The Game Show Forum
The Game Show Forum => The Big Board => Topic started by: tvrandywest on October 11, 2007, 02:52:14 AM
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While approximately the same age as CBS TVCity, NBC's Burbank home has become a mish-mash of piecemeal refurbishings and add-ons to accommodate the net's new needs over the decades. NBC-Universal plans to sell that acreage and build anew across the street from Universal Studios on Lankershim.
L.A.Times (http://\"http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/la-fi-nbc11oct11,0,417500.story?coll=la-home-center\")
Hollywood Reporter (http://\"http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/news/e3ia61ae1e154c4c9b59608ab8deca93fee\")
Curbed LA (http://\"http://la.curbed.com/archives/2007/10/more_on_nbc_rel.php\")
Lost forever will be the artifacts, memories and hallowed air that remain from HS, LMAD, et al.
Randy
tvrandywest.com
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[quote name=\'tvrandywest\' post=\'166264\' date=\'Oct 11 2007, 01:52 AM\']
While approximately the same age as CBS TVCity, NBC's Burbank home has become a mish-mash of piecemeal refurbishings and add-ons to accommodate the net's new needs over the decades. NBC-Universal plans to sell that acreage and build anew across the street from Universal Studios on Lankershim.
L.A.Times (http://\"http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/la-fi-nbc11oct11,0,417500.story?coll=la-home-center\")
Hollywood Reporter (http://\"http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/news/e3ia61ae1e154c4c9b59608ab8deca93fee\")
Curbed LA (http://\"http://la.curbed.com/archives/2007/10/more_on_nbc_rel.php\")
Lost forever will be the artifacts, memories and hallowed air that remain from HS, LMAD, et al.
Randy
tvrandywest.com
[/quote]
While I've attended a couple tapings there my favorite memories are from the NBC studio tour in 2001 where we:
saw a "history" videotape of NBC that hadn't been updated in at least 5 years since "americas talking" was still mentioned on it.
walked by a lot of studios where we were told "we can't go in there"
saw a TON of set props from "Days of our Lives"
saw the unclaimed prize area from the old game shows (an arena of 80's era furniture people were right to pass up)
RIP: NBC burbank, but it's time to go. It was dated then and I can only imagine how much more so now.
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While in Burbank for the Game Show Congress last year, the Mrs. and I decided to head to NBC one morning and take a studio tour. The experience left a lot to be desired, and echo Narzo's comments times three.
Like Narzo, we saw the "history of NBC" video at the start of the tour. And yes, America's Talking was still on it.
While walking down one hallway, our guide pointed out posters showcasing what she called "the hottest NBC shows on air." This included "Weakest Link" and "American Dreams," both of which were long canceled. She also pointed us out to a picture of the "best team in the morning," a picture that included Katie Couric, who had already left the Peacock.
90 percent of the tour was devoted to "Days of Our Lives." If you like the soap this will thrill you to no end (Look! Sami's wedding dress! Marlena's apartment! Props from Doug and Julie's nightclub!). If you don't care about the soap -- you will be bored.
Nine percent was devoted to "The Tonight Show." We visited the set, saw a bench used in skits (???), as well as Kevin Eubanks' parking space.
The final one percent concerned the tour guide talking about surviving the Northridge Earthquake -- she kept talking about it every 10-15 minutes or so.
One strange highlight was a series of signs hanging from the ceiling. A few looked pretty normal -- Restrooms, Studio 2, etc. -- but there a few signs that directed people to "Howie Mandel." I had the urge to ask the tour guide if NBC had Mandel locked in a closet somewhere between DoND tapings, but I just couldn't do it. Besides, she would just change the subject to the earthquake.
(Turns out Mandel taped his long-defunct daytime chat show at NBC and the signs were never updated)
James
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Now, I had quite the opposite experience.
The morning tour I took in 2005 afforded me the opportunity to go inside Studio 1 (currently occupied by ACCESS HOLLYWOOD, until the new place goes up). And standing directly on the star that marked where Johnny Carson delivered his nightly monologues was a nice high.
Yes, I missed that year's Congress pilgrimage to TPiR to do that. And while I was kicking myself mentally for doing so, I can't help but admit that seeing Studio 1 up close and personal almost made up for it.
