John Wells Has a Jones for 'Smith'
From:TV Week
Date:May 19, 2006
By Christopher Lisotta
Veteran executive producer John Wells was beaming at the CBS upfront after-party at Central Park's Tavern on the Green Wednesday. The prolific producer behind the drama hits "ER" and "The West Wing," Mr. Wells has been through the upfront gauntlet before.
This year eager ad executives were lined up waiting to take pictures with Ray Liotta, Virginia Madsen and the rest of cast of Mr. Wells' latest TV venture, the fall 2006 crime drama "Smith." "This is the time period we were hoping for," Mr. Wells said of "Smith's" Tuesday 10 p.m. (ET) slot. "There's two things you look for: lead in and promotion."
"Smith" has both going for it, Mr. Wells noted. The show, about a high-level thief, will get a lead in from CBS's most recent drama success "The Unit." Plus "CSI: Miami" is in the same time slot the night before, so the new show has a powerful promotional platform the night before. He also liked the fact that CBS's Sunday-night procedural lineup and the network's weekend football coverage is in close proximity to his new show.
"We'll have much more oomph from the weekend," Mr. Wells said.
As for "ER," which is going into its thirteenth season on NBC in its Thursday 10 p.m. time slot, Mr. Wells said he was confident his show would prevail. Just a few yards away, the cast of CBS's new legal drama "Shark" was snapping pictures with ad execs. "Shark" will be taking on "ER" this fall, along with the new ABC relationship drama "Six Degrees."
"We've never focused on the competition," Mr. Wells said. "We can't control that. We're excited we can keep making it."
A good attitude to have in a tough business like developing TV shows. It also explains why Mr. Wells was so happy with "Smith."
"Honestly, it's all gravy now," he said.
From TV Week.
Date:May 19, 2006
By Christopher Lisotta
Veteran executive producer John Wells was beaming at the CBS upfront after-party at Central Park's Tavern on the Green Wednesday. The prolific producer behind the drama hits "ER" and "The West Wing," Mr. Wells has been through the upfront gauntlet before.
This year eager ad executives were lined up waiting to take pictures with Ray Liotta, Virginia Madsen and the rest of cast of Mr. Wells' latest TV venture, the fall 2006 crime drama "Smith." "This is the time period we were hoping for," Mr. Wells said of "Smith's" Tuesday 10 p.m. (ET) slot. "There's two things you look for: lead in and promotion."
"Smith" has both going for it, Mr. Wells noted. The show, about a high-level thief, will get a lead in from CBS's most recent drama success "The Unit." Plus "CSI: Miami" is in the same time slot the night before, so the new show has a powerful promotional platform the night before. He also liked the fact that CBS's Sunday-night procedural lineup and the network's weekend football coverage is in close proximity to his new show.
"We'll have much more oomph from the weekend," Mr. Wells said.
As for "ER," which is going into its thirteenth season on NBC in its Thursday 10 p.m. time slot, Mr. Wells said he was confident his show would prevail. Just a few yards away, the cast of CBS's new legal drama "Shark" was snapping pictures with ad execs. "Shark" will be taking on "ER" this fall, along with the new ABC relationship drama "Six Degrees."
"We've never focused on the competition," Mr. Wells said. "We can't control that. We're excited we can keep making it."
A good attitude to have in a tough business like developing TV shows. It also explains why Mr. Wells was so happy with "Smith."
"Honestly, it's all gravy now," he said.
From TV Week.
posted by nikita | 10:55 PM
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