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[07/27/13 - 11:31 AM]
NBC at TCA: "Fashion Star" Is Dead, "Celebrity Apprentice" Is Still Alive
By Brian Ford Sullivan (TFC)

LOS ANGELES (thefutoncritic.com) -- "At this point in our business, flat is the new up," NBC Entertainment Chairman Robert Greenblatt said in his opening remarks during the TCA Summer Press Tour. Said statement referred to the Peacock being the only broadcast network even year-to-year in the ratings (September 24-July 21), but was quickly taken by the audience as a defeatist rallying cry.

He would later clarify that the annual "decline year-to-year in broadcast television from 5-7% has been happening for the last two decades. So it isn't just a recent phenomenon. And it's been happening partly because cable's just taking viewers away and I have lost count of how many networks do original programming these days. Is it three digits yet? But there's 50 networks doing programming. I wish we could get more respect for the good work that we do."

As for specific programming updates, here's a breakdown of the notable developments from the executive session:

-- Greenblatt, just prior to announcing their four new mini/limited series (read the story), indicated Mark Burnett's "A.D.: After the Bible" (formerly "A.D. Beyond the Bible") won't be ready until the next broadcast season (2014-15). Also still in the hopper on said front: a six-hour take on "Cleopatra" from executive producers Dan McDermott and Lorenzo Di Bonaventura.

-- Despite Donald Trump's proclamation that "Celebrity Apprentice" has been renewed, Paul Telegdy (President, Alternative and Late Night Programming, NBC Entertainment) indicates that's not entirely the case. "We always need to know that we can cast the show and that's the bit of process we're at which is the restocking [of celebrities] and that can take some time," he said. "So no, no plans for an announcement" about a pickup.

-- "Fashion Star" won't be getting a third season. Paul Telegdy confirmed said news to me in the post-session scrum.

-- Yes, they did shoot 13 episodes of "Save Me" even though only seven aired. We're told the network opted to shelve episodes two through seven - which were presumably filmed before Darlene Hunt replaced Alexa Junge as showrunner - and skip right to number eight as its "second" episode. In any case, it won't be back.

-- NBC Entertainment President Jennifer Salke also gave me a few updates on the development side. David Frankel (The Devil Wears Prada) is in negotiations to direct and executive produce "Girlfriend in a Coma," one of three pilots that were pushed from this past development cycle. "We're hoping between David and Dick [Wolf] we can go and attract a great lead for that and it's a pilot that we might get on course earlier than later." Christina Ricci was previously attached but bowed out in March. As for the other two, Salke says the comedy "The Donor Party" is "a bit on hold" while the Anthony E. Zuiker-produced "Wonderland" is "tough to do because of the ABC spin-off."

-- Among its other projects, Salke indicates Julian Fellowes's "The Gilded Age" is very much alive. "We love that," she said. "We're just waiting for him to emerge. He's going to write all the episodes. He comes in and talks to us every three or four months and it's wildly entertaining." As for when we'll see it, "the timeframe still is based on his availability." And finally, a proposed Roseanne Barr series likewise remains in the works. "We're working on the Roseanne show creatively and what that extended family show is. It's coming together. We're still discussing whether that's going to be a 10/90 or straight to series or 13 episodes or summer... that part of it is still in discussion."





  [july 2013]  
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· A.D. THE BIBLE CONTINUES (NBC)
· APPRENTICE, THE (NBC)
· CLEOPATRA (NBC)
· DONOR PARTY, THE (NBC)
· FASHION STAR (NBC)
· GILDED AGE, THE (HBO)
· GIRLFRIEND IN A COMA (NBC)
· SAVE ME (NBC)
· UNTITLED ROSEANNE BARR PROJECT (NBC)
· WONDERLAND (NBC)





[07/11/25 - 12:45 PM]
ABC Concludes September to May Season with Top Five Shows Among Adults 18-49 Including "High Potential," "Abbott Elementary," "The Rookie," "Shifting Gears" and "9-1-1"
Continuing to lead among broadcast series, ABC's "High Potential" stood as the No. 1 new drama among Total Viewers (16.41 million) and No. 1 new show among Adults 18-49 (3.85 rating).

