ABC Entertainment president Channing Dungey said Kenya Barris’ decision to prematurely exit his overall deal with ABC Studios came down to the “limitations” of broadcast television.
“I tend to feel like these deals with writers are cyclical,” Dungey told TheWrap at the Television Critics Association press tour on Tuesday. “And I think particularly where Kenya was concerned, he was interested in stretching some creative muscles that he didn’t think he could stretch in the broadcast space. And look, broadcast has its limitations.”
Barris, whose overall deal with ABC Studios wasn’t set to expire until 2021, announced last month that he would terminate his deal early. He is said to be eyeing a new pact with Netflix, putting him in the company of Shonda Rhimes and Ryan Murphy.
“Leaving is bittersweet, but between my series on the air and projects currently in development, I know I’ll continue to work with ABC Studios for a long time,” Barris said in a statement at the time.
According to Dungey, whose network is home to Barris’ Peabody-winning comedy “Black-ish,” Barris had grown “frustrated” by the limits of the network television format.
“I think Kenya got to a point where he was feeling was frustrated by the narrative need for ad breaks, frustrated by the idea of how long an episode of comedy can be, frustrated by Standards & Practices,” she said. “And so, at a certain point, these are rules of broadcast, right? And if you want to veer outside of them, you have to explore streaming or something else.”
Echoing Barris’ statement last month, Dungey said ABC maintains a “good relationship” with the producer despite his departure.
Barris will remain on as an executive producer of “Black-ish,” though Jonathan Groff and Kenny Smith will takeover as showrunners. He also serves as executive producer of the Freeform spinoff “Grown-ish,” as well as on the upcoming Freeform comedy “Besties.”
Fall TV: 7 Intriguing New Matchups, Like 'Magnum PI' vs '9-1-1' (Photos)
It's not even summer yet and we're already looking forward to Fall. After all, that's when the best TV shows come back on (and the oppressive heat subsides).
Much like you fans, we at TheWrap are dying to find out what happens next with our favorite small-screen characters. But we've also got an eye on another angle: What are the most intriguing new matchups?
Now that we knows the days and time slots for all new and returning broadcast primetime series, we've pinpointed seven battles worth watching. Click through the gallery for them all.
Welcome! For starters, you've got TV's top show, NBC's "Sunday Night Football," to contend with. On Fox, it'll be animation and freshman show "Rel"; on CBS, "God Friended Me" and "NCIS: Los Angeles"; and on ABC, "Dancing With the Stars: Juniors" and "Shark Tank."
No mustache (OK, so there's a goatee) -- but does this comma-less remake of the '80s "Magnum, P.I." have teeth? It had better to go up against Ryan Murphy's "9-1-1," which is already established in the 9 o'clock time slot on Mondays.
The Connie Britton, Angela Bassett, Peter Krause and now Jennifer Love Hewitt-led Fox drama averaged a big 3.0 rating in the core 18-49 demographic when counting a week's worth of delayed viewing. The freshman first-responder series was Fox's highest-rated entertainment show of the season, beating even "Empire."
In other words, better keep that Ferrari perfectly waxed and buffed, Magnum.
"Manifest" (NBC) vs. "Bull" (CBS) vs. "The Good Doctor" (ABC)
Mondays, 10 p.m.
Apparently, no one told these guys that three is a crowd.
Let's start with the returning shows: "The Good Doctor" was this season's top new drama, averaging a huge 15.6 million total viewers per episode. "Bull" was literally the next most-watched series on broadcast, hauling in 14.3 million viewers of its own. Though it stands to reason that the ABC medical show's Nielsen numbers will decline in Year 2, "Bull" will be moving away from the huge lead-in "NCIS" currently provides -- so say farewell to some built-in eyeballs.
So where does "Manifest" fit in here? Well, we'll have to wait and find out. If done right, the Robert Zemeckis missing-airplane drama could add some turbulence to an already competitive hour.
Super Bowl or no Super Bowl, "This Is Us" is a powerhouse -- and freshman "F.B.I." is moving into Milo Ventimiglia's dorm. Remember how we wished "Bull" lots of luck without "NCIS"? Well, "F.B.I." is the one getting the CBS springboard -- but it had better be a damn good show to have a prayer against the Pearsons.
Here's the case one could make for "F.B.I." beyond just its lead-in: Dick Wolf knows how to make a procedural. Unfortunately for the big fan of the Windy City, Dan Fogelman knows how to make you cry. Tears beat Miranda Rights every time.
"Murphy Brown" (CBS) vs. "Thursday Night Football" (Fox)
Thursdays, 9:30 p.m.
"Roseanne" has changed everything -- but we don't think that means Fox Sports should be shaking in its cleats. Football is still going to win this battle, but Fox's fancy new primetime pro pigskin should see a pretty formidable opponent in "Murphy Brown" -- especially over the revival's first few weeks.
Still, any given Thursday, are we right?
To look at it another way, for $3.3 billion, Fox had better win every damn Thursday that 106 men put on pads.
"Last Man Standing" (Fox) vs. "Fresh Off the Boat" (ABC)
Fridays, 8 p.m.
This one isn't so much about "Fresh Off the Boat" as it is about Tim Allen vs. ABC.
The comedian and Michigan Tourism spokesman really let ABC have it for canceling his reliable Friday sitcom a year ago. Now revived by Fox, you'd better believe that the "Home Improvement" alum wants to dominate the Disney-owned broadcast network in his time period. He will, let's just home the comeback is funnier than Allen's set at the Fox upfront.
At the CBS upfront, entertainment President Kelly Kahl talked about how "The Neighborhood" star Cedric the Entertainer comes complete with a built-in audience -- he'd better.
"Roseanne" will win running away Tuesdays at 8 o'clock, though CBS comedies not named "9JKL" and "Living Biblically" still tend to draw solid viewership. As awkward as the post-pilot "Neighborhood" recasting in favor of Max Greenfield may be, it's a very good decision and a role he'll kill in.
That said, "The Neighborhood" is now on its third title, and that's never a good sign. Hey, you probably could've hung with "Splitting Up Together"!
The CW could be in for a rude awakening as it expands to Sunday nights
It's not even summer yet and we're already looking forward to Fall. After all, that's when the best TV shows come back on (and the oppressive heat subsides).
Much like you fans, we at TheWrap are dying to find out what happens next with our favorite small-screen characters. But we've also got an eye on another angle: What are the most intriguing new matchups?
Now that we knows the days and time slots for all new and returning broadcast primetime series, we've pinpointed seven battles worth watching. Click through the gallery for them all.
NBC/CBS/ABC
CW/NBC/Fox/ABC/CBS
