1 00:00:06,440 --> 00:00:10,920 Speaker 1: Welcome to Strictly Business Varieties weekly podcast featuring conversations with 2 00:00:10,960 --> 00:00:15,200 Speaker 1: industry leaders about the business of media and entertainment. I'm 3 00:00:15,240 --> 00:00:19,200 Speaker 1: Cynthia Littleton, business editor for Variety Today. My guest is 4 00:00:19,320 --> 00:00:23,880 Speaker 1: Rob Mills, ABC's head of Alternative Series, Specials and Late Night. 5 00:00:24,440 --> 00:00:28,000 Speaker 1: We recorded this via the New Information super Highway, a 6 00:00:28,080 --> 00:00:31,000 Speaker 1: zoom call, with Rob speaking from his home in Los 7 00:00:31,000 --> 00:00:34,800 Speaker 1: Angeles and me from my place in Sunnyside, Queens. In 8 00:00:34,840 --> 00:00:39,520 Speaker 1: a lively conversation, Rob offers insights into how ABC found 9 00:00:39,560 --> 00:00:43,360 Speaker 1: the way to salvage American idols live shows. He also 10 00:00:43,479 --> 00:00:46,199 Speaker 1: talks about the business of game shows and why he 11 00:00:46,240 --> 00:00:49,200 Speaker 1: wants to get a new season of The Bachelor in production. 12 00:00:49,320 --> 00:00:54,200 Speaker 1: A s a p. Rob Mills, Senior vice president of 13 00:00:54,240 --> 00:00:58,920 Speaker 1: Alternative Series, Specials and Late Night for ABC Entertainment, Thank 14 00:00:58,960 --> 00:01:02,800 Speaker 1: you so much for joining us today through the magic 15 00:01:03,160 --> 00:01:07,760 Speaker 1: of zoom technology flying through the airwaves. Yes, this is amazing. 16 00:01:07,760 --> 00:01:09,520 Speaker 1: It's as if we were doing this in person. Cyn't 17 00:01:09,520 --> 00:01:12,440 Speaker 1: thea thrilled to be here. I'm disappointed because this in 18 00:01:12,520 --> 00:01:15,080 Speaker 1: fact was set up initially to be done in person, 19 00:01:15,240 --> 00:01:17,800 Speaker 1: but that was not meant to be, so we are 20 00:01:18,160 --> 00:01:21,479 Speaker 1: being resilient and and finding new ways to communicate, which 21 00:01:21,520 --> 00:01:25,319 Speaker 1: is basically the job of the entire media and entertainment 22 00:01:25,720 --> 00:01:29,480 Speaker 1: complex right now, tell us give us a little color 23 00:01:29,520 --> 00:01:32,840 Speaker 1: about how you and your team have been have been 24 00:01:32,840 --> 00:01:36,320 Speaker 1: continuing to program and develop and you know, make the 25 00:01:36,319 --> 00:01:40,000 Speaker 1: plans that you need to keep the robust alternative series 26 00:01:40,040 --> 00:01:44,319 Speaker 1: flowing to the ABC Television Network. Well, I mean, fortunately 27 00:01:44,400 --> 00:01:47,520 Speaker 1: have to say, I don't think anyone has ever been busier. Uh, 28 00:01:47,600 --> 00:01:50,840 Speaker 1: it's sort of been a kind of two pronged approach. 29 00:01:50,920 --> 00:01:52,840 Speaker 1: One is, there's a lot of stuff we already have 30 00:01:53,440 --> 00:01:59,440 Speaker 1: that's in various stages of pre pre pre production, production, 31 00:01:59,480 --> 00:02:02,200 Speaker 1: and post production, so you're getting everything kind of righty 32 00:02:02,200 --> 00:02:05,400 Speaker 1: and keeping those trains running. And then, as we've seen 33 00:02:05,440 --> 00:02:07,680 Speaker 1: a lot of certainly on the special side, there's a 34 00:02:07,720 --> 00:02:10,720 Speaker 1: lot of these specials that are being put together kind 35 00:02:10,760 --> 00:02:14,880 Speaker 1: of quickly and nimbly that we're working on. We're doing 36 00:02:14,919 --> 00:02:18,480 Speaker 1: the the Together at Home thing with the w h 37 00:02:18,560 --> 00:02:22,040 Speaker 1: O that's gonna air on the eight Team. We're working 38 00:02:22,080 --> 00:02:27,160 Speaker 1: on doing something kind of with the Disney the Disney Songbook. 39 00:02:27,160 --> 00:02:29,600 Speaker 1: We're going to special there with celebrities that we're really 40 00:02:29,639 --> 00:02:33,520 Speaker 1: excited about. So uh, there's there's still a lot of 41 00:02:33,520 --> 00:02:35,760 Speaker 1: stuff going on. Also, you know American Idol, which has 42 00:02:35,960 --> 00:02:39,120 Speaker 1: it's just getting to its live component, keeping that going 43 00:02:39,200 --> 00:02:41,480 Speaker 1: and how we're going to do that, getting Jimmy Kimmel 44 00:02:41,480 --> 00:02:46,280 Speaker 1: back on the air. So we've actually been coping by 45 00:02:46,360 --> 00:02:50,320 Speaker 1: just keeping incredibly busy. And I'm so proud of my team. 46 00:02:50,360 --> 00:02:53,799 Speaker 1: Everyone's been just fantastic and really kind of working their 47 00:02:53,800 --> 00:02:55,920 Speaker 1: butt off. And has it really been like you know, 48 00:02:56,200 --> 00:03:01,320 Speaker 1: everybody you know, mostly if not exclusively at home, everybody 49 00:03:01,360 --> 00:03:04,840 Speaker 1: at home. Yeah, I have to say, it's amazing. I 50 00:03:04,880 --> 00:03:08,079 Speaker 1: didn't even know what zoom was, how to work it's 51 00:03:08,200 --> 00:03:10,639 Speaker 1: what it meant, And now I feel like I don't 52 00:03:10,639 --> 00:03:12,600 Speaker 1: even remember when we did when we worked without it? 53 00:03:14,360 --> 00:03:17,200 Speaker 1: You um have you have you guys had the like 54 00:03:17,360 --> 00:03:20,120 Speaker 1: you know, everybody's had the story of like the really 55 00:03:20,160 --> 00:03:23,520 Speaker 1: important meeting where the glitches just you know became like 56 00:03:23,720 --> 00:03:26,840 Speaker 1: became part of became part of an agenda item, Like 57 00:03:26,880 --> 00:03:29,600 Speaker 1: how we're working through those? Oh, yeah, we've dealt with that, 58 00:03:29,639 --> 00:03:33,240 Speaker 1: but we we've powered through and found a way and 59 00:03:33,240 --> 00:03:35,960 Speaker 1: and things are still still going up. How are you 60 00:03:36,000 --> 00:03:40,920 Speaker 1: how do you work with producers who also are you 61 00:03:41,000 --> 00:03:43,040 Speaker 1: must there must be a certain level of producer that 62 00:03:43,160 --> 00:03:46,400 Speaker 1: has to be in a building somewhere with cameras and 63 00:03:46,440 --> 00:03:50,280 Speaker 1: a and a control board. Or is it literally everybody's 64 00:03:50,320 --> 00:03:55,720 Speaker 1: contributing their part from home. No, it really is everybody 65 00:03:55,760 --> 00:03:58,240 Speaker 1: from home. I mean I think that as we keep 66 00:03:58,240 --> 00:04:00,880 Speaker 1: doing these things with each specific show, like with Jimmy 67 00:04:00,960 --> 00:04:03,480 Speaker 1: Kimmel that was the first one, and that was really 68 00:04:04,280 --> 00:04:07,560 Speaker 1: figuring out, Okay, how can everybody do this remotely? And 69 00:04:07,760 --> 00:04:12,720 Speaker 1: somebody going to Jimmy's house setting it up as safely 70 00:04:12,760 --> 00:04:16,400 Speaker 1: as possible, giving giving them the stuff, the sanitized cameras 71 00:04:16,440 --> 00:04:19,280 Speaker 1: and everything, and doing it there. And then somebody else 72 00:04:19,320 --> 00:04:22,919 Speaker 1: remotely is there in post produssion editing