Yeah, I know, we already had a Ben Silverman-centric post today, but this is going to be interesting for fans of Friday Night lights.
Radar ran into the NBC Entertainment President Ben Silverman at a party for Lipstick Jungle (I'm sure it was a great party, but that show doesn't have a chance), and they asked him if the high school football drama was going to be saved even though it doesn't get good ratings, and Silverman responded in typical Silvermanian (?) fashion.
"I love it. You love it. Unfortunately, no one watches it. That's the thing with shows. People have to watch them. We're NBC, we have a reputation to uphold. And, man, with this writers' strike ... well, we'll see what we can do. But start watching 30 Rock."
It's funny that Silverman not only tells the writer to start watching 30 Rock because "it's the best show on TV," he says it three times. In fact, he sort of dodges the FNL question twice, pushing the merits of 30 Rock instead, and then decides to answer by saying that NBC "has a reputation to uphold." Not really sure if this means that he wants to give quality shows time to get an audience or he wants to replace it with another episode of 1 vs. 100, but it's really great to see him behind 30 Rock so much.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
2-05-2008 @ 3:23PM
Jake said...
The headline should have read:
Ben Silverman loves Friday Night Lights (but it's about to get canceled). Bob Sassone seen rejoicing saying "thats for Studio 60!"
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2-05-2008 @ 3:50PM
YouFaceTheTick said...
Too bad as it's the ONLY decent drama on television.
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2-05-2008 @ 7:13PM
Steven Rubio said...
"Too bad as it's the ONLY decent drama on television."
Somebody needs to get cable.
2-05-2008 @ 8:54PM
YouFaceTheTick said...
I have DirecTV HD and HBO. Dexter is good but not worth $10 a month on Showtime.
2-05-2008 @ 3:54PM
shu said...
This really is a great show. I hope it comes back.
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2-05-2008 @ 3:54PM
khamel said...
Its clear what FNL should do - move the kids to Manhattan and have a guest star be the assistant coach each week (ideally someone currently on another NBC show). This week, Masi Oka leads the Panthers to a thrilling victory over the Donald Trump lead Wildcats!
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2-05-2008 @ 3:55PM
Shaun said...
It just goes to show you that the average television watching American is a complete and utter moron. Anyone who would rather watch D-List celebrities compete on a show run by Donald Trump or Dance their way back into the a career over a drama as great as FNL is an idiot. Unfortunately reality TV is taking over and there's little to be done for it except read more books.
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2-05-2008 @ 4:14PM
Jennifer said...
*eye-roll*
Admittedly, (a) we all expect FNL is going to get canceled, and (b) uh, given how season 2 has gone, I probably won't even be too sad about it. But still, pimping 30 Rock constantly in the answer? Gawd.
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2-05-2008 @ 5:24PM
Joey Geraci said...
This season has been a little rocky, but regardless, it is still the number one drama on broadcast. (House is funny and cleverly written, but has exactly zero meaningful movement from week to week)
2-05-2008 @ 4:44PM
S said...
More than the cancelling of really good shows, I hate that anything that gets cancelled after this season didn't get a full one to really close out or properly tie up loose ends.
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2-05-2008 @ 5:34PM
Jeff N. said...
Yes, I hate this show may not even have a proper ending. It's a great show. Last weeks episode was excellent. One of the very best if not the best drama on TV. It is sad more people don't watch it.
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2-05-2008 @ 6:09PM
misstexas2 said...
I love this show so much that it kills me to think it's going to be canceled! How can that be? Finally a series worth watching and that is better than any of the others and they cancel it. Disgusting.
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2-05-2008 @ 6:25PM
Sarah said...
Yeah it's easy for Ben Silverman to get behind 30 Rock now, but where was he last year when it was in a ratings slump? It would be nice if he could throw some support behind shows when they actually need it...
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2-05-2008 @ 6:31PM
IloveFNL said...
I HATE THAT FNL COULD BE CANCELLED!!!!! What is wrong with these people? First, they move it around so many times that it was hard to find, then they never promote it. I live in Austin and have never seen a commercial advertising the show. Not in two years. One week the local NBC network was going to show a basketball game instead of the show. And it is filmed here. You see so many ads for the idiot reality shows... unbelievable. If NBC does cancel this show I will never watch another one of their shows. I know that one person does not make any difference, but I will not support them period.
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2-05-2008 @ 6:57PM
Tom said...
@Sarah - 30Rock still has lousy ratings...Silverman is behind 30Rock because he wants to keep Loren Michaels happy. SNL is still worth a lot to NBC (God only knows why)
As for FNL, I was the show's biggest fan during the first season and because I love the characters I've enjoyed the second season but the truth is its been weak. Really weak.
There have been great moments but with characters disappearing for months on end and plot contrivances showing up by the dozen it really does deserve its fate at this point. The Landry storylines alone should have gotten in cancelled (and I'm one to believe Landry the football hero is a worse sin than Landry the murderer)
I'll miss the characters but I'd just assume see the show die at Season 2 than see it get any worse.
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2-05-2008 @ 7:03PM
Zach said...
So they stick it on Friday nights and they're surprised no one's watching it?
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2-05-2008 @ 7:18PM
IloveFNL said...
Tom, while I respect your opinion, I really don't agree with it. I think that some of the characters have not had as large a role this year, but the story lines have been interesting and different. Of course everyone has their own opinions, but a lot worse shows go through plot slumps and still remain on the air. I did not hate the murder, I wish they had called the police right away, but I can see two kids freaking out and trying to hide it. I knew Landry would eventually cave and he did. It did not even continue for a month in their time, because the football season is only 2/3 of the way through. Julie is a brat, but have you seen many 15-16 year old girls that are not? Being the mother of two ex-teenagers, I assure you she is not off the mark. Riggins drinks all the time, but so did the kids in our local high school, including the cheerleaders and football players. Right here in Austin, any given Friday night after the game, there are parties.
So all this to say, I am not ready to bury this show yet.
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2-05-2008 @ 7:35PM
segsig said...
Could read those pleas as a last ditch effort for 3rock as well; they've never done better than fourth in their timeslot. Pleading for viewers the new marketing strategy.
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2-05-2008 @ 8:59PM
YouFaceTheTick said...
30 Rock will NEVER have an audience. People prefer stuff like 2 and 3/4s Men and According to Jim. comedy without a laugh track is a tough sell to people who need prodding.
2-05-2008 @ 8:58PM
andromache said...
So if I agree to watch 30 Rock, they won't cancel FNL? The show has had some growing pains but the tenor and characters are still there, and I would prefer to give the creators the benefit of the doubt and trust them to a third season. I am actually surprised it is not doing better with the frequent mentions it gets in ESPN's magazine (every issue) and website (weekly).
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