Seth Meyers opened up NBC’s fall presentation in New York today with a special edition of Weekend Update – and as usual, the jabs at his home network came fast and furious. The comedian had this to say about the net’s promising new hit The Voice: “Some critics say were ripping off American Idol, to which I say, if you have a better idea we’d love to hear it.”
And then he said added this about the network’s new musical drama Smash: “Gwyneth Paltrow, if you’re listening, they’ll call you.” As for the network’s new owner, “I have to say things are better already,” Meyers quipped, before adding. “I literally have to say that.”
He also joked about how NBC’s IT guys are now grouchy after entertainment topper Robert Greenblatt passed on Wonder Woman, and he took a swipe at the recent departures of Regis Philbin, Larry King and Jim Lehrer: “On the upside, CBS gains three more viewers.”
Entertainment Chairman Robert Greenblatt came out to say “today is the start of our road to recovery” and “thank you God for The Voice.” NBC Broadcasting Chairman Ted Harbert then promised “a little less reinvention of the wheel and more broadcast 101.” (Hmm, indirect swipe at former NBC-Universal suit Jeff Zucker?)
Some highlights for fall: Greenblatt said The Playboy Club is “tame compared to what you’d see on Jersey Shore.” (And yet the trailer for the drama didn’t play nearly as well as the one for Prime Suspect, the network’s reboot of the UK hit.) The latest edition of The Biggest Loser will feature a young versus old theme this fall, and a new trainer for the show will be announced in this season’s finale.
The suits also announced 4,000 hours of Olympic coverage across all of the NBC-Universal networks (yippee?) READ FULL STORY »