the show, getting 73 00:04:22,920 --> 00:04:25,280 Speaker 1: it ready. And that's how all these that's how idols 74 00:04:25,279 --> 00:04:29,520 Speaker 1: gonna work. They're all. It is amazing now how equipped 75 00:04:29,560 --> 00:04:34,960 Speaker 1: certainly from a technology standpoint, Um, we are sort of 76 00:04:35,560 --> 00:04:39,000 Speaker 1: able to to do these jobs even with everything that's 77 00:04:39,000 --> 00:04:41,760 Speaker 1: going on. It. I mean, it's just people saying, but 78 00:04:41,800 --> 00:04:45,520 Speaker 1: it is. It is utterly amazing. Um, are there any 79 00:04:45,640 --> 00:04:49,640 Speaker 1: are you finding any you know, benefits at all in 80 00:04:49,680 --> 00:04:52,600 Speaker 1: this work process? Is are you able to be more 81 00:04:52,680 --> 00:04:56,800 Speaker 1: thorough in some ways or any any unexpected benefits to 82 00:04:56,839 --> 00:04:59,719 Speaker 1: this process. I think certainly it's led the way to 83 00:05:00,040 --> 00:05:04,799 Speaker 1: innovation and certainly things differently and things you just wouldn't 84 00:05:04,800 --> 00:05:06,680 Speaker 1: look at and having to look at it in it 85 00:05:06,720 --> 00:05:08,640 Speaker 1: through a different lens. I mean, like I said, I'm 86 00:05:08,680 --> 00:05:13,680 Speaker 1: fascinated to see how American Idol looks and feels when 87 00:05:13,720 --> 00:05:18,040 Speaker 1: people are doing these these performances remotely and what is 88 00:05:18,080 --> 00:05:20,400 Speaker 1: it like. And this is a very different way of 89 00:05:20,480 --> 00:05:23,400 Speaker 1: finding a winner on that show than we normally would. 90 00:05:23,480 --> 00:05:26,720 Speaker 1: So I think that it certainly is interesting and it 91 00:05:26,760 --> 00:05:29,080 Speaker 1: makes you curious how it's going to be. I mean, also, 92 00:05:29,279 --> 00:05:32,360 Speaker 1: just right before this started, and I know we'll talk 93 00:05:32,360 --> 00:05:35,080 Speaker 1: about it more with Billionaire, that was sort of the 94 00:05:35,120 --> 00:05:37,320 Speaker 1: first one we got that in under the wire and 95 00:05:37,360 --> 00:05:39,520 Speaker 1: we took the audience out, and doing it without the 96 00:05:39,560 --> 00:05:45,000 Speaker 1: audience made it different. And you know, in some ways, look, 97 00:05:45,040 --> 00:05:47,760 Speaker 1: you you you need that audience. The host feeds off it. 98 00:05:47,839 --> 00:05:51,720 Speaker 1: But it also was interesting to watch it and how 99 00:05:51,760 --> 00:05:55,039 Speaker 1: you had to kind of innovate and really letting the 100 00:05:55,080 --> 00:05:57,679 Speaker 1: crew kind of getting their reactions on audio and having 101 00:05:57,760 --> 00:06:02,400 Speaker 1: Jimmy play more off of the contestant and the friend 102 00:06:02,480 --> 00:06:04,520 Speaker 1: that they had brought to help them out. So I 103 00:06:04,560 --> 00:06:07,960 Speaker 1: think that it's led to some really sort of interesting 104 00:06:08,160 --> 00:06:12,039 Speaker 1: creative things that wouldn't have happened before that. And I think, 105 00:06:12,080 --> 00:06:14,680 Speaker 1: no matter what, when this thing is all over, you 106 00:06:14,720 --> 00:06:16,919 Speaker 1: have to be vigilant about learning. You know, what did 107 00:06:17,000 --> 00:06:20,039 Speaker 1: we learn and how can we use those things in 108 00:06:20,080 --> 00:06:23,040 Speaker 1: our everyday production once we get back to full speed. 109 00:06:23,480 --> 00:06:25,320 Speaker 1: I mean, I think that a lot. You know, it's 110 00:06:25,360 --> 00:06:28,320 Speaker 1: some of this the most sort of low tech, fuzzy 111 00:06:28,360 --> 00:06:32,520 Speaker 1: shaky video has been some of the most compelling television 112 00:06:33,160 --> 00:06:37,440 Speaker 1: that that we've all seen. I think that's that's exactly right, 113 00:06:38,160 --> 00:06:42,200 Speaker 1: and it's just yeah, it's it's amazing, and it is 114 00:06:42,200 --> 00:06:45,839 Speaker 1: a testament to you know, ow our world is really 115 00:06:46,320 --> 00:06:51,200 Speaker 1: from that standpoints able to not only survive but thrive. 116 00:06:51,440 --> 00:06:54,720 Speaker 1: Let's talk more specifically about Idle, which you you know, 117 00:06:54,960 --> 00:06:57,679 Speaker 1: this is such your bit, such a big set piece 118 00:06:57,720 --> 00:07:00,080 Speaker 1: for you for so much a prime time for the 119 00:07:00,120 --> 00:07:02,599 Speaker 1: second half of the year here, so you had pretty 120 00:07:02,640 --> 00:07:05,599 Speaker 1: much kind of just gotten off the ground and then 121 00:07:05,640 --> 00:07:07,840 Speaker 1: like you know, not not a weekend, all of a 122 00:07:07,839 --> 00:07:10,680 Speaker 1: sudden that you know, the sort of the growing awareness 123 00:07:10,800 --> 00:07:13,440 Speaker 1: of of what this was gonna mean. Talk about how 124 00:07:13,480 --> 00:07:16,560 Speaker 1: can you talk specifically about how you transition that from 125 00:07:16,560 --> 00:07:19,160 Speaker 1: being up on its feet with a crew of I'm 126 00:07:19,200 --> 00:07:23,160 Speaker 1: guessing hundreds to how you're doing it now. Yeah, I 127 00:07:23,160 --> 00:07:27,760 Speaker 1: mean it was. It's so funny because everything really was 128 00:07:28,080 --> 00:07:32,200 Speaker 1: trending in idolist direction. We we started, we were pacing 129 00:07:32,200 --> 00:07:36,120 Speaker 1: ahead of last year. I think that the judges now 130 00:07:36,200 --> 00:07:40,200 Speaker 1: three seasons in, are sort of better than ever. Their 131 00:07:40,280 --> 00:07:44,240 Speaker 1: chemistry and and they're judging, They've really really gotten it. 132 00:07:44,320 --> 00:07:46,760 Speaker 1: I think there arguably some of the best we've seen 133 00:07:46,760 --> 00:07:50,160 Speaker 1: in those chairs. The talent was great. It really felt 134 00:07:50,200 --> 00:07:52,720 Speaker 1: like this was this was a great season. Katie had 135 00:07:52,720 --> 00:07:55,920 Speaker 1: announced she's pregnant, so that was really exciting every week 136 00:07:55,960 --> 00:07:59,160 Speaker 1: with a bundle of joy on the way. Yeah, it was. 137 00:07:59,240 --> 00:08:02,480 Speaker 1: It was all really great. We were so excited and 138 00:08:02,520 --> 00:08:07,000 Speaker 1: then all of this happened and like everything and which 139 00:08:07,040 --> 00:08:09,520 Speaker 1: I think is still the case, there's so much uncertainty. 