Abba Zabba

NBC has declared that, to save money, they're going to reduce the number of scripted comedies and dramas they produce. Instead, they're mostly going to make reality shows and game shows.

This isn't really new; it's a continuation of an ongoing trend. Networks have less scripted programming on than ever, it seems. 10 years ago, there were no reality shows or game shows in prime time. Then some time around 1999, things changed, and you couldn't turn on the TV without seeing "Survivor" or "Who Wants to be a Millionaire?" Now, most of the schedule of every network is reality shows, game shows, and sports. Especially because most of these shows are aired multiple nights. You have about a 50/50 chance of getting "Deal or No Deal" if you turn on NBC during prime time, any night of the week.

I hate this decision, for several reasons. The first is that I hate reality shows and game shows. They're boring. Second, NBC is the one broadcast network I actually watch. Now I have to worry about "Heroes", "30 Rock", "The Office", and "My Name is Earl" being endangered by this new decision. Why not CBS or ABC? Their shows already suck! And third, it's supposedly being done to compete with the threat of the "new media", YouTube and other websites. But it seems to me that websites make content very close to reality shows, and nothing like the scripted series that NBC is dropping. So I don't even see the connection.

But the biggest problem is that it's such a short-term solution. I know that a lot of people get into reality shows and game shows. But how long does the infatuation last? Are there people watching Season 1 of "The Apprentice" in syndication? Did anyone buy "So You Think You Can Dance" on DVD? Maybe; I don't know. But I do know that I can turn on the TV any time of day and watch a "Seinfeld" rerun, and that DVDs of popular shows like "The Simpsons" are huge sellers. These shows have dedicated fans who really care. I don't think anyone cares the same way about reality shows and game shows, which are so ephemeral. This strategy is going to bite NBC in the ass in the long run, because it's just going to drive people away from TV even more.