Silverman Says: NBC Boss Weighs in on New Schedule, Scrubs, More

By Kristin Dos Santos Apr 02, 2008 8:32 PMTags
Scrubs, 30 Rock, Ben SilvermanMitchell Haaseth/NBC

Just hopped off a conference call with the big cheese at NBC, Mr. Ben Silverman, who answered reporters' questions about the new NBC fall schedule announced today. Read on for the juice...

On Scrubs Not Being on NBC's Fall Schedule and Possibly Going to ABC: "I don't know where Scrubs is going. It's finished its run on NBC, though." FYI, insiders tell us that a deal for 18 episodes is thisclose to being official, however ABC Studios tells us they don't expect any kind of Scrubs announcement any time soon. They may wait until the official ABC upfront in NYC mid-May.

On Friday Night Lights: FNL will get its third season—hells freaking yeah!—first airing on DirecTV’s channel 101 in the fall and then on NBC in the winter. Here's where we all bow down and say a little prayer of thanks for the good man Ben Silverman.

On 30 Rock Full Season Pick-up: "Having personally lived through a 1.9 rating in the first season as executive producer on The Office, what's clear with Tina [Fey] is she’s going through a perfect-storm moment in her career, and we’re confident she’s going to increase the show's audience. Her [upcoming movies] give us another layer of confidence in this show. Between the Peabody win, the Emmy, the Golden Globe noms—and it makes us money because they’re very creative with the brand and the advertiser pays a premium to be a part of this comedy—we believe in 30 Rock."

To wit, "'Well, sure that Verizon Wireless service is just unbeatable. If I saw a phone like that on TV, I would be like, 'Where is my nearest retailer so I can get one?'...Can we have our money now?' " Yes, yes you can, Tina Fey.

On Pairing Chuck with Heroes: "We analyzed our ratings and a ton of young people were watching Chuck, and young people are watching Heroes, too, so we like that flow...The show [Chuck] will come back as strong as ever. We’re treating all our fall premieres for these returning shows as if it’s the first time people have ever seen them."

On Knight Rider Series Pickup: According to Silverman, the whole movie of the week cast will be in the new series, including Val Kilmer as the voice of KITT. Kilmer will also front a large miniseries event in January called XIII.

On Crusoe Pickup: Silverman says they are "negotiating with the lead right now," so they have no casting announcements yet. This new series will be a period piece and a new adaptation of the classic novel Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe, with shooting in London and on location on an island. (Set visit here I come!)

Post your thoughts on NBC's announcements today below...