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This Variety article reports that, in addition to NBC planning a move from Burbank to just across from the Universal lot, CBS could relocate from Television City to Studio Center [on Radford Ave. in Studio City], just like their Los Angeles TV stations [CBS-2 and KCAL-9] did last fall. No more Bob Barker Studio?
www.variety.com/article/VR1117973843.html?categoryid=14&cs=1
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[quote name=\'byrd62\' post=\'166300\' date=\'Oct 11 2007, 10:49 AM\']
This Variety article reports that, in addition to NBC planning a move from Burbank to just across from the Universal lot, CBS could relocate from Television City to Studio Center [on Radford Ave. in Studio City], just like their Los Angeles TV stations [CBS-2 and KCAL-9] did last fall. No more Bob Barker Studio?
www.variety.com/article/VR1117973843.html?categoryid=14&cs=1
[/quote]
Actually mentioned a few years ago (http://\"http://gameshow.ipbhost.com/index.php?s=&showtopic=4110&view=findpost&p=39794\") (please don't take that as being smarky)
I'm not sure the status, but I know they were building offices (at least for) Moonves to move into on that lot.
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Well...I guess downtown Burbank won't be as beautiful now...
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I'm surprised CBS didn't move years ago. They're boxed in to the East and South, especially so now that The Grove is there. NBC is on a huge parcel of land into which they could expand even further.
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[quote name=\'chris319\' post=\'166389\' date=\'Oct 11 2007, 05:23 PM\']
I'm surprised CBS didn't move years ago. They're boxed in to the East and South, especially so now that The Grove is there.
[/quote]
If anything, they'd probably just close the original building. The add-on is [still] an enormously popular facility. Yes, the offices could be moved to a new location. Heck, most of what's taped there could be relocated [whether TPIR could, I don't know].
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The utter idiot in me says they should leave TPIR at TV City if they do move. It's a known fact that all of TPIR's stuff (80+ games, oodles of prizes, etc.) takes up a TON of room...with the soaps gone, there will be tons of room for Price.
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I remember reading somewhere that Calif. has been trying to persuade media companies to offer any surplus production facilities for sale to companies that will keep them operating, as a way to preserve employment in that industry.
This means the "Color City" lot in Burbank stands a good chance of remaining, albeit under new management.
The same would likely happen should CBS move out of Television City, which has the advantage of remaining an in-demand rental facility.
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More plans for NBC's new West Coast project are mentioned here (http://\"http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/television/news/e3if4ef26bbb490c2c5ed795b211c1d3fa7\")
There will be a big focus on combining the news facilities for NBC, MSNBC and CNBC. Also look for a streetside studio like in N.Y for Today's and Nightly News' visits. As mentioned earlier, The Tonight Show will remain in Burbank's studio 3 in a lease-back deal with the prospective buyer, and will move to the Universal lot when Conan heads West. I'm encouraged that there's no mention of Carson Daly's silly show!
Randy
tvrandywest.com
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I'm encouraged that there's no mention of Carson Daly's silly show!
Bah, I'd rather have 10,000 Carson Dalys than one Conan.
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[quote name=\'tvrandywest\' post=\'166464\' date=\'Oct 11 2007, 11:33 PM\']
As mentioned earlier, The Tonight Show will remain in Burbank's studio 3 in a lease-back deal with the prospective buyer, and will move to the Universal lot when Conan heads West. [/quote]
Perhaps someone can debunk or confirm--there was a rumor circulating a while back that Leno was getting cold feet about abdicating the TONIGHT SHOW to Conan. Was it only a rumor, or does that prospect still possibly have legs?
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[quote name=\'SRIV94\' post=\'166490\' date=\'Oct 12 2007, 10:22 AM\']
[quote name=\'tvrandywest\' post=\'166464\' date=\'Oct 11 2007, 11:33 PM\']
As mentioned earlier, The Tonight Show will remain in Burbank's studio 3 in a lease-back deal with the prospective buyer, and will move to the Universal lot when Conan heads West. [/quote]
Perhaps someone can debunk or confirm--there was a rumor circulating a while back that Leno was getting cold feet about abdicating the TONIGHT SHOW to Conan. Was it only a rumor, or does that prospect still possibly have legs?