140 00:08:09,680 --> 00:08:11,840 Speaker 1: It was sort of like, Okay, we're gonna stop down 141 00:08:11,880 --> 00:08:14,440 Speaker 1: for two weeks. It's not really going to affect us, 142 00:08:14,560 --> 00:08:17,920 Speaker 1: but you know, we'll move. The goal line sort of 143 00:08:18,000 --> 00:08:21,440 Speaker 1: kept moving, and then finally, I think a couple of 144 00:08:21,480 --> 00:08:23,160 Speaker 1: weeks we had a couple of weeks ago we had 145 00:08:23,200 --> 00:08:25,800 Speaker 1: to really say okay, we need to think about what 146 00:08:25,960 --> 00:08:28,160 Speaker 1: is this show. First it was Okay, it's going to 147 00:08:28,240 --> 00:08:30,760 Speaker 1: be on a sound stage within an audience, and then 148 00:08:30,800 --> 00:08:34,239 Speaker 1: it was now, this thing might go longer than we're expecting, 149 00:08:34,280 --> 00:08:37,679 Speaker 1: so how do we make this show? I mean, there 150 00:08:37,760 --> 00:08:39,200 Speaker 1: was all sorts of things we told about do we 151 00:08:39,200 --> 00:08:41,280 Speaker 1: just stop down and start back up again when this 152 00:08:41,400 --> 00:08:43,800 Speaker 1: is over? But who knows how long that's going to be, 153 00:08:43,880 --> 00:08:46,240 Speaker 1: and you want to keep keep it going. The audience 154 00:08:46,640 --> 00:08:48,760 Speaker 1: is invested in these people now, and you don't want 155 00:08:48,760 --> 00:08:50,840 Speaker 1: to have to then say, yeah, I remember six months 156 00:08:50,840 --> 00:08:53,800 Speaker 1: ago these people that you really really liked, Well, they're 157 00:08:53,800 --> 00:08:57,679 Speaker 1: back and they're gonna compete for American Idol. So I 158 00:08:57,720 --> 00:09:00,400 Speaker 1: think that that was when we said, okay, how do 159 00:09:00,480 --> 00:09:04,920 Speaker 1: we do the best version of the show at home? 160 00:09:05,200 --> 00:09:08,319 Speaker 1: And to the producers credit, and they're really sort of 161 00:09:08,360 --> 00:09:11,560 Speaker 1: the first ones out you know that that have to 162 00:09:11,559 --> 00:09:13,280 Speaker 1: do this. We're going to be the first one doing 163 00:09:13,280 --> 00:09:16,600 Speaker 1: this type of show. Uh, And they have just worked 164 00:09:16,720 --> 00:09:19,960 Speaker 1: night and day to do something that's going to, you know, 165 00:09:20,160 --> 00:09:25,319 Speaker 1: feel both relevant to our times but also hopefully at 166 00:09:25,320 --> 00:09:27,360 Speaker 1: the end of the day, do the the main goal, 167 00:09:27,400 --> 00:09:29,720 Speaker 1: which is entertained and get you invested and make you 168 00:09:29,720 --> 00:09:33,079 Speaker 1: want to vote for somebody and and coron an American Idol. 169 00:09:33,360 --> 00:09:37,199 Speaker 1: How um do you feel at all at the network. 170 00:09:37,240 --> 00:09:40,600 Speaker 1: I'm I'm kind of guessing the sense of, like, you know, 171 00:09:41,360 --> 00:09:44,520 Speaker 1: people are people need that normalcy. People want, you know, 172 00:09:44,600 --> 00:09:47,360 Speaker 1: the idea that everything being shut down just adds to 173 00:09:47,400 --> 00:09:50,280 Speaker 1: our dystopian feeling. And it's kind of this is your job. 174 00:09:50,320 --> 00:09:53,000 Speaker 1: The show must go on. That's right, that's that's act. 175 00:09:53,040 --> 00:09:55,160 Speaker 1: And that's the exact phrase we used, was the show 176 00:09:55,240 --> 00:09:58,800 Speaker 1: must go on, keep it going people. Really, you're right, 177 00:09:58,880 --> 00:10:01,440 Speaker 1: people want to feel that that the world is not 178 00:10:01,480 --> 00:10:04,520 Speaker 1: shut down. And I know that in the grand scheme 179 00:10:04,559 --> 00:10:07,880 Speaker 1: of things, this is you know, it's a singing competition, 180 00:10:08,360 --> 00:10:11,440 Speaker 1: but we need to know that these things aren't. That 181 00:10:11,559 --> 00:10:14,640 Speaker 1: life is not happening here. You know, we need to 182 00:10:14,679 --> 00:10:18,240 Speaker 1: be present and and see everything that is going on 183 00:10:18,400 --> 00:10:21,880 Speaker 1: and do everything we can to stay safe. But we 184 00:10:21,960 --> 00:10:25,000 Speaker 1: also we need this more than ever. Especially we've seen 185 00:10:25,040 --> 00:10:29,800 Speaker 1: how music too, especially has been really kind of you know, 186 00:10:30,000 --> 00:10:32,400 Speaker 1: a cure all for for a lot of these things 187 00:10:32,440 --> 00:10:36,240 Speaker 1: to avoid, keep your sanity and just lift your spirits. 188 00:10:36,280 --> 00:10:39,040 Speaker 1: So hopefully we're going to do both those things, right, 189 00:10:39,360 --> 00:10:41,520 Speaker 1: Can I ask you about and let me ask you 190 00:10:41,520 --> 00:10:45,040 Speaker 1: about the business implications for that. I mean, I would imagine, 191 00:10:45,320 --> 00:10:49,600 Speaker 1: and this is you know, with all sensitivity to the situation, 192 00:10:49,640 --> 00:10:52,760 Speaker 1: I would imagine that that there is some savings, some 193 00:10:52,800 --> 00:10:57,280 Speaker 1: cost savings in not having the extensive crew and all 194 00:10:57,320 --> 00:10:59,920 Speaker 1: the production elements and the hair and the makeup and 195 00:11:00,000 --> 00:11:03,600 Speaker 1: the costuming that you would otherwise have. You know, it's interesting. 196 00:11:03,640 --> 00:11:05,600 Speaker 1: I guess we'll look and see. I'm not sure how 197 00:11:05,640 --> 00:11:07,920 Speaker 1: that's all going to net out at the end. We'll 198 00:11:07,920 --> 00:11:13,040 Speaker 1: look at everything and see. But but yeah, I have 199 00:11:13,160 --> 00:11:15,960 Speaker 1: no idea if this is going to be cost savings 200 00:11:15,960 --> 00:11:18,120 Speaker 1: because you're right, it's a little bom low tech, or 201 00:11:19,400 --> 00:11:20,960 Speaker 1: is it going to cost more? Is it all going 202 00:11:21,040 --> 00:11:22,280 Speaker 1: to come out in the wash? I mean, I know 203 00:11:22,400 --> 00:11:25,000 Speaker 1: that the said is loaded on CBS. I mean, we 204 00:11:25,080 --> 00:11:29,559 Speaker 1: could go if if things, if this thing all of 205 00:11:29,640 --> 00:11:33,600 Speaker 1: a sudden was gone tomorrow, we could go right into 206 00:11:33,679 --> 00:11:36,960 Speaker 1: CBS and go and do big live shows. But we've 207 00:11:36,960 --> 00:11:38,800 Speaker 1: got the stage ready to go, so I'm not sure 208 00:11:38,840 --> 00:11:40,760 Speaker 1: where the dollars and cents of it all is gonna 209 00:11:41,080 --> 00:11:43,440 Speaker 1: pan out. Now that that'll be interesting And of course, 210 00:11:43,440 --> 00:11:45,920 Speaker 1: in some cases, obviously through no fault to their own 211 00:11:45,960 --> 00:11:48,240 Speaker 1: there are crew members that are still on the payroll 212 00:11:48,280 --> 00:11:50,800 Speaker 1: even if they're not able to fly their trade. So yeah, 213 00:11:51,000 --> 00:11:53,840 Speaker 1: that's right absolutely. How in the it's sort of in 214 00:11:53,840 --> 00:11:56,000 Speaker 1: the bigger picture you mentioned some of it with the 215 00:11:56,200 --> 00:11:59,720 Speaker 1: with the question for you is how is Idle change 216 00:11:59,800 --> 00:12:03,560 Speaker 1: for you for ABC as a business now that you've 217 00:12:03,559 --> 00:12:06,280 Speaker 1: had it a couple of years and you can you know, 218 00:12:06,360 --> 00:12:09,280 Speaker 1: it's it's it's so clearly there's so much you know, 219 00:12:09,320 --> 00:12:12,559 Speaker 1: integration with other parts of Disney. Now, can you talk 220 00:12:12,600 --> 00:12:14,920 Speaker 1: about how it's changed as a business from year one 221 00:12:15,000 --> 00:12:18,480 Speaker 1: now that you're in year three? Yeah, I think that. 222 00:12:19,000 --> 00:12:22,520 Speaker 1: You know, year one was a year unlike anything I'd 223 00:12:22,520 --> 00:12:27,720 Speaker 1: ever experienced professionally, because it was literally every corner of 224 00:12:27,760 --> 00:12:30,720 Speaker 1: the Walt Disney Company sort of got behind it. They 225 00:12:30,800 --> 00:12:33,679 Speaker 1: knew how great this could be. It could enhance everything. 