush since he’d heard from a person in the lobby there there had been a rape upstairs. SOMEWHAT OBSCURE REFERENCES!

Ep 714: Michael’s New Friend [NBC.com]

NBC is now giving fans “prizes” based on a point systems for discussing NBC shows over social media networks.

In a weird, but not all that surprising move, NBC has started a campaign called “Fan It” for fans of the network that enjoy discussing its shows over different social media ]]>

NBC is now giving fans “prizes” based on a point systems for discussing NBC shows over social media networks.

In a weird, but not all that surprising move, NBC has started a campaign called “Fan It” for fans of the network that enjoy discussing its shows over different social media outlets. While it isn’t quite clear exactly what the prizes will be, one fan of the show Chuck won the prize of having his photo used in one of the flashback scenes that the main character of the show has a few times an episode.

The points can be redeemed for rewards including sneak previews of shows, NBC merchandise and entry into a sweepstakes to win big-ticket items such as attendance at the finale of “The Biggest Loser” or a prop from “The Office,” the network said.

Really? That’s it? So NBC is basically giving away nothing to try and get what’s left of their audience to try and sell the rest of us on the network’s programming? I understand that social media is starting to become the go-to form of advertising for some television networks, but let’s hope they can give fans a little more than a NBC mug for shamelessly plugging the struggling network. Like maybe a date with Yvonne Strahovski?

I will tweet “I love Chuck” for the next 24 hours if they could make that happen. Although it’s funny that NBC has decided to use this type of marketing when just a few months ago their company suffered a backlash of bad press from Twitter and Facebook because of the whole Conan vs. Leno debacle. May have been a better idea to keep Conan in place and let his ravenous fans do exactly what they are trying to do now, which is building a fan base for a show through social media, rather than tossing him out due to lower than expected ratings. Is it too little, too late for the struggling network? That remains to be seen. NBC better just hope that Leno doesn’t decide he wants to advertise his show through a letter writing campaign.

NBC seeks to fan enthusiasm with social networks [AP]

I’ve been known to rip on women a time or two for their lack of sports knowledge. Usually though, the ones who don’t know what they’re talking about, keep silent. But occasionally, we get some loud mouth who opens up her yapper and spews garbage.

Enter Oprah Winfrey.

Now, ]]>

I’ve been known to rip on women a time or two for their lack of sports knowledge. Usually though, the ones who don’t know what they’re talking about, keep silent. But occasionally, we get some loud mouth who opens up her yapper and spews garbage.

Enter Oprah Winfrey.

Now, Drew Brees’ has been on Tv a few hundred times in his life. You’d think his birthmark is on the same lines as Cindy Crawford’s mole or Gorbachev’s head. Nope! Oprah tried to wipe it off thinking it was lipstick

While Michael J. Fox is indeed Canadian and has a debilitating disease, he is in fact, very alive. Someone should probably inform NBC host Meredith Vieira that Michael J. Fox and Terry Fox are two different people

Video: Oprah Tries To Clean Birthmark Off Drew Brees {Fanhouse}
NBC Confuses Michael J. Fox For Terry Fox {Fork Party}

Rarely do I do a post on a celebrity that doesn’t sport anything less than a 32C, but when Conan O’Brien basically tells NBC to shove it up their a$$ I have to break in with the news.

Says Conan…

People of Earth:

In the ]]>

Rarely do I do a post on a celebrity that doesn’t sport anything less than a 32C, but when Conan O’Brien basically tells NBC to shove it up their a$$ I have to break in with the news.

Says Conan…

People of Earth:

In the last few days, I’ve been getting a lot of sympathy calls, and I want to start by making it clear that no one should waste a second feeling sorry for me. For 17 years, I’ve been getting paid to do what I love most and, in a world with real problems, I’ve been absurdly lucky. That said, I’ve been suddenly put in a very public predicament and my bosses are demanding an immediate decision.

Six years ago, I signed a contract with NBC to take over The Tonight Show in June of 2009. Like a lot of us, I grew up watching Johnny Carson every night and the chance to one day sit in that chair has meant everything to me. I worked long and hard to get that opportunity, passed up far more lucrative offers, and since 2004 I have spent literally hundreds of hours thinking of ways to extend the franchise long into the future. It was my mistaken belief that, like my predecessor, I would have the benefit of some time and, just as important, some degree of ratings support from the prime-time schedule. Building a lasting audience at 11:30 is impossible without both.

But sadly, we were never given that chance. After only seven months, with my Tonight Show in its infancy, NBC has decided to react to their terrible difficulties in prime-time by making a change in their long-established late night schedule.

Last Thursday, NBC executives told me they intended to move the Tonight Show to 12:05 to accommodate the Jay Leno Show at 11:35. For 60 years the Tonight Show has aired immediately following the late local news. I sincerely believe that delaying the Tonight Show into the next day to accommodate another comedy program will seriously damage what I consider to be the greatest franchise in the history of broadcasting. The Tonight Show at 12:05 simply isn’t the Tonight Show. Also, if I accept this move I will be knocking the Late Night show, which I inherited from David Letterman and passed on to Jimmy Fallon, out of its long-held time slot. That would hurt the other NBC franchise that I love, and it would be unfair to Jimmy.

So it has come to this: I cannot express in words how much I enjoy hosting this program and what an enormous personal disappointment it is for me to consider losing it. My staff and I have worked unbelievably hard and we are very proud of our contribution to the legacy of The Tonight Show. But I cannot participate in what I honestly believe is its destruction. Some people will make the argument that with DVRs and the Internet a time slot doesn’t matter. But with the Tonight Show, I believe nothing could matter more.

There has been speculation about my going to another network but, to set the record straight, I currently have no other offer and honestly have no idea what happens next. My hope is that NBC and I can resolve this quickly so that my staff, crew, and I can do a show we can be proud of, for a company that values our work.

Have a great day and, for the record, I am truly sorry about my hair; it’s always been that way.

Yours,
Conan

Good luck, Jay Leno. You’re going to need it. A ton of it. D-bag…