A Parade of Stars at Disney’s Upfront
May19

A Parade of Stars at Disney’s Upfront

Disney CEO Bob Chapek during the company’s 2022 upfront presentation to advertisers “If they can get you to come all the way down here, they can get you to do just about anything,” joked Jimmy Kimmel to attendees at ABC parent company Disney’s upfront being held at New York City’s Pier 36. It’s a 12 minute walk from the nearest subway line as I can personally attest. But that wasn’t the only funny line in the late-night host’s...

Read More
Family Comedies Rule as ABC and NBC Present New Shows at TCA
Aug10

Family Comedies Rule as ABC and NBC Present New Shows at TCA

Two of the Big Four broadcast networks, ABC and NBC, capped off the TCA summer press tour held at the Beverly Hilton hotel. But unlike Fox and CBS, neither net provided its entertainment division presidents for what are commonly known as executive sessions – basically press conferences in which the executives field questions from journalists. The omissions were especially jarring in that CBS Entertainment chief Kelly Kahl knuckled...

Read More
‘Versace,’ ‘The Orville’ and ‘Marvel’s Inhumans’ Showcased at TCA
Aug14

‘Versace,’ ‘The Orville’ and ‘Marvel’s Inhumans’ Showcased at TCA

During the Television Critics Association summer press tour, close to 150 programs are presented to TV reporters, many of whom fly in from all over the country and Canada for the confab, which concluded last week. Some of the most talked about came at the end when ABC, Fox and FX each had a day to showcase their respective shows at the Beverly Hilton, with some presentations on the Fox lot. Here is the second part of our look at some...

Read More
Comedy and Comebacks as Networks Woo Advertisers with New TV Shows
May22

Comedy and Comebacks as Networks Woo Advertisers with New TV Shows

Despite the intense focus on new ways of doing business in the digital era, the broadcast networks clearly have a case of Everything Old Is New Again.   From reboots of “Roseanne” to “Dynasty,” “Will & Grace” to “S.W.A.T.,” and of course, “American Idol,” that was the key takeaway from the week of television upfronts held at venues across New York City.   Historically, NBC, ABC, CBS, Fox, Univision and the CW showcase...

Read More
TV Upfronts Overview: It’s All About the Hamiltons!
May25

TV Upfronts Overview: It’s All About the Hamiltons!

It was just last week that the 2016 TV upfronts drew to a close and the music– and the spoofs– of “Hamilton” are still ringing in our ears. The smash hit Broadway show was omnipresent during the week of May 16 with cast members performing at a number of network presentations, including some unexpected ones, like ESPN.   Amid all the talk of catering to millennials, who have surpassed baby boomers as the nation’s...

Read More