Here’s a Dose of Reality for NBC: New Programmer Meets the Press

Although network executives and television critics meet to preview new programs every six months, that interval is invariably long enough for one of the broadcast networks to show up having replaced its programming chief and installed a new one.

The latest edition of the Television Critics Assn. tour, currently being staged in Pasadena, is no exception, as the spotlight fell Wednesday on new NBC Entertainment President Jeff Zucker--the 36-year-old former producer of the network’s “Today” show, named to the job just a few weeks ago.

Zucker, not surprisingly, offered few specifics in terms of programming strategy, stressing--as he did during a conference call last month--that scripted comedies and dramas such as “Friends” and “ER” still represent the network’s core strength. “We’re not going to get away from what our bread-and-butter is,” he said.

Still, one of Zucker’s challenges will be to lead NBC into the fields of so-called “reality,” or unscripted, programming, seeking to emulate the success CBS enjoyed with “Survivor,” which has led to a spate of imitators, with several making their debut this week.

The first of those offerings, ABC’s “The Mole,” arrived Tuesday, attracting an estimated 13.8 million viewers. Though that reflected a decline of more than 6 million from “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire’s” average audience in that hour and trailed CBS’ “JAG,” the program performed reasonably well among younger demographics the networks specifically target, particularly women. Fox’s “Temptation Island” and the WB’s “Popstars” also premiere this week.

Zucker deferred on most questions to NBC West Coast President Scott Sassa, who indicated that NBC has four unscripted series in development, including “Weakest Link,” another quiz-show concept imported from Britain, as was “Millionaire.”

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Sassa also acknowledged that considerable uncertainty surrounds “Destination Mir,” “Survivor” producer Mark Burnett’s planned NBC series that would involve launching the winner of a “Survivor”-like contest into space. Citing the complexity of dealings with the Russians, he said the project would air in the first quarter of 2002 at the earliest.

NBC faces more immediate problems owing to the “reality” wave, with CBS scheduling “Survivor: The Australian Outback” at 8 p.m. Thursdays versus “Friends”--a move that could sap some strength from the network’s dominant “Must-See TV” lineup.

NBC will bench “The Weber Show”--the sitcom that follows “Friends”--during the month of February but declined to say what will replace it. “Friends” does have a few stunts lined up for the sweeps against “Survivor,” including guest appearances by Susan Sarandon and “Seinfeld’s” Jason Alexander.

Zucker added that the time off will be a chance for the Steven Weber sitcom to steady its footing, having undergone a series of behind-the-scenes changes--including the ouster of its creators--prior to its premiere.

Sassa said he expects the “Survivor” audience to include “some new viewers that aren’t traditional network or series viewers,” meaning gains achieved by CBS won’t necessarily come out of NBC’s pocket.

“We’re not going to roll over,” he added, opening the session by pointing out that NBC’s success, contrary to perception, is not limited to Thursdays.

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In fact, NBC has also been faring well Wednesdays thanks to “The West Wing,” “Law & Order” and to a lesser degree the new drama “Ed,” which the network gave a vote of confidence on Wednesday by announcing that it has already renewed the series for next season.

“Frasier” has been another bright spot since moving to Tuesday nights, but NBC has yet to secure the long-running comedy hit beyond this season. That has fueled speculation NBC will have to pay the studio behind the show, Paramount Television, an enormous price or risk losing the series to CBS, which, like Paramount, is owned by Viacom.

Sassa declined to discuss the negotiations but said the program’s star, Kelsey Grammer, “has personally told me he’d like to stay on NBC.” Grammer has publicly said he would like “Frasier” to run at least three more seasons, equaling the 11-year duration of its progenitor, “Cheers.”

Sassa also conceded that NBC--and indeed all the networks--has struggled with movies and miniseries this season, suggesting the availability of uncut films on pay cable as well as original movies on basic channels may be taking its toll.

Asked about reported rumblings within Hollywood about Zucker’s lack of experience in entertainment, the NBC News veteran--who is relocating to the network’s Burbank offices from New York--maintained he’ll approach the task of picking shows with the eye of a television viewer.

“I made that choice my whole life, every night when I sat down in front of the television set,” Zucker said.

Like all the networks, NBC has been girding for the possibility of strikes later this year by the guilds representing writers and actors, which includes ordering extra episodes of series such as “Law & Order” and its spinoff. According to Sassa, NBC has been holding bimonthly strike-planning meetings for the past 10 months as a precaution.