IT'S SO PATHETICALLY BAD THAT IT'S HYSTERICALLY FUNNY

New York Post ^ | 11/05/03 | ADAM BUCKMAN

[kattracks]

November 5, 2003 -- IT WAS one of the funniest tapes I had ever received from a TV network.

It was a special promo reel sent over early last month for "The Reagans," a miniseries about Ronald and Nancy Reagan - the very same miniseries that became so embroiled in controversy that CBS finally dumped it yesterday.

[Liz]

The Reagans" has become the TV industries "Gigli".

ROTFLMCO.........great zinger. Ben and J-Lo will not be pleased. LOL.

[Pan_Yans Wife]

Muffler commercials, I believe.

[Lonesome in Massachussets]

they spent about $29.95

Actually it's closer to $10,000,0000. CBS probably has to book about $300,000,000 in advertising revenues to realize $10,000,000 profit. Since it will result in $0.0 ad revenues it's pretty much a total loss. From a business prespective, a lot of heads should roll. Like really firing someone.

Since this turkey was aimed at sweeps week, it was probably a loss-leader anyway. They never expected to recover production costs from first run ad revenues, if ever. (A lot of network products only begin to turn a profit in syndication and foreign distribution.)

Right now CBS is carrying this on their books as an asset. Someone is going to have to eat a $10,000,000 loss. High ranking executives, like the head of ShowTime, make most of their compensation on performance based incentives. I doubt Sumner Redstone expects him to swallow a $10,000,000 loss. More than likely, CBS will "sell" this turkey to ShowTime for like $500,000 (or whatever they can internally negotiate) and Moonves will have to eat a $9,500,000 loss meaning his bonus this year will be like, $0. There is some justice in this world.

[I still care]

Well, keep boycotting Hallmark. They are on the NRA "bad guys" list.

[disclaimer]

In the role of Nancy Reagan, Judy Davis was seen barreling comically through the White House screaming at the top of her lungs at everyone who crossed her path.

Sounds more like a portrayal of Hillary than Nancy.

[MontanaBeth]

Hallmark still plans on distributing it overseas, where there will be no one to set the record straight or raise the questions on the truthfulness of the movie.

[N. Theknow]

Can't wait to watch it flop on Showtime, assuming it even airs. Amazing that CBS found sponsors for it. Maybe they gave them a discount.

Movie channels don't usually have sponsors do they?

[Publius6961]

Hmmmmmm.
CBS may have a hit on their hands.

Why not just change the title to The Clintons?

From the description here it sounds closer to real life.

[jalisco555]

has he done anything since the Marcus Welby series?

Believe it or not he played Clark Gable in "Gable and Lombard" opposite Jill Clayburgh. The movie was a box office disaster thanks to Brolin's wooden, talentless performance. I had the misfortune to see that film and it was awful. It nearly killed his career.

[calvin sun]

Of course, an actor of Brolin's credentials and talen don't come cheap. (/sarcasm) BTW, has he done anything since the Marcus Welby series?

I remember that he was in a 1970s movie called "Trapped." No, it had nothing to do with his current marital status. Rather, he played a man who was accidentally locked in a department store building after closing, and was trying to escape attack dogs that were patrolling the store.

www.imdb.com/title/tt0070828/

[DoctorMichael]

Bump.

[Snake65]

has he done anything since the Marcus Welby series?

He's in a piece of scifi I like, Crichton's Westworld. Though he should have played on of the robots.

[jalisco555]

I think he was also in a made-for-TV movie about an earthquake a while back. He may have played a piece of rubble.

[Hildy]

Don't slam Brolin. He's not too bad. Up until Barbra, he was a pretty good guy, keeping a low profile. I still contend he married Barbra to get him out of dire financial straights. I read where he was in deep trouble, and she bailed him out when they married. He's probably contractually obligated to stay with her for a certain amount of time. I don't know that for sure, but I just can't imagine anyone living with an ego like hers.

[Hildy]

Plus he plays a military guy on that syndicated show: Pensacola something or other. I JUST now saw an episode. He is a good looking man. Barbra finally got her gorgeous goyshe guy, if you know what I'm referring to!

[jalisco555]

He is a good looking man. Barbra finally got her gorgeous goyshe guy, if you know what I'm referring to!

LOL. I know what you mean. He did age better than Elliot Gould, I'll admit that.

[TheRightGuy]

I'm guessing especially threatening to boycott Hallmark during the holiday season.

From what I understand, Hallmark was never a sponsor of the show per se. The Hallmark Entertainment Division bought rights from CBS to distribute the mini-series in overseas markets. I don't know that that's changed even though CBS won't be airing it domestically.

[Wright is right!]

"I can only guess that having large numbers of Christians not buying Christmas cards from you is NOT part of Hallmark's business plan."

Dry, terse, witty, perfect. I like your style.

Michael

[Wright is right!]

"Since this turkey was aimed at sweeps week, it was probably a loss-leader anyway. They never expected to recover production costs from first run ad revenues, if ever. (A lot of network products only begin to turn a profit in syndication and foreign distribution.)"

Precisely. It was to run at a loss as a vehicle to run tons a promos for other shows they hoped to upwardly spike. Each two-hour installment would contain 82 minutes of actual program, 24 minutes of advertiser spots, and a whopping 14 minutes of promos or various lengths. SeeBS is prone to the multi-promo - three quick 10-second show promos, then a 20-second promo, then another 5-second promo (then a 5-second station ID). The amount of promo clutter they planned to cram into this miniseries was the real reason they had it scheduled.

And, yes, it will doubtless affect Les Moonbeam's year-end bonus.

Michael

[Wright is right!]

"From what I understand, Hallmark was never a sponsor of the show per se. The Hallmark Entertainment Division bought rights from CBS to distribute the mini-series in overseas markets."

That's what I hear, too. Plus, it is entirely possible that it may not air at all in foreign markets, or if it does air, changes may be made to it. If I'm Hallmark Entertainment, I'm thinking that perhaps I've got hotter assets in the can than this turkey, and maybe I'd better push them instead.

Michael