226 00:12:34,400 --> 00:12:39,080 Speaker 1: We've shot episodes at the Alani, We've had Disney Nights, 227 00:12:39,120 --> 00:12:41,080 Speaker 1: so it's really been one of those things that's just 228 00:12:41,160 --> 00:12:45,320 Speaker 1: been a great sort of brand enhancement. And I think 229 00:12:45,360 --> 00:12:49,440 Speaker 1: now the big question was is there still room for idol? 230 00:12:49,559 --> 00:12:51,720 Speaker 1: We're people sick of it, and I think we saw 231 00:12:51,920 --> 00:12:54,840 Speaker 1: that there is. You know, it's not what it was 232 00:12:55,200 --> 00:12:58,800 Speaker 1: fifteen years ago. But I don't know that anything is 233 00:12:59,280 --> 00:13:01,960 Speaker 1: could be. But what we have seen is that there 234 00:13:02,200 --> 00:13:06,080 Speaker 1: is this is an audience that has incredibly loyal following 235 00:13:06,160 --> 00:13:08,520 Speaker 1: and a four quadrant following that, this is a show 236 00:13:08,520 --> 00:13:11,520 Speaker 1: that people watch together. The fact that we had this 237 00:13:11,720 --> 00:13:14,120 Speaker 1: room on Sunday night to which just feels like that 238 00:13:14,240 --> 00:13:17,120 Speaker 1: was always the family night. This show just sort of 239 00:13:17,360 --> 00:13:20,040 Speaker 1: fits like a glove on our Sunday night schedule. And 240 00:13:20,080 --> 00:13:22,280 Speaker 1: we look at what we had before and what we 241 00:13:22,360 --> 00:13:25,360 Speaker 1: have now with IDOL, and it's just great. So we 242 00:13:25,600 --> 00:13:28,360 Speaker 1: just consider ourselves really lucky to have it, and it's 243 00:13:28,360 --> 00:13:32,440 Speaker 1: one of those things that's just helped strengthen everything that 244 00:13:32,600 --> 00:13:35,960 Speaker 1: the network things around it. I think it's paired really 245 00:13:36,000 --> 00:13:39,280 Speaker 1: well with the rookie this year UM, so it's good. 246 00:13:39,320 --> 00:13:43,760 Speaker 1: And everyone's credited here too. They really, from a marketing 247 00:13:43,800 --> 00:13:47,240 Speaker 1: standpoint scheduling everything, they have not taken their foot off 248 00:13:47,280 --> 00:13:49,240 Speaker 1: the gas. I mean, they still treat it like an 249 00:13:49,280 --> 00:13:52,280 Speaker 1: important asset UM and I think that's been really helpful. 250 00:13:54,280 --> 00:13:56,959 Speaker 1: And you're taking UM, as you mentioned earlier, you are 251 00:13:57,000 --> 00:14:00,600 Speaker 1: taking another you know, very high watted brand name for 252 00:14:00,679 --> 00:14:05,600 Speaker 1: ABC who wants to be a millionaire and bringing it 253 00:14:05,640 --> 00:14:09,160 Speaker 1: back with with Jimmy Kimmel. Jimmy, you've got Jimmy Kimmel. Uh. 254 00:14:09,559 --> 00:14:13,000 Speaker 1: His productivity has definitely stepped up under your tenure heading 255 00:14:13,000 --> 00:14:17,280 Speaker 1: the department between Millionaire and the Live from his Studio, 256 00:14:17,480 --> 00:14:21,560 Speaker 1: Live with the Studio audience, Uh specials. I butchered that name, 257 00:14:21,600 --> 00:14:25,640 Speaker 1: but yeah, I mean I've always I started in light 258 00:14:25,840 --> 00:14:28,040 Speaker 1: when I started ABC started late night, So I go 259 00:14:28,160 --> 00:14:30,640 Speaker 1: back with Jimmy almost to the beginning of the show, 260 00:14:30,960 --> 00:14:35,200 Speaker 1: and it's been really lucky. I mean, and before all that, 261 00:14:35,280 --> 00:14:37,000 Speaker 1: I remember I used to listen to as Jimmy the 262 00:14:37,000 --> 00:14:39,800 Speaker 1: sports guy at KA Rock and watched all this Comedy 263 00:14:39,840 --> 00:14:42,960 Speaker 1: Central stuff. So I feel like I really go back 264 00:14:43,000 --> 00:14:46,200 Speaker 1: with Jimmy, and um, it has been great to sort 265 00:14:46,200 --> 00:14:49,120 Speaker 1: of watch him become. I mean, I always think he's 266 00:14:49,160 --> 00:14:51,920 Speaker 1: been sort of the face of the net work. But 267 00:14:52,040 --> 00:14:56,480 Speaker 1: now to your point from a produce oreal standpoint, from 268 00:14:56,560 --> 00:15:00,280 Speaker 1: now he's hosting in prime time, Uh, watching a late 269 00:15:00,360 --> 00:15:04,240 Speaker 1: night show really become I think, you know, for my money, 270 00:15:04,320 --> 00:15:07,840 Speaker 1: he's the best monologue, the best interviewers. So it's been 271 00:15:07,960 --> 00:15:10,640 Speaker 1: sort of great to do this. But this has been 272 00:15:10,840 --> 00:15:15,360 Speaker 1: really exciting. I mean, Millionaire, Michael Davies, who produced the original, 273 00:15:15,360 --> 00:15:18,359 Speaker 1: who also goes way back with Jimmy. He's a predecessor 274 00:15:18,400 --> 00:15:21,200 Speaker 1: of yours. In Your Job as Alternative really sort of 275 00:15:21,320 --> 00:15:27,800 Speaker 1: started started the Department Um and cast one Jimmy Kimmel 276 00:15:28,160 --> 00:15:31,920 Speaker 1: as the what question reader in wind Benstein's Money. That's 277 00:15:31,920 --> 00:15:35,240 Speaker 1: exactly right. So it's all sort of come full circle. 278 00:15:35,440 --> 00:15:39,120 Speaker 1: But it's exciting. I mean, Michael came in and pitched 279 00:15:39,160 --> 00:15:42,720 Speaker 1: it and he said, it drives me crazy. That sort 280 00:15:42,720 --> 00:15:45,760 Speaker 1: of the beginning of this reality boom was Millionaire, and 281 00:15:45,840 --> 00:15:49,040 Speaker 1: I think we all remember in this thing became this 282 00:15:49,400 --> 00:15:52,800 Speaker 1: just a phenomenon, and then you had Survivor, and then 283 00:15:52,840 --> 00:15:56,680 Speaker 1: you had Idol and The Bachelor and Dancing with Stars 284 00:15:56,720 --> 00:16:00,320 Speaker 1: and Big Brother, Big Brother, and every one of those 285 00:16:00,360 --> 00:16:02,280 Speaker 1: shows that we're telling you about are still on the air. 286 00:16:02,280 --> 00:16:05,160 Speaker 1: It's a Millionaire and it drives them crazy. And he said, 287 00:16:05,240 --> 00:16:07,680 Speaker 1: you know the goal of this show was always to 288 00:16:07,760 --> 00:16:11,520 Speaker 1: be a an event, a limited event that comes back 289 00:16:11,760 --> 00:16:13,800 Speaker 1: every now and then, and that's sort of how we started. 