NBC Hires FX’s Reilly to Energize TV Team

With the clock ticking in NBC’s high-stakes race to find new prime-time hits, the network Tuesday shook up its Burbank television team.

NBC Entertainment President Jeff Zucker announced that Kevin Reilly, a cable programmer on a hot streak, would become president of prime-time development, while NBC Studios President Ted Harbert, a 28-year industry veteran, and Karey Burke, an executive vice president for development, would soon step down.

Reilly, 40, will join the network in the newly created position this summer when his contract ends with Fox’s FX network, where he has been chief of entertainment. His new mandate: “Keep NBC No. 1 and maintain the dominance. All kidding aside, those are the marching orders,” Reilly said.

The shake-up signals NBC’s recognition that it has failed in recent years to plant the seeds for a new crop of hits: The General Electric Co.-owned network still has not developed a show strong enough to replace “Friends,” which anchors Thursday -- the most lucrative night of television -- or its Tuesday night stalwart, “Frasier.” Both shows are expected to end next season.

In addition, two of the network’s shows popular with advertisers because of their affluent audiences, “West Wing” and “ER,” have fallen in the ratings, and its newest shows have not been runaway success stories. NBC canceled three of the four new comedies it launched during the last year, as well as two of its four new dramas.

“I can’t remember the last big hit that NBC has developed,” said analyst Larry Gerbrandt, chief operating officer for Kagan World Media in Carmel. “They’ve never been able to take advantage of their huge showcase -- Thursday nights -- on a consistent basis.” Other networks have been able to develop major hits. Fox has “American Idol,” and CBS has “CSI” and even “Survivor.”

Reilly began his career at NBC 15 years ago, and has enjoyed considerable success. While an executive at Brad Grey Television, Reilly helped develop HBO’s hit “The Sopranos.” During his nearly three years at FX, owned by News Corp., he launched “The Shield,” a police drama about a corrupt cop that was the cable network’s first original series. The show garnered critical praise and Golden Globe Awards.

“NBC is ready for a new generation of hits,” said Reilly, who will oversee comedy and drama development as well as the NBC Studios. “There is a real honesty here about the work that needs to be done in the next year.”

Zucker, however, dismissed any notion that NBC is on the defensive, noting that the network still is dominant.

The network last month finished first for the season in the race for 18-to-49-year-old viewers, edging out Fox. And NBC pulled in a record $3 billion last month in commitments from advertisers for the new fall season, a record.

“It was time to make these moves, while we are in a position of strength,” Zucker said. “Look, this is a very competitive business, but we had a strong finish for the season, we have a strong development slate for next fall and we had a record ‘upfront’ last month with advertisers. All of that is a testament to the strength of this network.”

In other moves made Tuesday, the network elevated Angela Bromstad, a network executive for nine years, to executive vice president of NBC Studios. Bromstad, who has been in charge of drama development, helped shepherd onto the small screen shows including “Boomtown,” “Ed,” “Crossing Jordan” and “American Dreams.”

Also named were Cheryl Dolins as senior vice president, NBC comedy development; Katherine Pope, vice president of drama development; and Renate Radford, NBC Studios manager.

Harbert, former president of ABC entertainment, said it was a good time to leave his home of nearly four years.

“My job as it is now structured doesn’t exist anymore,” Harbert said. “But it’s all good. I want to go back to work with writers, and I’ll most likely become a producer.”

Burke said she would remain at NBC as a producer. She said she and Zucker discussed a job change a few months ago because she is expecting her third child. “This was my choice,” she said.

Tuesday’s shake-up also was noteworthy because it establishes a succession plan. Zucker has not kept secret his desire to someday return to NBC’s headquarters at Rockefeller Center in New York.

“Jeff is the guy. They love him at GE,” said a former network executive, who asked not to be identified. “This is about needing to rip out [people] from underneath him, and get the best development person.”

Reilly, who agreed to a three-year contract with NBC, is now positioned to assume control of the Burbank entertainment division. Although such prospects might have been discussed, Reilly said, “Right now, we’re going to take it one year at a time. And we have a lot to get done right now.”

Zucker would only say, “I will be here [in Burbank] for the next year.”

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Times staff writer Greg Braxton contributed to this report.