‘Enemy’ Failure Hurts NBC on Multiple Levels
November 15, 2008 by brian
My Own Worst Enemy wasn’t just a heavily-hyped poor performing show for NBC, it is a microcosm of some strategies the network had hoped would pull it out of last place. Sadly for NBC, it’s also a snapshot of how those strategies are working about as well as Doctor Who’s sonic screwdriver on a deadlock seal.
Big Stars Do Not Equal Big Viewers: Admittedly, this first asks us to accept NBC execs’ contention that Christian Slater is a big movie star. But that’s exactly the stance NBC was trying to sell critics on while talking about the steps the network took to “lure” Slater to episodic TV. NBC Entertainment Co-Chair Ben Silverman said he even took Slater’s mother to lunch in efforts to bring the actor on board.
Despite NBC’s contention that Slater was an awesome get for the network, it’s not like they were bringing Tom Cruise on board here. What else did Slater have on his plate, another Alone in the Dark sequel? The same week Enemy bit the dust, NBC also pulled the plug on Brooke Shields’ vehicle Lipstick Jungle. After Suddenly Susan and cameos on That 70s Show, Shields could easily be considered as a TV star as much as a movie star.
Pictured: Christian Slater as Henry Spivey/Edward Albright — NBC Photo: Chris Haston