NETWORKS CANCEL SITCOMS, DRAMAS; WILL AIR BUSH FOREIGN POLICY SPEECHES INSTEAD
TV Nets Make About-Face As Bush Iraq Speech Hits Ratings Jackpot
The major television networks, who elected not to air President Bushs speech on Iraq Monday night, have done a quick about-face upon learning that the Presidents speech attracted 17 million viewers, trouncing the nets entertainment offerings.
ABC, NBC, CBS and Fox all announced today that they were canceling their new fall sitcoms and dramas and replacing them with foreign policy speeches by President Bush, effective immediately.
Right now, President Bush talking about Saddam Hussein and weapons of mass destruction is ratings gold, said President of NBC Entertainment Jeff Zucker, who is considering President Bushs speeches as a possible replacement for Friends, now in its last season.
Some TV insiders, however, say that a constant diet of President Bush talking about Iraq could run the risk of overexposure.
You could wind up turning George W. Bush into the next Regis Philbin, one insider says.
In the U.S. Senate, Democratic leader Tom Daschle raised concerns that President Bushs new role as a Nielsen powerhouse could distract him from the war on terrorism.
Producing a full slate of primetime programming is more than the President of the United States should be asked to handle, Senator Daschle said. This is a job for David E. Kelley.
But NBCs Zucker, who has received drafts of the Presidents next five Iraq speeches, said that he is confident that President Bush will rout all other programming in the crucial November sweeps period.
His next Iraq speech is in great shape, Mr. Zucker said. I have almost no suggestions for changes, although I do think it could use a stronger joke right at the top.
TV Nets Make About-Face As Bush Iraq Speech Hits Ratings Jackpot
The major television networks, who elected not to air President Bushs speech on Iraq Monday night, have done a quick about-face upon learning that the Presidents speech attracted 17 million viewers, trouncing the nets entertainment offerings.
ABC, NBC, CBS and Fox all announced today that they were canceling their new fall sitcoms and dramas and replacing them with foreign policy speeches by President Bush, effective immediately.
Right now, President Bush talking about Saddam Hussein and weapons of mass destruction is ratings gold, said President of NBC Entertainment Jeff Zucker, who is considering President Bushs speeches as a possible replacement for Friends, now in its last season.
Some TV insiders, however, say that a constant diet of President Bush talking about Iraq could run the risk of overexposure.
You could wind up turning George W. Bush into the next Regis Philbin, one insider says.
In the U.S. Senate, Democratic leader Tom Daschle raised concerns that President Bushs new role as a Nielsen powerhouse could distract him from the war on terrorism.
Producing a full slate of primetime programming is more than the President of the United States should be asked to handle, Senator Daschle said. This is a job for David E. Kelley.
But NBCs Zucker, who has received drafts of the Presidents next five Iraq speeches, said that he is confident that President Bush will rout all other programming in the crucial November sweeps period.
His next Iraq speech is in great shape, Mr. Zucker said. I have almost no suggestions for changes, although I do think it could use a stronger joke right at the top.
