When asked whether the network will never go into business with Cosby, 77, again, Greenblatt curtly answered, “Yes, I think that’s safe to say.”
Then, came the grilling. What was the decision process like when the network decided to drop its comedy in development with Cosby?
“It didn’t seem to be the kind of thing that was critical mass [last year],” he explained. “When we realized there was so much more [to the allegations], we realized we couldn’t go forward.”
Greenblatt wasn’t out of the weeds yet. Another reporter wondered what it took for NBC to stop ignoring the allegations. What constitutes “critical mass?”
“Do you really want me to answer that?” a clearly angered Greenblatt retorted. “15, yes. Two, no.”
Things were much cooler for Greenblatt and NBC Entertainment president Jennifer Salke as they fielded other questions from the reporters:
On their next live musical: NBC has optioned the rights to “The Music Man,” which it’s currently weighing. But, it’s also just acquired rights to “The Wiz,” as well. One will be the network’s next live musical following “Peter Pan Live.” Regarding “Pan’s” ratings, Greenblatt said he didn’t expect it to do better than “The Sound of Music Live!”
On the return of “Hannibal”: The series will return for the summer.
On the chances of Constantine’s return: “We wish the show would’ve done better live,” Salke said. “It has a big [delayed] viewership and a younger audience. We love the show and it’s safe to say we’re still talking about it.”
Greenblatt added, “We got on the comic books bandwagon. Maybe, there are too many of them.”
On the future of “Chicago PD,” “Chicago Fire” and a rumored “Chicago Med” spinoff: Both “Chicago” shows will come back. NBC’s looking at “Chicago Med.” “It’s an experiment to see how these characters work out,” Greenblatt said.
On low-rated “State of Affairs”: Greenblatt is “disappointed” in the Katherine Heigl series’ ratings. ‘It looked really strong and promising,” he said.
Salke added, “State of Affairs” became more serialized as episodes went on and it “might be worth looking at” if audience wasn’t connecting with central story.
On rollout of streaming and video-on-demand initiative TV Everywhere: Greenblatt said, “We’re committed to TV Everywhere and moving forward on it. We’re rolling out to more affiliates, market-by-market. It’s a slower process.”
On whether the consistently low ratings of “Parenthood” make similar shows less desirable to produce: “I can’t definitively say yes or no to that,” Greenblatt said. “When you have a show with a talented cast and as finely crafted as ‘Parenthood,’ which we have, it’s hard to do something like this. It never found an audience.”
Salke added, “The show didn’t get what it deserved.”
On the low-rated “About a Boy” and the future with creator Jason Katims: “We love Katims,” Greenblatt answered. “‘About a Boy’ is going to come off [the schedule] to make room for multi-cams. ‘About a Boy’ is not over with.”
“We’re developing things with Katims,” Salke pointed out.
On steering away from NBC’s Thursday comedy block to dramas: The network hasn’t been able to get comedies to pop on that night. “It’s a desirable night for advertisers,” Greenblatt said. “It should be a big, exciting night of television. Moving ‘Blacklist’ is risky, but it seems like it’s the only way to reinvigorate that night, to jumpstart with ‘Blacklist,’ ‘Allegiance,’ and ‘The Slap.'” He added that the network doesn’t expect “Blacklist” to get a “larger audience” Thursdays at 10 p.m. At the same time, he points to other networks that have been able to get dramas to work on Thursdays, specifically ABC with “Grey’s Anatomy” years ago. “I tip my hat to ABC,” Greenblatt said.
On difficulty launching hit comedies in general: “It’s been a couple of years of trial and error,” the chairman said. “We delivered shows like ‘A to Z,’ that was received well critically, but it’s really hard to bring audience back. We’re trying more multi-cams. Some of the network’s biggest hits have been multi-cams.”
On having any regrets about allowing “Parks and Recreation” go after returning to higher ratings: “We were heartened by those numbers,” Greenblatt said. “It was a good idea to do two episodes back-to-back. The time is right to end it. All those actors are being pulled to other things. It’s getting increasingly hard [to keep the cast].”
The Scene at TCA: Funny, Frank and Flippant Quotes From the 2015 TV Press Tour (Photos)
“I love Debra Messing, but I don’t want her face going across the screen: The Mysteries Of Laura." – Tina Fey, on moving "Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt" to the ad-less Netflix.
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"Do we really need to see that? She was a mother, sister, friend. We forget that she just wanted to live a normal life." – Angela Bassett on why she decided not to depict Whitney Houston's downward spiral in Lifetime movie's "Whitney."
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"I am not a bitch. I'm honest. There's a difference." – Constance Zimmer on her "Unreal" TV producer character.
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"When you shake hands with him you can't shake the feeling that this was a guy who admitted to dismembering his neighbor." – Director Andrew Jarecki, on billionaire and accused murderer Robert Durst.
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"We know Isaac Newton was born on Christmas Day. Who knows when Jesus was born?" – Astrophysicist Neil DeGrasse Tyson, host of NatGeo's first ever late night show.
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“We have to be careful not to overpromise." – Discovery Channel President David Zaslav on the network's failed anaconda stunt.
