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."