290 00:16:13,800 --> 00:16:16,080 Speaker 1: And then it became a regular show and it burned 291 00:16:16,120 --> 00:16:19,400 Speaker 1: out and this this should be back on and I 292 00:16:19,440 --> 00:16:23,040 Speaker 1: totally agreed with him, and he sort of developed a 293 00:16:23,200 --> 00:16:26,640 Speaker 1: really special. We knew the twenty anniversary was coming up, 294 00:16:26,720 --> 00:16:30,360 Speaker 1: and he developed a way to make it feel like 295 00:16:30,960 --> 00:16:33,680 Speaker 1: an event like it did before, and a lot of 296 00:16:33,680 --> 00:16:35,440 Speaker 1: this stuff you knew and loved Pa Millionaire, but he 297 00:16:35,480 --> 00:16:39,600 Speaker 1: also really innovated, and I think it helped to having Jimmy. 298 00:16:39,640 --> 00:16:42,920 Speaker 1: And we aired a special where Jimmy said with Regis 299 00:16:42,920 --> 00:16:46,080 Speaker 1: and I think regious even you know, Reis gave his blessed. 300 00:16:46,120 --> 00:16:48,400 Speaker 1: I think he's thrilled said if anyone's going to do it, 301 00:16:48,400 --> 00:16:50,840 Speaker 1: it's Jimmy, and I think that means a lot. So 302 00:16:50,880 --> 00:16:54,240 Speaker 1: it feels like it's really true too, everything that made 303 00:16:54,240 --> 00:16:59,000 Speaker 1: it great, but it also feels really relevant. And like 304 00:16:59,040 --> 00:17:01,760 Speaker 1: I said, we did without an audience, so it really 305 00:17:01,760 --> 00:17:06,920 Speaker 1: feels relevant now. Rob on your watch, the the the 306 00:17:07,119 --> 00:17:11,680 Speaker 1: caliber and the number of game shows has really has 307 00:17:11,720 --> 00:17:15,000 Speaker 1: really climbed on ABC. Can you talk about the business 308 00:17:15,000 --> 00:17:18,920 Speaker 1: of game shows and why they're so attractive to the network? Well, 309 00:17:19,200 --> 00:17:25,040 Speaker 1: they're they're they're great. Obviously, they're inexpensive. Um, I don't 310 00:17:25,160 --> 00:17:28,520 Speaker 1: necessary for whatever reason, we have not done We've not 311 00:17:28,600 --> 00:17:30,080 Speaker 1: had one, and I don't think we've had one that 312 00:17:30,119 --> 00:17:32,760 Speaker 1: had the caliber of success that Millionaire did back in 313 00:17:32,800 --> 00:17:36,080 Speaker 1: the day, so we haven't run the sprockets off them. 314 00:17:36,119 --> 00:17:39,679 Speaker 1: And it really sort of honestly, it started when I 315 00:17:39,720 --> 00:17:43,760 Speaker 1: first got this job. The first thing I knew would work. 316 00:17:43,800 --> 00:17:47,359 Speaker 1: I've been watching Steve Harvey on Family Feud forever and 317 00:17:47,600 --> 00:17:51,040 Speaker 1: I knew that a primetime version would work. Whatever. It 318 00:17:51,160 --> 00:17:54,080 Speaker 1: ended up being Celebrity just because we wanted to differentiate 319 00:17:54,119 --> 00:17:59,160 Speaker 1: it from the syndicated version. But it's sort of snowballed 320 00:17:59,200 --> 00:18:03,640 Speaker 1: from there. There was no you know, preconceived idea of okay, 321 00:18:03,840 --> 00:18:06,080 Speaker 1: once you know, after Celebrity Family Feud, we're going to 322 00:18:06,200 --> 00:18:10,000 Speaker 1: do eight more game shows. It just sort of worked 323 00:18:10,000 --> 00:18:13,240 Speaker 1: out that way. Uh, that worked, and then Michael Strand 324 00:18:13,280 --> 00:18:15,119 Speaker 1: came to us and said, I'm dying to do Pyramids, 325 00:18:15,160 --> 00:18:18,480 Speaker 1: so that was a no brainer. And then we started thinking, okay, 326 00:18:18,480 --> 00:18:20,280 Speaker 1: how do we make a night out of this? And 327 00:18:20,320 --> 00:18:22,879 Speaker 1: then it was okay, Match Game was great, and that 328 00:18:22,880 --> 00:18:25,560 Speaker 1: that could be a great ten o'clock show, and the 329 00:18:25,600 --> 00:18:27,960 Speaker 1: fact that Alec Baldwin wanted to do it was great. 330 00:18:28,040 --> 00:18:31,000 Speaker 1: And then these things just kept working. So it's snowballed. 331 00:18:31,080 --> 00:18:34,480 Speaker 1: And the great thing about game shows is they're all different. 332 00:18:34,680 --> 00:18:38,560 Speaker 1: I mean, they're so Jeopardy is different from Weave of Fortune, 333 00:18:38,560 --> 00:18:41,160 Speaker 1: which is different from Family Feud, which is different match game, 334 00:18:41,200 --> 00:18:45,359 Speaker 1: which is different from Millionaire. So it just was, okay, 335 00:18:45,440 --> 00:18:48,280 Speaker 1: let's just if they're good, and the fact you have 336 00:18:48,359 --> 00:18:50,960 Speaker 1: so much different and great talent that want to host 337 00:18:51,000 --> 00:18:56,160 Speaker 1: these things, Um, they really can become great, great propositions. 338 00:18:56,400 --> 00:18:58,040 Speaker 1: It's fair to say that these are you know, these 339 00:18:58,040 --> 00:19:01,239 Speaker 1: are very efficient hours of program for ABC, and that 340 00:19:01,280 --> 00:19:04,399 Speaker 1: does help make them attractive. Yes, absolutely, I think that 341 00:19:04,520 --> 00:19:07,560 Speaker 1: definitely helps. Um. I think you still don't want to 342 00:19:07,600 --> 00:19:11,040 Speaker 1: do too many of them or run them forever, but 343 00:19:11,840 --> 00:19:14,520 Speaker 1: even in the short runs they've been, they've been very 344 00:19:14,520 --> 00:19:16,720 Speaker 1: good to us. Is there something about the summer months, 345 00:19:16,760 --> 00:19:19,280 Speaker 1: like people people it's a little more casual, people are 346 00:19:19,320 --> 00:19:21,400 Speaker 1: more inclined to kind of slip into a game show. 347 00:19:21,800 --> 00:19:23,800 Speaker 1: I think that's a there's a little bit of that, 348 00:19:23,960 --> 00:19:27,000 Speaker 1: But also for us, it just was always that's when 349 00:19:27,680 --> 00:19:30,440 Speaker 1: alternative programming really kind of premiered and where we had 350 00:19:30,880 --> 00:19:33,639 Speaker 1: the time slot, So it was it was a little 351 00:19:33,640 --> 00:19:38,600 Speaker 1: bit of both. I still think absolutely you could have 352 00:19:38,680 --> 00:19:41,719 Speaker 1: game work in season. I think Ellen's Game of Games 353 00:19:41,760 --> 00:19:45,960 Speaker 1: works great. Um. I think if there were slots and 354 00:19:46,000 --> 00:19:48,480 Speaker 1: there was something that we really felt we could do 355 00:19:48,560 --> 00:19:51,840 Speaker 1: we could do more of in season. Absolutely, I would definitely, 356 00:19:52,880 --> 00:19:55,560 Speaker 1: you know, I wouldn't be against it, but I agree 357 00:19:56,080 --> 00:19:58,320 Speaker 1: there is something that the summer you just sort of 358 00:19:58,359 --> 00:20:01,199 Speaker 1: want to relax, and I mean no, the equivalent of 359 00:20:01,240 --> 00:20:03,760 Speaker 1: beach reads. You know, you just sit back and enjoy yourself. 360 00:20:03,920 --> 00:20:06,919 Speaker 1: You guys also took a great shot this past season 361 00:20:06,960 --> 00:20:09,359 Speaker 1: with Tiffany Hattish, putting her in a kind of a 362 00:20:09,359 --> 00:20:12,359 Speaker 1: different in a different role that is. You know, I 363 00:20:12,400 --> 00:20:14,320 Speaker 1: gave you a lot of credit for seeing her in that. 364 00:20:14,400 --> 00:20:16,120 Speaker 1: And as soon as you see her as the host 365 00:20:16,160 --> 00:20:18,359 Speaker 1: of kids say the darnest thing, it's like, oh my god, 366 00:20:18,440 --> 00:20:21,080 Speaker 1: of course, but to see her, to see her initially 367 00:20:21,119 --> 00:20:23,520 Speaker 1: as a good candidate, I UM give you guys a 368 00:20:23,520 --> 00:20:26,560 Speaker 1: lot of credit for that. Um, the show I thought. 