MovieChat Forums > Mockingbird Lane (2012) Discussion > NBC Reveals why they passed on Mockingbi...

NBC Reveals why they passed on Mockingbird Lane...

posted 11 years ago by Darwinskid
12 replies | jump to latest

http://www.comicbookmovie.com/fansites/BatFreak/news/?a=72204

A few days ago, it was confirmed that NBC has passed on its controversial Munsters reboot Mockingbird Lane, despite the pilot getting decent ratings when it aired on the network in October. At TCA, NBC chief Bob Greenblatt reveals exactly why the reboot didn't go to series. "We just decided that it didn’t hold together well enough to yield a series," he said. "It looked beautiful and original and creative, but it just all ultimately didn’t come together…, it just didn’t ultimately creatively all work. We felt great about that cast [Jerry O’Connell, Portia de Rossi, Eddie Izzard and Charity Wakefield]. But we tried to make it not just a sitcom. We tried to make it an hour, which ultimately has more dramatic weight than a half-hour. It’s hard to calibrate how much weirdness vs. supernatural vs. family story. I just think we didn’t get the mix right."

However, this doesn't mean they're done with The Munsters period, eventually they will reboot it again-

While the network has passed on Mockingbird Lane, it appears that bringing The Munsters back again isn't out of the question. "I won’t say we won’t do another version of The Munsters again," says Greenblatt. Do you want to see another Munsters series?

Still would've liked to have seen more episodes though, they could've improved and nailed the concept better, but oh well.

My ignore list is quite large.

[–] Tresix 11 years ago

I'd rather see a big-screen adaptation than another TV show. They tried that back in the Eighties and it was horrendous.

"I'm in such bad shape, I'm wearing prescription underwear." Phyllis Diller 1917-2012

[–] Ithilfaen 11 years ago

They passed because the ratings were not great and the concept was not sexy enough to sell commercials. Let's not kid ourselves. Ratings are only there for one thing: to make ad buyers pay big bucks for commercial spots during a show. If they had good Nielsen but bad focus group results and the ad buyers had cold feet when the pilot aired, that was their reason for axing the show.

The simple fact that they aired the pilot to test the waters show how unsure they were about their product. It cost a lot of money to produce and they didn't want to take the risk.

For every lie I unlearn I learn something new - Ani Difranco

[–] Zingbot_9000 11 years ago

Dude, ratings really had little to do with it. NBC pulled the plug on this before they aired it. You may not realize this, but Mockingbird Lane did not air in many markets. The ratings were going to be lower because it did not have the reach of a normal program. They showed an old Kevin Costner Standard Definition Movie in Detroit...rather than air the show. That never happens. NBC wanted this to fail.

[–] darkinddreamer 11 years ago

exactly! The exterior set was demolished from the back lot weeks before it even aired. If they were looking at ratings they would have waited till aired it aired to tear it down.

[–] Zingbot_9000 11 years ago

Ratings had nothing to do with it. NBC plugged the plug before it aired. Many major markets did not even air Mockingbird Lane. In Detroit for example, they aired an old Kevin Costner movie in standard definition. You can not tell me that the Costner movie would get better ratings.

[–] HeavyHorseArcher 11 years ago

I thought they got the mix right for a pilot. Why not do 1/2 hours after a 1 hour premier?

Oh well, I enjoyed it and it's not going to be picked up. Sad.

"Well your team lost, so everybody cries."

[–] bittenhoney 11 years ago

In other words, they didn't think it was the same crap they always dish out on their network, so they had to pass.

[–] Darwinskid 11 years ago

That's one way of putting it. NBC always cancels shows with the most potential, Awake and My Name Is Earl anybody?

My ignore list is quite large.

[–] jdzencel-1 10 years ago

Maybe the CW should buy the rights, or FX

[–] PrometheusTree64 10 years ago

Prvious attempts to reboot/remake THE MUNSTERS have been predictably disastrous. But even if this pilot was better than those, it's hard to picture a show like this getting onto network TV today no matter the quality.

--

Non-sequiturs are delicious.

[–] hiccupd 9 years ago

Isn't this the same guy that canceled fuller's dead like me even though it was a ratings hit at showtime? If so, then he seems to really dislike fuller or has an axe to grind with him. Also cemented his Hannibal series

[–] OccamsBarber 9 years ago

Hannibal died when nearly everyone collectively stopped watching at the beginning of the third season. I've never seen a show go from brilliant to unwatchable so fast without changing showrunners.

"I wasn't totally sure what was happening. But I knew I wanted to stab someone."