[07/11/25 - 11:28 AM]
"Big Brother: Summer of Mystery" Premiere Up +10% from Last Summer
Last night, season 27 premiered to nearly 3 million viewers.

[07/11/25 - 10:01 AM]
FX's "Alien: Earth" Takes Fandom to New Heights with Premium Exclusive Content Including a Companion Podcast and Innovative Immersive Experiences
"Alien: Earth," a new drama series from Noah Hawley inspired by the acclaimed feature film franchise, will premiere on Tuesday, August 12.

[07/11/25 - 10:01 AM]
CBS Unveils Fall Primetime Premiere Dates for the 2025-2026 Season
Highlights include an early return for "Watson" on Monday, October 13 in place of the previously announced "FBI" spin-off "CIA."

[07/11/25 - 10:00 AM]
The "Outlander" Universe Expands in Hall H, as Starz Returns to San Diego Comic-Con
Look for can't miss panels for "Outlander" and "Outlander: Blood of my Blood" in Hall H on Friday, July 25 and an in-depth preview of the newest saga in the Spartacus franchise, "Spartacus: House of Ashur" on Saturday, July 26 in the Indigo Ballroom.

[07/11/25 - 10:00 AM]
Adult Swim Returns to San Diego Comic-Con with "Pirate Purrrty on the Green," Must-See Panel Events, and Exclusive First Looks and Giveaways
Adult Swim will bring its famed pirate ship outside the San Diego Convention Center (5th Avenue Landing and Convention Way), this time with a feline twist!

[07/11/25 - 09:01 AM]
HBO Max to Host Fan Experiences for Upcoming Seasons of "Peacemaker" and "It: Welcome to Derry" in San Diego
The festivities include a panel in Hall H, where showrunner/writer/director and Co-Head of DC Studios James Gunn and the cast of "Peacemaker" will share new details about the upcoming season and premiere the global trailer for season two.

[07/11/25 - 08:01 AM]
Video: "Billy Joel: And So It Goes" - Official Trailer - HBO Max
There's always a message in the music.

[07/11/25 - 06:00 AM]
"Love Island (UK)" 10th Anniversary Special Date Announcement
The special premieres in the US on Friday, July 11.

[07/11/25 - 02:01 AM]
Netflix Will Release "Death Inc." Seasons 1, 2 and 3
The series is a comedy centered around a family-run funeral home and the relationships between the eccentric characters who inhabit it.

[07/11/25 - 12:01 AM]
"Too Hot to Handle: Italy" Is Coming on July 18 Only on Netflix
A special guest will guide the contestants in the first Italian edition of the reality show.

[07/10/25 - 07:01 PM]
Video: "The Winning Try" - Official Trailer - Netflix
After his career fell apart, a disgraced rugby star finds purpose coaching his old school's team - driving them and himself toward growth and redemption.

[07/10/25 - 07:01 PM]
Video: "The Nice Guy" - Teaser Trailer #3 - Disney+
He wants out for good. But the past comes with strings.

[07/10/25 - 05:03 PM]
Meagan Good Returns to Lifetime to Executive Produce and Star in the Alluring New Thriller "I'll Never Let You Go" Alongside Antonio Cupo and Thomas Cadrot, Premiering August 16 on Lifetime
Good stars as Emily Westover, a poised and successful art gallery director whose life takes a dark turn after a brief, impulsive affair with a magnetic Italian artist, Carlo (Cupo).

[07/10/25 - 12:01 PM]
"Virgin River" Is Returning for Season 8
"On behalf of myself and the whole 'Virgin River' family, we're eternally grateful to Netflix and to the fans for allowing us to continue on this journey with these beloved characters," said showrunner Patrick Sean Smith.