369 00:20:26,560 --> 00:20:28,840 Speaker 1: I just I found the show charming. Thought they did 370 00:20:28,840 --> 00:20:33,080 Speaker 1: a really nice job of kind of adding some new elements. Um, 371 00:20:33,240 --> 00:20:35,639 Speaker 1: how was it for you guys? Oh it was great. 372 00:20:35,720 --> 00:20:38,640 Speaker 1: I mean you believe me. I wish I could say 373 00:20:38,680 --> 00:20:42,920 Speaker 1: we were complete visionaries and saw Tiffany, But honestly, everybody 374 00:20:43,040 --> 00:20:45,440 Speaker 1: under the sun wanted to be a business with Tiffany Aish. 375 00:20:45,480 --> 00:20:49,280 Speaker 1: I mean, she is the minute. You saw her in 376 00:20:49,400 --> 00:20:52,480 Speaker 1: Girls Trip and you've seen her done um Jimmy kimme 377 00:20:52,480 --> 00:20:55,040 Speaker 1: alive telling she told this story about group on if 378 00:20:55,040 --> 00:20:57,120 Speaker 1: you've ever seen it, that was sort of I mean 379 00:20:57,160 --> 00:21:00,880 Speaker 1: just you knew this woman was star. So we had 380 00:21:00,920 --> 00:21:03,520 Speaker 1: really wanted to figure out something with her and then 381 00:21:04,400 --> 00:21:07,840 Speaker 1: we were Look, we were fortunate. That's I think it's 382 00:21:08,080 --> 00:21:10,960 Speaker 1: literally just about a year ago. Last April, she came 383 00:21:11,000 --> 00:21:13,720 Speaker 1: in with this package and Eric Shots, who produces kids, 384 00:21:13,720 --> 00:21:15,800 Speaker 1: say that darnis things We had always talked about it 385 00:21:15,880 --> 00:21:18,520 Speaker 1: because that's another one too. Like you said, Cynthia, that 386 00:21:18,600 --> 00:21:22,000 Speaker 1: you just you grew up. You know you you you 387 00:21:22,040 --> 00:21:25,960 Speaker 1: loved it, you watched it. There's certain things that are 388 00:21:26,000 --> 00:21:28,240 Speaker 1: just timeless. This is one of them. And we always said, God, 389 00:21:28,280 --> 00:21:29,800 Speaker 1: if we can find the right host, it would be 390 00:21:29,800 --> 00:21:32,080 Speaker 1: great to bring it back, and he to his credits 391 00:21:32,119 --> 00:21:34,639 Speaker 1: attached Tiffany, and for us, yeah, it was like a 392 00:21:34,680 --> 00:21:38,240 Speaker 1: no brainer. We always think about gosh a f V, 393 00:21:38,400 --> 00:21:40,400 Speaker 1: which I know you're a huge fan of as well. 394 00:21:41,119 --> 00:21:44,439 Speaker 1: It is such a great it's been such an anchor 395 00:21:44,440 --> 00:21:47,000 Speaker 1: for us for over thirty years, and what is how 396 00:21:47,080 --> 00:21:49,640 Speaker 1: you keep that audience there? And this just was sort 397 00:21:49,640 --> 00:21:52,040 Speaker 1: of like, Wow, this is the perfect show to go 398 00:21:52,119 --> 00:21:55,240 Speaker 1: with it. So it was. It was really a privilege, 399 00:21:55,280 --> 00:21:59,560 Speaker 1: honestly to do it. Kids, cameras and unpredictability. What could 400 00:21:59,560 --> 00:22:04,080 Speaker 1: go wrong? Nothing? Absolutely? Actually a little more serious now, 401 00:22:04,240 --> 00:22:06,720 Speaker 1: let me ask you about, of course, another one of 402 00:22:06,960 --> 00:22:10,440 Speaker 1: your the great franchises that I know you are continue 403 00:22:10,520 --> 00:22:14,840 Speaker 1: to groom is The Bachelor, which utterly defies the gravity 404 00:22:14,920 --> 00:22:18,399 Speaker 1: of both ratings and just pop culture buzz. It is, 405 00:22:18,680 --> 00:22:20,800 Speaker 1: you know, my like a lot of my Twitter feed 406 00:22:20,840 --> 00:22:23,359 Speaker 1: is given over I think two people talking about The 407 00:22:23,359 --> 00:22:27,000 Speaker 1: Bachelor when the show is on in this environment, given 408 00:22:27,040 --> 00:22:29,959 Speaker 1: the public health situation, does that make it hard to 409 00:22:30,000 --> 00:22:31,960 Speaker 1: do that, to do a new version of that show 410 00:22:32,280 --> 00:22:34,400 Speaker 1: or a new a new season of that show right now? 411 00:22:34,440 --> 00:22:37,080 Speaker 1: Does that have to be paused to to your point, 412 00:22:37,280 --> 00:22:41,000 Speaker 1: it has sort of defined gravity and it's lasted now 413 00:22:41,160 --> 00:22:44,400 Speaker 1: it'll be it's just about twenty years old. I think 414 00:22:44,400 --> 00:22:50,000 Speaker 1: it's it'll be twenty years And I think the reason 415 00:22:50,080 --> 00:22:55,360 Speaker 1: for that is the show has not existed in a vacuum, 416 00:22:55,359 --> 00:23:00,080 Speaker 1: and it's always evolved and it's been different, and the 417 00:23:00,080 --> 00:23:02,560 Speaker 1: the venture you watch now is very different from season 418 00:23:02,760 --> 00:23:05,159 Speaker 1: one and two thous two. When I think that everything 419 00:23:05,200 --> 00:23:07,919 Speaker 1: about it has has changed and trying to update, and 420 00:23:07,960 --> 00:23:09,560 Speaker 1: so I think that'll be the case here. I think 421 00:23:09,720 --> 00:23:11,919 Speaker 1: everyone is looking at thinking, Okay, how do we do 422 00:23:11,920 --> 00:23:13,840 Speaker 1: the show now, how do we reflect the times we're 423 00:23:13,880 --> 00:23:16,560 Speaker 1: living in, how do we be nimble and how do 424 00:23:16,600 --> 00:23:19,080 Speaker 1: we get back into production as quickly as possible? So 425 00:23:19,200 --> 00:23:23,440 Speaker 1: I think that it might be different, But like I said, 426 00:23:23,480 --> 00:23:25,920 Speaker 1: it's different now than it was ten years ago too, 427 00:23:25,960 --> 00:23:29,320 Speaker 1: So it's still going to be everything you know and 428 00:23:29,560 --> 00:23:32,480 Speaker 1: I love about the franchise, and it is one that 429 00:23:32,960 --> 00:23:36,359 Speaker 1: literally we have meetings every day about it. Nobody takes 430 00:23:36,359 --> 00:23:41,720 Speaker 1: it for granted. Um, So I think that's it's still 431 00:23:41,840 --> 00:23:44,479 Speaker 1: there's absolutely a way we can do it, and hopefully 432 00:23:44,520 --> 00:23:46,160 Speaker 1: that way is going to be sooner rather than later. 