NBC's Ratings Nosedive Continues

NBC photo/Justin Lubin

Jay Leno has made jokes about the "snakes" heading NBC's management for months, and this blogger would add "total imbeciles" to the list.  The network's downfall started years ago when it moved Jay Leno to the 10:00 time slot and replaced him with Conan O'Brien, considering the strategy a stroke of genius.  While O'Brien had a following, it didn't comprise the same audience who watched the Tonight Show regularly.  The next season, Leno returned to the late night venue, but it took two seasons to rebuild the audience after that debacle.

While other mistakes occurred in programming, nothing topped the aforementioned ratings disaster until NBC fired Ann Curry last June.  Her final appearance on the Today Show was gut-wrenching to watch.  She had exactly five minutes to say goodbye and her departure lacked the fanfare, balloons, and party atmosphere that accompanied Meredith Vieira's last day.  Curry's humiliation brought her to tears and her co-host Matt Lauer did little to comfort her.  That episode forced me to bid farewell to a morning show that previously formed part of my daily routine. 

NBC couldn't leave it at that, however.  Management forced her to report on events and human interest stories for a year.  Her torture should end soon and allow her to find a more fitting role.  She didn't perform well as Lauer's co-anchor, but she does have talent as a reporter.

The latest ax to fall cut Rock Center from the lineup.  No mystery there.  Decision makers treated the show like a pawn on a chess board, moving its day and time frequently and changing the format to include trending news.  It started as a news show that delivered straightforward reporting on important stories that didn't necessarily make the headlines.  Brian Williams should find another network after that treatment. Chalk up another decision disaster for the top dogs.

I have an idea, but it probably won't fly because it follows a sense of logic.  Since leadership has made the myriad bad choices that caused the ratings slide, fire them!  NBC needs fresh ideas and a different perspective on what will succeed than the current crop of dopes can deliver.  Consider these feckless wonders stick figures on a white board, wipe them away, and start over.