NBC
It’s been well documented around here that the people currently in charge of programming at NBC don’t know their ass from a hole in the ground. Between manhandling critically acclaimed fan darlings like Community and Parks and Recreation to deciding that they were going to stop making smart comedies all together, (which didn’t work, either) to somehow bungling a Michael J. Frigging Fox sitcom that should have been a sure thing if there ever was one, NBC has been f*cking up left and right for years, now. They’re basically the Jerry Gergich of television networks.
But now, NBC is crying uncle — in nutshell, saying FINE, WE SUCK. JUST DO OUR JOBS FOR US, THEN — by announcing a national campaign that lets aspiring comedy writers pitch sitcom ideas to them, in what NBC calls: “An unprecedented effort to discover fresh comedic voices.”
They’re calling the initiative “NBC Comedy Playground” (smacks self in face) which will purportedly give “everyday people” the chance to pitch sitcom ideas directly to the network. If there was ever a more appropriate time for My Favorite GIF in the Whole Wide World, I think it would have to be now:
Here’s more details courtesy of Entertainment Weekly via NBC:
“We are taking a bold, alternative approach in what we hope will uncover original comedy minds who are looking for a way to get into the television business,” said NBC entertainment president Jennifer Salke.
NBC has enlisted a roster of well-known producers and actors to help them choose the winning concepts. The panel includes Aziz Ansari, Jason Bateman, Sean Hayes, Mindy Kaling, Adam McKay, Seth Meyers, Mike Schur, Amy Poehler, and several others. “We love that an incredible A-list roster of producers, writers, and performers have jumped in to help us find that untapped talent,” Salke said.
Better idea: Why not have these people JUST PITCH SITCOM IDEAS.
At a press conference, Salke told reporters, “There are hilarious people making videos and programming on the Internet all day and night and it’s time to bring those people into network television.” She added the network is “not looking for little funny video clips” but rather potential series concepts. The executive also described the process as one that could potentially be less encumbered by the usual network development process. “The goal of this is for them to have as unfettered of a process as possible.”
So the idea is that NBC is going to bring in people who have zero experience producing a network sitcom and then remove themselves from the creative process? I mean, on paper that sounds great. You can submit your ideas to NBC’s Comedy Playground here starting May 1st.
Danger is already hard at work on his pitch for Renegade Barista.