433 00:23:46,960 --> 00:23:50,960 Speaker 1: When when if everything was it was, you know, as 434 00:23:51,080 --> 00:23:54,040 Speaker 1: as normal let's call it. When when would you be 435 00:23:54,119 --> 00:23:56,440 Speaker 1: going into production on a new ver, on a new 436 00:23:56,480 --> 00:24:02,159 Speaker 1: season of the show, Well, I think you would, you know, again, 437 00:24:02,320 --> 00:24:04,879 Speaker 1: everything keeps my first. That was another one too. We 438 00:24:04,920 --> 00:24:07,159 Speaker 1: stopped down for two weeks and then it was okay, 439 00:24:07,200 --> 00:24:10,199 Speaker 1: maybe it's two more weeks. Um, we still don't know 440 00:24:10,240 --> 00:24:15,080 Speaker 1: when normal is, but we're looking at as many different 441 00:24:15,160 --> 00:24:18,920 Speaker 1: variations of it as possible, whether it means not traveling 442 00:24:19,000 --> 00:24:22,640 Speaker 1: or not traveling as much, or not going by planes, 443 00:24:22,760 --> 00:24:25,359 Speaker 1: or just finding one place that we do the entire 444 00:24:25,480 --> 00:24:28,600 Speaker 1: thing in and making sure everyone is tested. And so 445 00:24:28,680 --> 00:24:33,159 Speaker 1: it's almost like you know, bachem and quarantine basically, um, 446 00:24:33,320 --> 00:24:35,560 Speaker 1: we'll look at all those things because I think at 447 00:24:35,600 --> 00:24:39,440 Speaker 1: the end of the day, this is to your point 448 00:24:39,480 --> 00:24:41,760 Speaker 1: about idol too. We just need that normal sy. We 449 00:24:41,800 --> 00:24:44,720 Speaker 1: need to know that these things uh need to be 450 00:24:44,760 --> 00:24:48,280 Speaker 1: done safely, but they can still be done. Let me 451 00:24:48,320 --> 00:24:52,800 Speaker 1: ask you. And not being entirely versed in the minutia 452 00:24:52,880 --> 00:24:56,760 Speaker 1: of Bachelor's the show, the show does it seems to 453 00:24:56,760 --> 00:25:00,560 Speaker 1: be an engine of kind of of its own you know, 454 00:25:00,840 --> 00:25:05,080 Speaker 1: sort of scandals within the contestants or within some aspect 455 00:25:05,119 --> 00:25:09,240 Speaker 1: of the production. Is that you know, this might be 456 00:25:09,280 --> 00:25:11,040 Speaker 1: a hard question for you to answer, but is that 457 00:25:11,359 --> 00:25:13,720 Speaker 1: is that in and of itself, the fact that there's 458 00:25:13,720 --> 00:25:16,760 Speaker 1: a scandal about this person or that person, or something 459 00:25:16,880 --> 00:25:20,879 Speaker 1: is revealed about that person's deep in the past. Is 460 00:25:20,920 --> 00:25:24,560 Speaker 1: that all a crew to you know, keeping the show 461 00:25:24,960 --> 00:25:27,280 Speaker 1: high in the Twitter rankings and keeping the you know, 462 00:25:27,359 --> 00:25:30,080 Speaker 1: keeping the ratings very strong. Does all that noise around 463 00:25:30,119 --> 00:25:34,080 Speaker 1: the show really help in the end. Yeah, I think 464 00:25:34,800 --> 00:25:36,960 Speaker 1: at the end of the day, I found that. I 465 00:25:36,960 --> 00:25:40,480 Speaker 1: mean I've sort of I've seen it when people don't 466 00:25:40,480 --> 00:25:42,359 Speaker 1: care as much and when they do and every then, 467 00:25:42,359 --> 00:25:44,520 Speaker 1: and I think that at the end of the day, 468 00:25:44,920 --> 00:25:48,560 Speaker 1: the enemy of this show is ampathy. When people don't care, 469 00:25:49,400 --> 00:25:53,000 Speaker 1: that's when. So I think that absolutely. I mean, you 470 00:25:53,119 --> 00:25:55,640 Speaker 1: never like the word scandal to be used with any show, 471 00:25:55,760 --> 00:25:59,280 Speaker 1: so sometime hopefully if they are, they're minor. But they're 472 00:25:59,320 --> 00:26:02,720 Speaker 1: all stuff that is relatable, you know. I mean, whether 473 00:26:02,760 --> 00:26:09,520 Speaker 1: it's getting your heartbroken or somebody leaving you for somebody else, 474 00:26:09,680 --> 00:26:12,879 Speaker 1: or wanting to be loved and not finding love, or 475 00:26:12,960 --> 00:26:15,760 Speaker 1: everybody being in love. I think that all those scandals 476 00:26:15,800 --> 00:26:18,720 Speaker 1: are scandals that we've all sort of had in our 477 00:26:18,800 --> 00:26:20,960 Speaker 1: life at one point or another. And that's what makes 478 00:26:21,000 --> 00:26:24,960 Speaker 1: the better so universal and relatable. Is everybody wants love. 479 00:26:25,800 --> 00:26:28,760 Speaker 1: It is. Those are the stories of drama going back, 480 00:26:28,920 --> 00:26:32,920 Speaker 1: you know, thousands and thousands of years. That's that's exactly. 481 00:26:32,960 --> 00:26:34,760 Speaker 1: It's a tale as all this time. Let me ask you, 482 00:26:34,800 --> 00:26:38,000 Speaker 1: when I talked to a lot of um nonfiction producers 483 00:26:38,040 --> 00:26:41,120 Speaker 1: these days, there there's a lot of is I don't 484 00:26:41,119 --> 00:26:43,760 Speaker 1: have to tell you it's a you know, the nonfiction 485 00:26:43,440 --> 00:26:49,119 Speaker 1: producing world is a group of largely small operations. Many 486 00:26:49,240 --> 00:26:51,560 Speaker 1: there's been a lot of acquisitions in the last ten years, 487 00:26:51,560 --> 00:26:54,840 Speaker 1: and there's been some roll ups into larger firms. But 488 00:26:54,880 --> 00:26:57,960 Speaker 1: if you talk to kind of the classic producer that 489 00:26:58,200 --> 00:27:01,000 Speaker 1: runs you know, that that runs his or her own 490 00:27:01,000 --> 00:27:03,439 Speaker 1: shop and you know, can be prosperous with a couple 491 00:27:03,440 --> 00:27:06,920 Speaker 1: of shows, it's it's it's hard times for these companies 492 00:27:06,920 --> 00:27:09,960 Speaker 1: that really have been the bedrock of of this community. 493 00:27:10,200 --> 00:27:12,680 Speaker 1: What is your sense from talking to people, and again, 494 00:27:12,720 --> 00:27:14,679 Speaker 1: I guess i'd say, you know, setting inside of this 495 00:27:14,800 --> 00:27:17,240 Speaker 1: this shock that we're in, but just generally, do you 496 00:27:17,280 --> 00:27:21,359 Speaker 1: feel like there's concern in that community for people that 497 00:27:21,440 --> 00:27:24,600 Speaker 1: have been very important providers of programming for ABC and 498 00:27:24,640 --> 00:27:27,560 Speaker 1: many others. Do you do you sense that people are hurting. 499 00:27:30,320 --> 00:27:32,800 Speaker 1: I haven't sensed it yet. I mean, I think that 500 00:27:33,320 --> 00:27:36,760 Speaker 1: they've been very good about being nimble and finding stuff 501 00:27:36,800 --> 00:27:40,760 Speaker 1: that either can be produced right now, whether it's remotely, 502 00:27:41,119 --> 00:27:43,720 Speaker 1: or things that can get back up on their feet quickly. 503 00:27:43,800 --> 00:27:46,880 Speaker 1: I mean, I think that you'll see, depending on how 504 00:27:46,920 --> 00:27:52,040 Speaker 1: long this goes, if scripted really gets you know, bogged 505 00:27:52,040 --> 00:27:54,800 Speaker 1: down to where it's the equivalent of a writer strike. Um, 506 00:27:55,000 --> 00:27:58,320 Speaker 1: they might be busier than ever. Um So I think 507 00:27:58,359 --> 00:28:01,520 Speaker 1: that they're busy right now. I think they don't really 508 00:28:01,560 --> 00:28:04,080 Speaker 1: have as much time to think about the hard times, 509 00:28:04,080 --> 00:28:07,240 Speaker 1: but they're busy thinking, Okay, what can I do? How 510 00:28:07,280 --> 00:28:09,440 Speaker 1: can I be be doing? Is? How can I use 511 00:28:09,440 --> 00:28:13,600 Speaker 1: this to my advantage? Do you feel like, um uh? 512 00:28:13,760 --> 00:28:15,359 Speaker 1: There's also been a lot of talk about, you know, 513 00:28:15,440 --> 00:28:19,280 Speaker 1: kind of a dearth of of certainly new formats, new ideas. 