[/quote]
I'm pretty sure Conan's "Tonight Show" takeover is an irreversable done deal. Maybe NBC could arrange for Leno to do a one-hour show in prime time, say, 10-11 ET once or twice a week which would retain his "Headlines" bit and a few others, plus celeb and non-celeb interviews. That, more or less, is what Jack Paar did after he left "Tonight" but later returned to NBC.
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[quote name=\'SRIV94\' post=\'166490\' date=\'Oct 12 2007, 08:22 AM\']
Perhaps someone can debunk or confirm--there was a rumor circulating a while back that Leno was getting cold feet about abdicating the TONIGHT SHOW to Conan. Was it only a rumor, or does that prospect still possibly have legs? [/quote]
I hear there is indeed truth to Leno's reluctance to abdicate the throne. But NBC will have to pay a huge penalty if they don't go through with Conan's deal. The latest spin I heard is that Leno may return on FOX with an 11PM start. More to come.
Randy
tvrandywest.com
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[quote name=\'tvrandywest\' post=\'166494\' date=\'Oct 12 2007, 11:42 AM\']I hear there is indeed truth to Leno's reluctance to abdicate the throne. But NBC will have to pay a huge penalty if they don't go through with Conan's deal. [/quote]
And keep in mind that it's not Leno's decision to make. I'm not saying NBC won't screw this up again the way they did last time, but it's not as though Leno gets to say, "pay Conan the penalty, I'm staying."
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[quote name=\'Matt Ottinger\' post=\'166499\' date=\'Oct 12 2007, 11:07 AM\']
[quote name=\'tvrandywest\' post=\'166494\' date=\'Oct 12 2007, 11:42 AM\']I hear there is indeed truth to Leno's reluctance to abdicate the throne. But NBC will have to pay a huge penalty if they don't go through with Conan's deal. [/quote]
And keep in mind that it's not Leno's decision to make. I'm not saying NBC won't screw this up again the way they did last time, but it's not as though Leno gets to say, "pay Conan the penalty, I'm staying."
[/quote]
Leno has been noticeably testy regarding NBC on the air lately, indicating that it wasn't his idea in the first place to leave "Tonight" in 2009 and hinting that he's not happy that Conan's going to get the refurbished Stage 1 at Universal City.
And I would be surprised that he will get the half-hour jump if he does move to Fox--I've read that Roger Ailes would like to see all of the owned stations doing news at 11/10C and that they would probably pressure the affiliates to do the same.
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[quote name=\'uncamark\' post=\'166500\' date=\'Oct 12 2007, 11:27 AM\']
Leno has been noticeably testy regarding NBC on the air lately, indicating that it wasn't his idea in the first place to leave "Tonight" in 2009 and hinting that he's not happy that Conan's going to get the refurbished Stage 1 at Universal City.
[/quote]
Granted, I tend to favor Dave over Jay (not that I have anything against Leno), but I do remember watching Leno when the announcement about Conan ascending was made. It seemed very awkward even then. Even though Jay tried to put the best face possible on it (and at that time the 2009 date was seemingly a long way off), you still got the sense that even then Leno was leery about the whole thing.
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[quote name=\'uncamark\' post=\'166500\' date=\'Oct 12 2007, 09:27 AM\']
And I would be surprised that he will get the half-hour jump if he does move to Fox--I've read that Roger Ailes would like to see all of the owned stations doing news at 11/10C and that they would probably pressure the affiliates to do the same. [/quote]
That's interesting - in each of the last two places I've lived (Pittsburgh and Santa Barbara/Santa Maria/San Luis Obispo markets), the Fox affil's newscast's big drawing point is being "First at Ten", with sitcom reruns between 11:00 and midnight. I thought that was the norm for Fox. Was I terribly mistaken?
