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Conan Officially Done, Can’t Slam Zucker

The news is out and by now you probably know Conan is officially signing off tomorrow night as the host of The Tonight Show.

One really interesting tidbit in the deal is a “disparagement” clause where Conan won’t be able to poke fun at the network and I’d assume Jeff Zucker. Well, that stinks. Here I was waiting for a call from Conan’s people to takeover the site and poke fun at Zucker 24/7. Sigh.

Well, what’s next for us? Probably not much blogging. I’m going to post something prior to Leno returning asking folks to boycott the show for its first 7 months back on the air and see how that impacts Leno’s job.

Jeff Zucker on Charlie Rose

You can check out the whole 30 minute interview on Charlie Rose’s own website which uses a non-embeddable video player.

I love how Rose opens up with that “NBC is in shambles.” Zucker corrects him on some points about how well the news is doing, but does admit their primetime lineup is beyond lacking.  

"NBC Entertainment is responsible for 5% of the bottom line and 95% of its perception” Zucker says, and that’s why he still has a job. The company is successful in spite of the failures of the peacock. That’s just astonishing.

It makes me think that if I told my bosses that my department was only responsible for 5% of the income so it can be less than mediocre. Yeah, I’d still have a job. Or that a task that takes up 5% of my time is acceptable for failing. That's just unbelievable. 

Firejeffzucker.com Featured in DailyHerald

A lot of new visitors today are coming from a story about me in today’s Daily Herald newspaper. My family and friends were a bit surprised, as was I, to see my mug on the front page.

I want to welcome all the new readers and please feel free to comment away.

Sci-Fi Channel: Why No HD?

After four house calls to Comcast to get my HD channels fixed (long story but it was a line issue despite the last Comcast guy telling me it was my HD DVR box, which was brand new) I’m a bit perplexed at why more channels aren’t in HD. Once you get the service and have a big TV you don’t want to watch anything else. After a week with limited HD access I was jonesing for its return but of course was still able to watch the new episode of BSG Friday because Sci Fi is not in HD. 

I just listened to a podcast with Ronald D. Moore, exec producer of “Battlestar Gallactica,” and he said they film the show in HD and obviously they release everything on DVD, so why isn’t the one channel almost perfectly made for HD broadcasting in HD?

Maybe I’m wrong but does anyone get Sci-Fi in HD? If so where in the nation and what cable/satellite provider? Is this worth a petition to NBC corporate? As you know Zucker loves us and I’m sure he’d listen to a reasonable complaint.

And no, the channel doesn’t answer the question on its FAQ. I think having Sci Fi in HD would be a huge plus for it. The original programming is right up there with F/X and USA. Oh wait, those aren’t in HD either. This is almost as big a mistake as the CW not making its shows available on iTunes. 

Image altered to look as crappy as I think regular Sci Fi looks on my TV.

700 NBCers Fired, No Zucker Pink Slip

Jeff Zucker is steering the NBC ship through reorganization waters, consolidating news studios and laying off folks in an attempt to get the company turned around. It almost sounds like what’s happening in the auto industry except that the entertainment industry isn’t facing a drop-off in interest, high health-care, legacy costs, steel tariffs etc.

Regardless, we applaud Zucker for at least doing something. Slashing 5% of NBC Universal’s workforce, including on-air talent, certainly sends a message. We’re just not sure if it’s a completely positive one.

Update: Still no cable, NBC firing rumors?

OK Comcast sucks. They were supposed to come between 8-10 a.m. and show up at 10:30 of course. So no cable until tomorrow (hopefully), oh and the new Plasma works but the HDMI cable wired through the ceiling does not!

Anything happening at NBC? I don’t know, maybe major firings!? Crazy. Looks like the Zuckster is going to escape the axe though. Sigh.

Zucker Likes To Veg Out

Our namesake admitted yesterday in front of a room of “interactive” media folk that he likes to veg out after a long day of work and not interact. Holy crap. We actually agree with something Jeff Zucker said. He also referred to “Lost” as a quality TV show. Why’s that Jeff? Couldn’t think of a show on your own network that you could call “quality?” You could at least mention “Battlestar Gallactica” or something on USA Network like “Monk.” Sad, just plain sad.

Oh, the Zuckster also says the 30 second TV commercial is still king because it reaches such a mass audience. Yeah, a mass audience with DVR controls in their hands Jeff. At least the ones with the big disposal incomes anyway. Sigh.

[Zucker: Don't Count Out TV, AdWeek]