moriarty@uw-june (Jeff Meyer) (02/05/84)
Was paging through TV Guide the other day and came across an article mentioning that the writers and producers of Hill Street Blues were being pressured by NBC bigwigs, in particular Brandon Tartikoff, to make some changes in the show. It appears that HSB has been several points behind Knots Landing (opposite time slot, CBS), and that NBC research people believe that women viewers are "emigrating to Knots Landing". To try to attract more women viewers (from the TV Guide Article): "Tartikoff wrote a letter to Hill Street producer Steven Bochco suggesting three countermeasures. He wanted a Hill Street character to get romantically involved with someone; he wanted a neighborhood association of housewives to spring up on the Hill; and he wanted a sex scandal for a few episodes, something along the alleged Vicki Morgan tapes." Beautiful. Tartikoff should receive some sort of commendation for being able to tell exactly what a female viewer wants; he should also be sent back to the cave he crawled out of for such blatently doltish views. I'm just amazed to find that women viewers will change channels automatically upon discovering sex scandals on other programs (must be done with hypnosis). Thankfully, Bochco gave the letter the proper response: "As for the need to attract women viewers, Bochco says, ' I don't give a &#*! about network research. I never have and I never will. I think we have an interested female audience.'" It further says, however, that Bochco finally agreed to try Tartikoff's 1st and 3rd suggestions. This upsets me. A lot, as HSB is one of the few (the very few) intelligently scripted shows. If this continues, NBC and Tartikoff may try more drastic changes in the shows format. I have a suggestion. Why not write NBC and Brandon and let him know what we think about his pressure on Bochco & company (and his rather narrow view of audience interests). I believe something that might bother him is to threaten to note every sponser for Hill Street for the next several weeks, and to write each of them to please pressure Tartikoff to not pressure the creative group of HSB. Aha! Hoist Brandon by his own petard! Mention that you are computer people and that you have access to word processors and can make many, many letters. You don't actually need to do it... but the threat may make Brandon think twice before he butts in next time. You can write him at: Brandon Tartikoff Programming Director, NBC 30 Rockefeller Plaza New York, NY 10019 Thanks for your time. The Napoleon of Crime | Currently skulking around | UUCP: MORIARTY | {...decvax!}tektronix!uw-beaver!uw-june!moriarty | ARPANET: AKA -jwm- | moriarty@washington
wetcw@pyuxa.UUCP (T C Wheeler) (02/06/84)
The ratings loss over the last few weeks for HSB could, more than likely, be a result of the repeats that were aired in January. I turned to other fare when I saw that I had already seen the shows. Write Tartikof and tell the dolt that HSB does not repeat well and to use his head.