Desperate Networks

Zucker had his "Supersize Thursday" for no less than the 1st weeks of the face-off opposed to Survivor. by the point NBC introduced the stream on January sixteen, Zucker had gotten associates to move for all 4 sweep episodes at forty mins. He had simply SNL segments to fill out that 8-to-9 hour. every week later he solved that challenge, including a 20-minute precise of pals outtakes, hosted via Conan O'Brien, within the 3rd week, and an easy 40/40/40 gimmick the ultimate week of the sweep, with every one of pals, Will &• Grace, and simply Shoot Me operating an additional 10 mins. Zucker introduced the adjustments as an attempt to aim to outlive. yet he essentially relished the thrill that his "supersize" gambit used to be growing. "Why should still we roll over? " Zucker acknowledged. "I nonetheless anticipate Survivor to do boffo within the rankings, yet a minimum of we are attempting to do whatever diversified. " NBC had its matchless promo division, headed via John Miller and Vince Manze, pump up the quantity on behalf of "Supersized Thursday. " The functionality greater than justified the hype. NBC held its personal opposed to the attack of Survivor II on beginning evening, with buddies trailing the national phenomenon by means of just a couple of million audience and only one ranking aspect within the prized 18-to-49 viewers. CSI used to be effective, however the SNL unique held up competitively in addition. And ER got here on robust sufficient at 10 for NBC to nonetheless win the evening with anything to spare. because the month went on, it turned clearer that Zucker's semibaked gimmick were a super counterstroke for NBC (and anything of a precedent for community tv, which might see nearly each hit express "supersized" in years to come). Thursday evening used to be safe—for now. yet, as with the various strikes Zucker SUPERSIZE ME 141 made in Hollywood, this one might ultimately be criticized as a fan dance instead of actual ahead development in constructing a brand new new release of hits. at the day he publicly christened the circulation as "supersizing," Zucker further a remark that exposed what the move—and he himself—was all approximately: "These are enjoyable video games to play," he acknowledged. • • • Ejven earlier than he enjoyed the contest, Jeff Zucker enjoyed the warmth. Born on home Air strength Base close to Miami (his father was once a physician within the Air Force), Zucker grew up within the sunlight. Disdaining staff activities, either as a result of his measurement (he was once normally the shortest child in his classification) and since he loved being answerable for his personal person functionality, Zucker performed tennis year-round. tuition used to be no challenge in any respect. Zucker may possibly get an A falling up and doing. yet he had no real interest in following his dad and being a physician. His ardour used to be journalism. He edited the paper in junior excessive and 3 years in highschool, the place he used to be additionally category president sophomore, junior, and senior years. He used to be intrigued through Miami's neighborhood tv information, interested by the proper timing of the anchor's lead-in to the taped record that undefined. Then there have been the Dolphins. Zucker all started attending each domestic online game in 1972, whilst the Dolphins recorded an undefeated season.