TCA: Greenblatt Has 'No Doubt' 'Today' Show Will Rebound
Also defends scheduling of 'Rock Center' on Thursday at 10 p.m.
By Andrea Morabito -- Broadcasting & Cable, 7/24/2012 2:03:47 PM
Complete Coverage: TCA Summer Press Tour 2012Los Angeles - NBC Entertainment chairman Bob Greenblatt said he is confident that the Today show will rebound from its recent ratings vulnerability and high-profile and rocky anchor transition.
"Shows go through transitions and they're always difficult," Greenblatt said during NBC's executive session at the TCA press tour here Tuesday.
While noting that he has little to no involvement in the news division's daytime programming, he stood by NBC's handling of the transition from Ann Curry to Savannah Guthrie.
"I think everybody inside the news division from what I could tell took as much care as they could possibly as they could to make this transition happen," Greenblatt said. "Things leak and you try to do things respectfully and then you have to go out and announce something you weren't ready to announce. My heart goes out to all those people including Ann and everybody who went through that transition."
As he did with NBC's fall lineup, Greenblatt touted the promotional platform of the Olympics in helping to boost Today's fortunes.
"I have no doubt that it will rebound and regain the spot that it's had for all these years," he said. "I think everybody is really bullish on the future of it."
Greenblatt also addressed the network's newsmagazine Rock Center with Brian Williams and defended its controversial move of scheduling it on Thursday at 10 p.m., the slot historically occupied by legendary dramas like ER.
"You can't do everything in a season. Thursday is a challenge that we're going to continue to work on over the season," he said. "We felt that show, like anything, deserved more time and a 10 p.m. time period and there aren't that many available and Thursday seemed to be a place to try it. As the season unfolds we will look at it and see what happens and hopefully not make too many adjustments and changes to the time period."
Talkback
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I watched the Today show every morning. I haven't watched it once since Ann Curry's last day on the program. I hope Matt Lauer is gone soon !
Diane Buchko - 7/24/2012 10:32:39 PM EDT -
No, they will NOT rebound. Those who orchestrated the brutal transition for Ann Curry could have done it differently. After 14 faithful years of contributing to the team that received th highest ratihgs, she was given only five minutes of humiliation, with no tribute, and, after that was treated as though she never existed. And why was the "older woamn" at fault for "bad chemistry" between two people, while the middle aged-man was given a pass. This hit a nerve with owmne, and with people who have been badly treated by their employees, and NBC asts as though nothing happened. There's an elephant in the room, but they are in denail, turning a deaf ear to the outratged viewers who tried to share their concerns. I was a loyla fan for 30 years, but I've had enough! They have been reprehensible. Good Morning, GMA!
Sue Spaulding - 7/24/2012 3:30:51 PM EDT
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