Some things never change. Like the struggle to keep your dog from chewing the remote. But these are strange times in Hollywood and change is very much in the air. Here’s a look at some of the latest shifts afoot on the TV side.
NBC is reportedly floating an idea to reduce its prime-time programming every night from three hours to two. As reported by the Wall Street Journal, that would mean nixing the 10 p.m. ET slot — which would free up those seven hours a week to local programming.
Why? To cut costs, of course. Of the 11 scripted shows on NBC’s fall season, six are from producer Dick Wolf: The three Chicago shows and the three “Law & Orders.” You can bet those Wolf shows will stick around, they draw strong ratings. But with their large ensemble casts, they’re not cheap. You know what is cheap? Not having to pay anyone to do anything. Maybe NBC figures the ad revenue doesn’t justify whatever it costs to program that third hour.
