“˜Ed’ cancellation signals end to quality programming
By Daily Bruin Staff
May 7, 2003 9:00 p.m.
Attention Jeffery Zucker, president of NBC entertainment: Can
you possibly do any more damage to a network you have already
destroyed? Yes, by canceling “Ed,” one of the last
charming, witty and intelligent shows on television.
“Ed” is one of those rare shows with heart: It
contains characters who touch the audience with their realistic and
romanticized notions of love, desire and friendship. It really is a
simple formula: Great shows have heart, and bad shows don’t.
“The Cosby Show,” “Friends,”
“Seinfeld” and “Cheers” had heart, while
shows like “DAG,” “Emeril” and
“Tucker” had none. This used to be what the peacock
network represented ““ quality programming for quality
viewers.
However, in recent years, the network has moved away from its
original “Must-See-TV” standards and instead provided
us with stupid shows of idiotic proportions. How can shows like
“Fear Factor,” “Hidden Hills,” “Good
Morning Miami” and “Watching Elle” ““ with
no integrity, humor or characters with substance ““ remain on
the schedule?
I blame the ratings boost of 1994, in which “ER” and
“Friends” flew out of the gates to rank one and two in
the Nielsens during their first seasons. These gigantic ratings
completely transformed NBC’s policies. Gone were the days of
developing quality shows over time. Instead, executives emphasized
first-season performances: High ratings equaled renewal, low ones
equaled cancellation.
I believe NBC has completely sold out, throwing away the
principle of allowing great shows to find an audience over time.
“Cheers” ranked poorly in ratings during its first
season. “Seinfeld” also started low in its first two
seasons. These shows would have been canceled immediately had they
started this season. They would have never achieved a spot on the
“Nick at Nite” classic TV schedule.
TV executives today are mindless, uncreative and impatient. They
have forgotten that people watch TV shows for quality, relaxation
and entertainment, not to be put down and insulted. Stupid shows
such as “According to Jim,” “Are You Hot?,”
“Married by America,” and “Mr. Personality”
waste our precious brain cells, making us dumber for not only
having them on the air but also for us watching them. Zucker, in
particular, has destroyed NBC’s principles of quality
established by former presidents Brandon Tartikoff and Grant
Tinker. Tartikoff and Tinker were the masterminds behind
“Must-See-TV” Thursday and gave shows like “Night
Court,” “Family Ties,” “The Cosby
Show,” “Cheers” and “Seinfeld” time
to develop their style and find an audience.
“Ed” has already garnered decent ratings to last
another season. However, its greatness lies not in its potential
ratings boost, but in its already established humor, goofball
antics, and the “will-they-or-won’t-they”
connection between Ed and Carol. The cast blends lighthearted
ignorance and emotional conflicts, reflecting its depth as a comedy
and drama. However, the show’s real depth is found behind the
romantic Ed, who struggles to identify his feelings for Carol. Has
he really fallen in love with Carol, the person, or the idea of
being in love?
“Ed’s” cancellation will further diminish
NBC’s reputation, pushing it toward the standards of Fox and
ABC, which have already established themselves as trashy reality
networks. The Big 4 networks are already losing ratings to hits
such as HBO’s “Six Feet Under,” “The
Sopranos” and FX’s “The Shield.” I strongly
urge ““ no, demand ““ Zucker to reevaluate his
programming standards and look back to NBC’s history for
answers. Tartikoff and Tinker developed NBC into the
number-one-rated network for 15 years. Under Zucker, NBC may end up
falling behind.
Lee is a fourth-year American literature and culture
student.
