Unscripted Shows ‘Keeping the Lights On’

NBC Entertainment President Jeff Zucker wore a bulletproof vest to meet TV critics and reporters in Pasadena Thursday, and as expected, NBC executives drew a barrage of questions regarding the perceived lowbrow content of their summer series “Fear Factor” and “Spy TV.”

Zucker and NBC West Coast President Scott Sassa reiterated their contention that the network’s “Must-See TV” image of quality shows has not been undermined by these programs--which have already received backup orders to return during the coming TV season--and that such fare is popular with a segment of the younger audience.

“We’re a network, and we have to appeal to the widest audience possible, with many diverse tastes,” Zucker said, adding that the critics--who are predominantly male and older--are “not necessarily representative of all the demographics in America.”

That said, Sassa stressed that NBC remains committed to programs such as “The West Wing” and “Frasier,” and “will not mortgage our future” by cutting back on development of such shows despite a downturn in the advertising market and the popularity of less expensive alternative formats.

“What real networks do is produce big shows that other people can’t afford to do,” Sassa noted, citing that as a way to stand apart from basic cable channels.

Some executives at other networks have suggested that a decline in spending this year during what is known as the upfront advertising market--where the six broadcast networks took in about $1 billion less than they did in 2000, a 12% to 15% drop--would result in belt-tightening that could affect programming strategies.

The failure of popular series to repeat well during the summer is another economic consideration for the major networks, with Zucker pointing out NBC’s respectable ratings for “Fear Factor,” “Weakest Link” and “Spy TV” have “kept the lights on this summer,” providing the network an advantage in promoting its prime-time lineup premiering in September.

Looking ahead to the fall, NBC will use another unscripted show produced by Conan O’Brien’s company, “Lost,” as a lead-in to “The West Wing” for six weeks beginning in early September.

NBC also announced that “West Wing” would switch to the wide-screen format currently employed by “ER” and HBO’s “The Sopranos,” and would open its third season with a two-part episode. “West Wing” is in production after a threatened holdout by four supporting actors, who are seeking raises.

NBC is also relying on “Cheers” alumni to bolster its comedies, with Shelley Long and Bebe Neuwirth guest-starring in “Frasier’s” one-hour premiere Sept. 18, and Woody Harrelson continuing on “Will & Grace” through the first five episodes of the new season.

Actor Ving Rhames has also agreed to appear in a three-episode story arc on the new NBC action series “UC: Undercover.”