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"I'm obviously not a serial murderer in real life. You have to find something human in them you like." – Jamie Dornan on playing a serial killer in "The Fall"
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"The only difference between us and a pair of 14-year-old pyromaniacs is we call the police and fire department to help us." – Mythbusters Jamie Hyneman and Adam Savage
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"The most spastic and hilarious human being on the planet." – "Togetherness" creator and writer Jay Duplass, on star Amanda Peet
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"Well, she doesn't always use an axe." – Christina Ricci on whether Lizzie Borden will have any more axes to grind in Lifetime's "Lizzie Borden Chronicles."
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"We want to be your coffee this morning." – Marti Noxon, executive producer of Lifetime's "Unreal," on her pink streaks and matching frock.
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"To be on a horse firing a gun, that's not a bad way to spend your day." – Actor Jeffery Dean Morgan, about working on History Channel's "Texas Rising."
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"It didn't work in Scotland, but it's going to work in Texas." – Texan actor Bill Paxton on History Channel's "Texas Rising" sparking a secessionist movement.
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"I went through the actors directory and everybody else was working." – "Shitt's Creek" Actor and writer Eugene Levy on why he called fellow actor Chris Elliot to join the cast.
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"You come out and what do you see on your podium, is this a good omen? HBO water they’ve served me. That’s great." –AMC president and GM on being served water branded with the competition.
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"Yeah, I’m thrilled that it’s ending. So looking forward to being unemployed for as long as I’ll be unemployed. I’m so happy not to see any of these people ever again. And all of that is really great. Hashtag sarcasm." – AMC's "Mad Men" star Jon Hamm on whether there's any reason he's happy series is ending.
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"The idea at the center of the show is a zombie you can fall in love with... a zombie you want to date. We were calling the show 'ZILFs' at one point" – The CW's "iZombie" showrunner Rob Thomas. on his new show
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"The fans are so polarized in what they are rooting for that to appease all of them, the show would be gobbledygook." – "The Vampire Diaries" executive producer Caroline Dries.
“We should’ve had more women up here today. That’s on me. That’s my fault.” – "Arrow," "The Flash" EP Greg Berlanti on the composition of the panel.
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"It's not a show about religion; it's a show about faith." -– "The Messengers" executive producer Trey Callaway.
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"The gelatin doesn't taste too bad on its own, but covered in fake blood, is disgusting." – star of the upcoming series "iZombie," Rose McIver.
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"[Italia Ricci's] even prettier than Robbie Amell." – Victor Garber talking about his "Flash" co-star's new fiancee.
''We were calling the show 'ZILF,' because the star's a zombie you want to date (the polite way to say it)" – "iZombie" executive producer, Rob Thomas.
"We're most interested in telling stories that tell light in the darkness" – "The Dovekeepers" executive producer Roma Downey Jr.
"Wouldn’t it be nice if all the networks were more representative of the complexions of America?" – Oscar Winner Cuba Gooding Jr., on diversity on television.
"When we did the original 'Odd Couple' we weren't allowed to have women writers." – Director Garry Marshall, on consulting for the CBS "Odd Couple" remake.
"When you start on TV, it's almost fear based. When you start online, you just try stuff" — TMZ founder Harvey Levin on his company's move to television.
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"Funny story, I have no say in anything" — Joe Dirt 2 star David Spade on why he allowed his iconic wig from the first film to be sold.
"We’ve encouraged millions of people to take out wine and popcorn really enjoy what is water cooler television — ABC Entertainment Group chief Paul Lee on the network's "TGIT" programming.
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"Asians have money. If you want their money, make things for them" — "Fresh Off the Boat" creator Eddie Huang on his new show.
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"When something is salacious, how it is presented by the media becomes the perceived 'truth'" — Ryan Phillippe on his new upcoming ABC show "Secrets & Lies."
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"He's uncovering things as [the show] is uncovering things" — actor Milo Ventimiglia on his character in ABC's upcoming "The Whispers."
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"Maybe I've got my wife hidden away in the attic" — actor James D'Arcy on his character Jarvis' unseen spouse in "Agent Carter ."
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"What it would be like if Princess Diana had become Queen of England?" — actress Elizabeth Hurley about the inspiration for her character on E!'s "The Royals."
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“When we realized there was so much more, we realized we couldn’t go forward” — NBC Entertainment chair, Robert Greenblatt, on the network's decision to cancel a Bill Cosby comedy series.
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"Whether people like it or don't like it, I'm not changing. NBC has never said anything to me, once" — "Celebrity Apprentice" host Donald Trump on his unabashed political views.
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“I think by the year 2030 we’re going to have an entire lesbian cast with one token heterosexual. We’re not there yet” — Ellen DeGeneres joking about recent accusations she's been promoting a "gay agenda."
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"It's like playing a human being with a heart, and a sense of humor, and a great collection of blazers" — "One Big Happy" star Elisha Cuthbert on playing a lesbian character.
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"This is a story that millions have died for and billions have lived for" — "AD: The Series" executive producer Mark Burnett, about the follow up to his successfulmini-series, "The Bible."
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TV stars and executives offer pearls of wisdom at the annual Television Critics Association Winter Press Tour