Pressure to find TV hits is intensifying in an industry racked by fragmented viewership and competition from digital media; ‘absolutely gut-wrenching’
Gerald Cuesta stared at the chart in disbelief, as the lines kept going lower and lower.
The television writer was observing the reaction of a test audience to “Babylon Fields,” a show he was trying to get on NBC’s schedule for the 2014-2015 season.
The quirky drama about the dead coming back to life got off to a decent start in the focus group. But a scene featuring cannibalism sent the score “down to grandma’s basement,” Mr. Cuesta said, adding, “I knew right then and there we’re not getting on the air.”
He was right. Despite having a fan of “Babylon Fields” in NBC Entertainment President Jennifer Salke, Mr. Cuesta’s dead wouldn’t rise after the test.
Mr. Cuesta holds no ill will toward his mysterious judges. “It’s simply part of the process. If you’re going to create TV, the chances that you will go through this are great.”
Over the past month, lots of writers and producers have come to know Mr. Cuesta’s pain. This is the time of year when the broadcast TV networks are busy figuring out their prime-time lineups for the next season. They’ll show off their schedules to advertisers in New York this week at glitzy presentations and parties.
Among the shows that have already made the cut are a television version of the hit movie “Lethal Weapon” on Fox, the comedy “The Good Place” on NBC starring Kristen Bell and Ted Danson-about a mean woman who tries to change her ways-and the drama “Designated Survivor” on ABC starring Keifer Sutherland as a cabinet member who gets thrust into the presidency after an attack on Washington.
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