reza@ihuxb.UUCP (H. Reza Taheri) (11/15/83)
I really liked NBC Overnight. I thought it was informative, and at the same time light enough to be watched at 12:30 p.m. (Central time). For about two months it helped me stay awake during long, boring simulations! H. Reza Taheri ...!ihnp4!ihuxb!reza (312)-979-1040
zben@umcp-cs.UUCP (11/16/83)
[From the virtual flamethrower of ZBEN]
As a frequent creature-of-the-night I used to greatly enjoy NBC Overnight
and I thought Linda Ellerbee might have been the most attractive woman on
TV. Then, one night, she did a monologue on a subject very near and dear
to my heart: bagpipe music. I must confess I played in various bands for
many years, and we were good enough to win money...
I won't try to quote the monologue verbatim, but suffice it to say she
displayed all the tolerance and cultural sensitivity one would expect of
someone from Texas...
So, how do I feel about its cancellation? Like they said so many time:
"And so it goes..."
Ben Cranston ...seismo!umcp-cs!zben zben@umd2.ARPAlauren@vortex.UUCP (Lauren Weinstein) (11/16/83)
It was just announced that NBC's excellent late-night news program
"Overnight" has been cancelled, with the last show scheduled for
December 2. I personally consider Overnight to be the most interesting
and enjoyable news/information program on television, and of consistently
high quality. Their policy of running foreign news footage and local
stories with which the prime-time programs wouldn't spend time has made
for consistently fascinating and high-quality viewing.
My own experience with the television industry tells me that the
probability of saving the show at this point is exceedingly small.
However, those of you who have enjoyed the program as much as I
should *PLEASE* express your disgust for this decision to NBC News.
Letters are good, but those of you who can afford calls to NBC
in NY should call directly. The decision was apparently made
by Rubin Frank (I hope I have the spelling correctly) who I'm told
is President of NBC News. The official reason for the cancellation
is that "their studies show that `not enough' people watch TV that
late at night". I would suggest pointing out in your letters and
calls that the currently existing techniques for measuring TV audience
size are NOT ACCURATE for late night viewing, which tends to involve
a different set of viewers than normally watch prime-time television
to a great extent. The networks had previously expressed dismay at
their inability to accurately gauge late-night audiences -- they
apparently have decided to make up their numbers since they couldn't
get accurate figures. I began to suspect that NBC was about to zap
Overnight when they began promoting an information booklet on
Central America with a special address that was DIFFERENT from
the ones they promoted on their other news programs -- it was
obvious that they were trying to get some sort of audience figures
using that feeble technique.
In any case, if you want there to be even a 1% chance of saving
the program, please contact NBC News by phone, mail, telegram, and
telex IMMEDIATELY and keep contacting them after the Veteran's
day holiday. Be sure to call and write to NBC News DIRECTLY and
don't just register a complaint with whoever answers the
phones at the main NBC New York Switchboard. Letters should go
to NBC-TV News, Radio City Station, NY, NY (I don't know the ZIP).
The main number for NBC New York is (212) 664-4444. Ask for the
News department or even for Rubin Frank himself directly (that might
be an especially good idea -- you'll never reach him, of course, but
your opinions will register.) Be sure to point out that you know
of many people who work late at night, regularly watch the program, and
who feel that the loss of "Overnight" is undesirable and based
on false premises.
FAST and CONTINUED action is essential. Let's make Usenet do
something USEFUL.
Have your friends and co-workers call and write -- numbers are
important in these situations!
Please keep me informed (by mail) of any efforts you make in this
area. Thanks much.
--Lauren--
{allegra, seismo, decvax, ihnp4, randvax}!vortex!laurenbbanerje@sjuvax.UUCP (B. Banerjee) (11/16/83)
I confess that I watch NBC Overnight only during my sporadic
bouts of insomnia; so my judgement may be harsher than warranted.
Points to be addressed :
a) The *content* of the show isn't very different from that of
the competitors. (Playing Tom Lehrer songs as background music
doesn't qualify as content)
b) The personality of the newscasters is more abrasive than seen
on the competition. This is not to indicate that I prefer
syrupy sop; but these people make my hackles rise.
c) There is already a great deal of news programming, most of it
redundant. We're subjected to news in the morning, noon, evening,
night, and latenight. Practically all the shows provide superficial
coverage, with the viewpoint of the newscaster present but
unstated. NBC Overnight was no different.
Replacing it with a show that provides in depth analysis, and several
points of view would be a good step. Presently, the only show that
tries that (to my knowledge) is Nightline - and they are hampered by
insufficient time and the lack of a panel ( Ted Koppel could concievably
lay off the tough questions).
Since NBC is unlikely to make any drastic changes, I'd just be happy
if they brought back old Monster Movies to late night TV. They were
the best cure for insomnia.
-- Binayak Banerjee
{astrovax!bpa!burdvax}!sjuvax!bbanerjejim@mcvax.UUCP (Jim McKie) (11/19/83)
It may be overnight to you, but it is the next day to me - keep this crap where it belongs. Let Usenet do something useful? PAH! Less than one week after the re-introduction of net.general, net.followup, net.misc to Continental Europe and the general feeling is THEY should be ***CANCELLED***. Jim McKie Mathematisch Centrum, Amsterdam ....mcvax!jim