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[quote name=\'Steve McClellan\' post=\'166530\' date=\'Oct 12 2007, 06:05 PM\']
[quote name=\'uncamark\' post=\'166500\' date=\'Oct 12 2007, 09:27 AM\']
And I would be surprised that he will get the half-hour jump if he does move to Fox--I've read that Roger Ailes would like to see all of the owned stations doing news at 11/10C and that they would probably pressure the affiliates to do the same. [/quote]
That's interesting - in each of the last two places I've lived (Pittsburgh and Santa Barbara/Santa Maria/San Luis Obispo markets), the Fox affil's newscast's big drawing point is being "First at Ten", with sitcom reruns between 11:00 and midnight. I thought that was the norm for Fox. Was I terribly mistaken?
[/quote]
No, your not mistaken. Fox's late news broadcasts are at 10 eastern. Wouldn't surprise me if they want to switch to 11 so there would be competition at 11:30.
/would still watch Colbert
//Letterman on Fridays and when Colbert's teaser sucks
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Nope. Incorrect.
Fox all along has made it clear to affiliates that 10 is where their going to stay. However, in their O&O markets, where they are trying to sell themselves as a full-fledged news division, they've added newscasts across the board.... First at 5PM (where they've had mostly NO success whatsoever), and now at 11PM.
Do not look for this to be a sign that they're dumping 10pm slots. If anything, you're more likely going to see a national newscast at 11PM than anything else. Shepard Smith has been vocal about giving that a try.
My Prediction : 11PM National News, 11:30 Jay Leno. You heard it here first.
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[quote name=\'tvwxman\' post=\'166543\' date=\'Oct 12 2007, 04:00 PM\']However, in their O&O markets, where they are trying to sell themselves as a full-fledged news division, they've added newscasts across the board.... First at 5PM (where they've had mostly NO success whatsoever), and now at 11PM.[/quote]
Not quite across the board -- KTTV in L.A. must still be getting decent ratings with "Simpsons" reruns (although they do have an 11:00 newscast, such as it is, over on KCOP).
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KPTV here in Portland has had an 11 PM newscast for almost 2 years, in addition to their 10 PM newscast (which they've had since 1970, back when they were an indepedent station). IIRC, they were likely one of the first FOX stations to do this.
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[quote name=\'byrd62\' post=\'166300\' date=\'Oct 11 2007, 09:49 AM\']
This Variety article reports that, in addition to NBC planning a move from Burbank to just across from the Universal lot, CBS could relocate from Television City to Studio Center [on Radford Ave. in Studio City], just like their Los Angeles TV stations [CBS-2 and KCAL-9] did last fall. No more Bob Barker Studio?
www.variety.com/article/VR1117973843.html?categoryid=14&cs=1
[/quote]
I could be wrong -- and there are enough people in the know to correct me if I am, and please do -- but I believe that Televison City was scratch-built as a video production facility and Radford is essentially a film facility, although they did bulid a TV production building for channel 2 and channel 9.
The question is -- is Televison City in good shape or is it showing its age?
--c
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[quote name=\'carlopanno\' post=\'166733\' date=\'Oct 14 2007, 02:38 PM\'] I could be wrong -- and there are enough people in the know to correct me if I am, and please do -- but I believe that Televison City was scratch-built as a video production facility and Radford is essentially a film facility, although they did bulid a TV production building for channel 2 and channel 9.
The question is -- is Televison City in good shape or is it showing its age? [/quote]
The Radford facility is indeed primarily a film lot that is almost a century old, with lineage going back to silent comedies and westerns. In the annals of television it is distinguished to have been home to some wonderful classics, including Gunsmoke, Gilligan's Island, My Three Sons, Mary Tyler Moore, WKRP, Seinfeld, to name only a few... all film shows.
By contrast, TVCity was built to be a video facility. Between the planning that went into the original construction and the respectful remodeling that's been done over the years, I would say that for being 50, the old girl has lots of life still in her. It's in FAR better shape than NBC Burbank.
Randy
tvrandywest.com
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TV City was built in an era when former vaudevillians doing variety shows on TV was the norm. Jack Benny, Burns and Allen, Red Skelton, Judy Garland and later, Sonny and Cher, Tony Orlando and Carol Burnett. How times have changed. There are no more variety shows like that any more, and today 3/4 of the original four studios are occupied full-time by daytime soaps and 1/4 primarily by a game show.
