Thursday, April 26, 2007

30 Rock-ed?

"Extra" ran a report saying "30 Rock" star Alec Baldwin has told producers he wants out of the show, in part because of his recent custody battles with ex-wife Kim Basinger.

Baldwin was in the news last week after a cell phone message, in which he berates his daughter Ireland, was leaked to the media. He just fired his agents, the uber-powerful Creative Artists Agency.

Whether the report is true or not could have a direct impact on the future of not just "30 Rock," (NBC, 9 p.m.) but "Scrubs" as well. Both shows are on the bubble at NBC, and only one is expected to be picked up for next season. "Scrubs" has the advantage of a longer run and the fact that ABC will likely pick it up if NBC drops it, since ABC's Touchstone produces the series.

"30 Rock" had the advantage of Baldwin, whose comeback performance as a network executive had merited Emmy talk. But without Baldwin, or even with him after his recent media disaster, will NBC want to continue with the show with its middling ratings?

"DRIVE" STALLS: Fox will pull the plug on "Drive," marking the fourth series with Tim Minear to get an early yank off the grid. The ratings for the Nathan Fillion-vehicle never surfaced. Fox will air "House" reruns in that Monday timeslot, and burn off the final two episodes this summer, though, this being Fox, I wouldn't count on it.

THURSDAY'S BEST BETS: In addition to new episodes of "Scrubs" and "30 Rock," NBC leads off with new installments of "My Name Is Earl" and "The Office" at 8 p.m., and wrap up with a new "ER" at 10 p.m.

ABC is also all-new, with "Ugly Betty" leading things off, followed by "Grey's Anatomy" and the perplexing "October Road," which is actually on the bubble for next year despite some of the worst reviews of the season.

CBS' all-new lineup includes a new "Survivor" at 8 p.m., a new "CSI" at 9 p.m., and a new "Shark" at 10 p.m.

The CW brings us an all-new "Smallville" at 8 p.m. and a new "Supernatural" at 9. "Supernatural" is going to have a tough time topping last week's Hollywood laugh-fest, but the good news is that Jeffrey Dean Morgan, as the late John Winchester, will definitely return for the season finale.

7 comments:

Jonathan said...

"30 Rock" was picked up for a second season a few weeks ago, so it's safe, but it would still not be the same without Baldwin.

Phillip Ramati said...

I hadn't read that it had been officially picked up yet, but even if it has, I'm wondering what NBC would do without Baldwin being on the show. Could they be in a situation where 30 Rock would be moved back to midseason, to give Baldwin more time to work out his personal issues?

Anonymous said...

If "30 Rock" does lose Baldwin, they shouldn't bother with the show and just cancel it. Jonathan, they picked it up a few weeks back before the "fit hit the shan" (so to speak) over the leaked Baldwin tirade. NBC certainly has it in its rights to change their mind and I wouldn't want to watch this fantastic Freshman hit w/o Baldwin.

Thanks a lot Basinger. I guess that makes Kim Basinger the Yoko Ono of NBC for ruining one of their best new sitcoms in years.

As for what to do if the show is pulled, here's a suggestion:

GRAB "How I met Your Mother" from CBS.

It fits perfectly with the Demographic, has a built in audience, and they could replace the Baldwin emmy talk with Neil Patrick Harris emmy talk. I don't want to lose "30 Rock" but I want to lose BOTH shows even less. In a perfect world, both would be back.

Frankly, I am rather tired and way over "My Name is Earl" and probably won't be back watching that for Season 3. If the TV world was the way I could make it, Baldwin would be back on "30 Rock" and "Mother" would bolt CBS for NBC and you'd have a perfect 4-some with Mother, Office, 30 Rock and Scrubs.

I can dream....

Phillip Ramati said...

Yes, I'm sure Kim Basinger's overriding motivation is to make sure 30 Rock is canceled...

Anonymous said...

Basinger seems to be a real bitch !!! She probably leaked the phone call and never allowed Baldwin to get his visitation rights. In today's society divorced men always get screwed

Jonathan said...

I wasn't trying to scoop you or anything, Phillip, I just thought I would mention that it had been picked up prior to all of this. And I agree with both of you that I don't see how it could be as good without Baldwin on it. I'm hoping this is just frustration on Baldwin's part, and they will work something out. They could easily just write him out of a handfull of episodes or make his part more minor in some.

I like the idea of moving "How I Met Your Mother" to NBC. It will never happen, but put that on in place of "Earl," which I have never liked, and keep "Scrubs" where it belongs. That would be a hell of a comedy block.

Anonymous said...

Amen, Jonathan. I really wish "Earl" would leave (and I am done with it) and replaced by "Mother". What a dream team those 4 shows would be.

It so doesn't surprise that "Earl" has the best ratings of the 4. Most TV fans are idiots.

And no Phillip, I know Basinger was not deliberately hurting Baldwin to screw with "30 Rock", but her nastiness in leaking that tape makes her a Yoko because it now directly affects the show...Geez. Don't give a snide answer when you know what I meant.