Earlier this month, we told you about NBC’s decision to schedule the two-hour Barry Bostwick telepic "Secrets of the Mountain" on April 16. As Paul Harvey might’ve said: Here’s the….rest of the story.
Per the Wall Street Journal, it turns out "Secrets" — originally touted as a backdoor pilot — is actually being funded by Procter & Gamble and Wal-Mart, according to the Wall Street Journal. The paper says the two companies will control all the ad revenue for the two-hour block, essentially making it a time buy.
Insiders tell TheWrap P&G and Wal-Mart came to NBC with the concept and worked with the network (and producer Muse Entertainment) to produce it. The Hollywood Reporter first noted casting on this project back in October, so it’s been around for a while.
It seems unlikely this movie will go to series, though who knows: If the number’s respectable, and P&G and Wal-Mart are feeling game, perhaps it might make economic sense to proceed. Wal-Mart likes to roll back prices; this could be a way for NBC to cheaply program an hour of primetime.
Of course, that assumes enough viewers watch. And the two companies think there’s value in a regular showcase for their wares.
Where’s Ben Silverman when you need him? He could figure this out, we’re sure of it.