Clearly they should have built more office space when they built the addition in the early '90s, as there are now mobile home offices in the Genesee alley. Had they been really smart, they would have snapped up the parcel to the east before they built apartments there. TV City is boxed into a fairly small lot.
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[quote name=\'tvrandywest\' post=\'166494\' date=\'Oct 12 2007, 10:42 AM\']
[quote name=\'SRIV94\' post=\'166490\' date=\'Oct 12 2007, 08:22 AM\']
Perhaps someone can debunk or confirm--there was a rumor circulating a while back that Leno was getting cold feet about abdicating the TONIGHT SHOW to Conan. Was it only a rumor, or does that prospect still possibly have legs? [/quote]
I hear there is indeed truth to Leno's reluctance to abdicate the throne. But NBC will have to pay a huge penalty if they don't go through with Conan's deal. The latest spin I heard is that Leno may return on FOX with an 11PM start. More to come.
[/quote]
Funny that we were just talking about this.
10/15/07 L.A. Times article (http://\"http://www.latimes.com/la-fi-leno15oct15,0,2479443.story?coll=la-home-center\") (may require registration or Bugmenot, although I was able to read it without)
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JACK CLARK: The password is "smarmy".
ALLEN LUDDEN: Ten points.
CELEBRITY: Conan.
CONTESTANT: Smarmy.
(SFX AND APPLAUSE)
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They could always turn those uproarious "Jaywalking" segments into a studio-based game show and let Leno host that. Add a million-dollar top prize to a proven format--you can't lose.
Also, love Jay's bit where the real estate agent came through--yeah, they never watch what Letterman's doing.
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[quote name=\'Neumms\' post=\'166860\' date=\'Oct 15 2007, 06:46 PM\']
They could always turn those uproarious "Jaywalking" segments into a studio-based game show and let Leno host that. The million-dollar top prize would seal the deal.
[/quote]
They already tried this with a $100,000 format. It was called Street Smarts.
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[quote name=\'Neumms\' post=\'166860\' date=\'Oct 15 2007, 05:46 PM\']
Also, love Jay's bit where the real estate agent came through--yeah, they never watch what Letterman's doing.
[/quote]
Well, geez, some of Leno's "Headlines" are a direct rip-off of Letterman's "Dumb Ads" and "Small Town News."
/Not that Dave didn't steal some of these ideas himself.
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[quote name=\'SRIV94\' post=\'166954\' date=\'Oct 16 2007, 11:25 AM\']Well, geez, some of Leno's "Headlines" are a direct rip-off of Letterman's "Dumb Ads" and "Small Town News."[/quote]
I've always been under the impression that Jay was doing Headlines long before Dave was doing Small Town News. Not that either one of them originated the idea.
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[quote name=\'Matt Ottinger\' post=\'166956\' date=\'Oct 16 2007, 10:34 AM\']
I've always been under the impression that Jay was doing Headlines long before Dave was doing Small Town News. Not that either one of them originated the idea.
[/quote]
No, as an early Letterman viewer, I'm pretty sure Letterman did them in the old days, when Leno was still a guest on his show.
Now for what would make "Jaywalking: The Series" more wildly successful than "Street Smarts":
1. More $$$.
2. One contestant, not two.
3. More editing.
4. Theatre-in-the-round audience seating, with multi-color lights on the stairs.
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[quote name=\'Neumms\' post=\'166988\' date=\'Oct 16 2007, 01:24 PM\']
No, as an early Letterman viewer, I'm pretty sure Letterman did them in the old days, when Leno was still a guest on his show.
[/quote]
Confirmed. Both "Dumb Ads" and "Small Town News" were staples of Letterman's NBC show. Dave seemed to get away from doing those bits when he moved on to CBS, though ("intellectual property" issues, maybe?).
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[quote name=\'Neumms\' post=\'166988\' date=\'Oct 16 2007, 02:24 PM\']
Now for what would make "Jaywalking: The Series" more wildly successful than "Street Smarts":
1. More $$$.
2. One contestant, not two.
3. More editing.
4. Theatre-in-the-round audience seating, with multi-color lights on the stairs.
[/quote]
5. Make one of the "A"s in the title an icon of someone walking (i.e. the WALK/DON'T WALK signs). Then zoom through that icon. :-P