Don't call it a comeback -- but after years of freefall, NBC's primetime lineup seems to have found at least a temporary measure of stability.
One month after its latest scheduling reboot, the Peacock finds itself looking a lot like a contestant during the early weeks of "The Biggest Loser."
Sure, it's still in bad shape, and it's got a host of well-documented problems it should have dealt with long ago.
But instead of drifting aimlessly from one fad programming diet to another -- Supersized shows! Managing for Margin! Leno at 10! -- NBC, like the sweaty souls on its hit weight-loss reality show, seems to have found a game plan.
It's finally buckled down and started doing the hard work needed to regain its once-sexy figure.
The Twitterverse might not be fond of "The Marriage Ref," but the Jerry Seinfeld-produced show is fitting in well on Thursdays. New Tuesday drama "Parenthood" has great buzz and OK numbers.
"We're making slow and steady progress," NBC scheduling chief Mitch Metcalf told TheWrap.
"We're not in a position of panic from having made a lot of bad midseason moves," he added. "We're very stable and moving in the right direction. ... And most importantly, we're taking an approach of one step at a time."
Not everyone's convinced, of course.
"I'm not sure I see any light at the end of the tunnel just yet," one rival network executive said. "They still don't have any building blocks."
True. But thanks to the actions of the last few weeks, NBC may at least have some sandbags to keep the damage under control while the hunt continues for those much-needed hits.
Or at least until the new guys at Comcast take over next year.
In the meantime, here's a look at how NBC's post-Olympics moves have played out:
GETTING BACK IN BED WITH JERRY
"The Marriage Ref" is not the game-changer NBC execs had, in their heart of hearts, prayed it would be. Executives at the network really like this show, and even if they'll never admit it, they must've quietly been hoping for an "Undercover Boss"-like instant hit.
But despite mixed media buzz, "Ref" is actually doing nicely for NBC Thursdays at 10. Its March 18 episode retained a best-yet 93 percent of its adults 18-49 "30 Rock" lead-in and grew nearly 10 percent from the week before, winning among female viewers.
That's certainly better than last year's "Southland," which started strongly and quickly bled out. By contrast, "Marriage Ref" seems to be steady, settling in at a mid-to-high 2 demo rating that almost certainly assures NBC will order a second season.
"It's more than holding its own," Metcalf said. "When you've got (lead-in) retention well into the 90s, an upscale profile and a young profile -- that's what you ask of any show to do. And it makes for a very compatible night (with the 8-10 comedies)."