514 00:28:19,480 --> 00:28:22,880 Speaker 1: Do you feel like you have a steady stream of 515 00:28:22,880 --> 00:28:25,400 Speaker 1: of options walking through your door? Do you feel any 516 00:28:25,440 --> 00:28:29,919 Speaker 1: diminishment in you know, options or formats or pitches that 517 00:28:30,000 --> 00:28:34,520 Speaker 1: come in again prior to the prior to the current situation. No. 518 00:28:34,840 --> 00:28:38,120 Speaker 1: I mean I think that what we've learned is there 519 00:28:38,200 --> 00:28:40,560 Speaker 1: might be only a certain number of stories that could 520 00:28:40,560 --> 00:28:42,920 Speaker 1: be told, But it's how do you what is the 521 00:28:42,960 --> 00:28:46,080 Speaker 1: difference spin on that? And I think that obviously the 522 00:28:46,080 --> 00:28:48,480 Speaker 1: sort of prime example that was the mess Singer, which 523 00:28:49,400 --> 00:28:51,800 Speaker 1: is not that different from something like Dancing with the 524 00:28:51,880 --> 00:28:57,120 Speaker 1: Stars or or Idle, but it really took this this 525 00:28:57,240 --> 00:29:00,640 Speaker 1: twist on it and made it feel completely different. And 526 00:29:00,680 --> 00:29:05,600 Speaker 1: I think you're seeing that now with producers who realize 527 00:29:06,080 --> 00:29:08,680 Speaker 1: that you don't have to reinvent the wheel or do 528 00:29:08,800 --> 00:29:11,840 Speaker 1: something crazy that doesn't make sense, but it feels completely different. 529 00:29:11,880 --> 00:29:14,680 Speaker 1: But just the flourishes you put on and the things 530 00:29:14,720 --> 00:29:18,200 Speaker 1: that you make it feel different really are kind of 531 00:29:18,200 --> 00:29:20,640 Speaker 1: what what separated, and we're getting a lot of great 532 00:29:20,720 --> 00:29:23,320 Speaker 1: innovative pitches that way. I think that a show we 533 00:29:23,400 --> 00:29:26,000 Speaker 1: did last summer that's coming up this summer, Holy Moly, 534 00:29:26,160 --> 00:29:29,600 Speaker 1: which was you know, a mini golf tournament and was 535 00:29:29,680 --> 00:29:32,960 Speaker 1: kind of crazy, but the way they produced it made 536 00:29:32,960 --> 00:29:36,120 Speaker 1: it feel fresh and different, and we're really proud of 537 00:29:36,120 --> 00:29:38,680 Speaker 1: that one that there's a layer of humor there that 538 00:29:38,800 --> 00:29:41,440 Speaker 1: was that was fun and could really could really work 539 00:29:41,560 --> 00:29:45,240 Speaker 1: right now exactly. That's that's right. I think people will 540 00:29:45,280 --> 00:29:49,160 Speaker 1: be very happy when it comes back. Rob. Anybody that 541 00:29:49,200 --> 00:29:51,480 Speaker 1: follows you on Twitter knows that you are a true 542 00:29:51,520 --> 00:29:54,560 Speaker 1: student of television and a big fan. What is your Twitter? 543 00:29:54,800 --> 00:29:57,680 Speaker 1: What is your Twitter handle? It's you know, it's very 544 00:29:57,760 --> 00:30:00,840 Speaker 1: complicated because I sort of signed on knowing what Twitter 545 00:30:01,040 --> 00:30:02,960 Speaker 1: was all these years ago. I probably would have ate 546 00:30:03,080 --> 00:30:06,440 Speaker 1: it simple, but it's it's nil z M I L 547 00:30:06,560 --> 00:30:10,040 Speaker 1: L S Y one one three step four So all right, 548 00:30:10,080 --> 00:30:14,479 Speaker 1: well my birthday January thirteenth. N Well, now we'll remember 549 00:30:14,480 --> 00:30:17,320 Speaker 1: to send you a present. But any you know TV fans, 550 00:30:17,440 --> 00:30:20,680 Speaker 1: fans of kind of interesting arcane TV should follow that 551 00:30:20,840 --> 00:30:24,640 Speaker 1: because Rob is a good poster. Um, tell me so again. 552 00:30:24,840 --> 00:30:27,200 Speaker 1: Knowing that from your Twitter feed, what was it that 553 00:30:27,320 --> 00:30:30,760 Speaker 1: got you into the business? How did what? What made 554 00:30:30,800 --> 00:30:34,440 Speaker 1: you want to become a become an executive? It sort 555 00:30:34,440 --> 00:30:37,280 Speaker 1: of suited me perfectly because you get to develop things 556 00:30:37,320 --> 00:30:40,880 Speaker 1: and be creative. But I do like the business aspect. 557 00:30:40,920 --> 00:30:43,880 Speaker 1: I love getting the ratings every morning and seeing what's 558 00:30:43,880 --> 00:30:46,880 Speaker 1: worked and what didn't. And that's something I always liked 559 00:30:46,920 --> 00:30:50,840 Speaker 1: growing up too. So I'm incredibly lucky. What opened the 560 00:30:50,880 --> 00:30:52,840 Speaker 1: door to you? Like? What what started you on on 561 00:30:52,960 --> 00:30:57,280 Speaker 1: the path that you're on, uh, in terms of just 562 00:30:57,360 --> 00:31:00,000 Speaker 1: this job getting here, this job, or just your career 563 00:31:00,120 --> 00:31:04,520 Speaker 1: in your career in TV in general. Well, knowing you know, 564 00:31:04,640 --> 00:31:08,000 Speaker 1: I don't think I necessary. I love film, I love TV, 565 00:31:08,280 --> 00:31:10,920 Speaker 1: So even that was sort of happenstance. I just knew 566 00:31:10,960 --> 00:31:12,520 Speaker 1: I wanted to do something, so I came out to 567 00:31:12,920 --> 00:31:18,800 Speaker 1: I came out here in nineties six after I graduated college, 568 00:31:18,960 --> 00:31:21,400 Speaker 1: and just knew I didn't know what to do, just 569 00:31:21,480 --> 00:31:23,800 Speaker 1: knew I wanted to get in, and somebody was fortunate 570 00:31:23,960 --> 00:31:27,000 Speaker 1: to say, go work at a talent agency because you'll 571 00:31:27,000 --> 00:31:30,600 Speaker 1: make context there. And again, I could have been put anywhere. 572 00:31:30,640 --> 00:31:32,960 Speaker 1: I happened to be in TV. And at that point 573 00:31:33,000 --> 00:31:36,000 Speaker 1: it was the head of uh what, they didn't even 574 00:31:36,000 --> 00:31:37,840 Speaker 1: know what to call the group. I think they got 575 00:31:37,840 --> 00:31:40,719 Speaker 1: an off network because they didn't know what alternative TV was. 576 00:31:41,000 --> 00:31:45,080 Speaker 1: This was three months before Survivor and you watched the 577 00:31:45,120 --> 00:31:50,560 Speaker 1: whole thing explode and Andrea Wong kind of there was 578 00:31:50,600 --> 00:31:53,560 Speaker 1: an opening there as an assistant to the head of 579 00:31:53,640 --> 00:31:57,520 Speaker 1: Late Night under Andrea Wong, and so she hired me 580 00:31:57,600 --> 00:32:01,120 Speaker 1: and I've been here ever since. But it was all 581 00:32:01,360 --> 00:32:04,480 Speaker 1: very kind of happenstance, just knowing that I'd be happy 582 00:32:04,520 --> 00:32:08,280 Speaker 1: kind of doing anything whatever was in this business, because 583 00:32:08,320 --> 00:32:11,520 Speaker 1: I did. I did. I absolutely loved it. Well again, 584 00:32:11,600 --> 00:32:14,480 Speaker 1: now you're now you're are an executive in charge of 585 00:32:14,560 --> 00:32:16,400 Speaker 1: a whole lot of shows that we just spoke about. 586 00:32:17,560 --> 00:32:19,840 Speaker 1: Thank you so much, Rob for taking the time out. 587 00:32:19,960 --> 00:32:21,920 Speaker 1: I hope you and your family are well and stay 588 00:32:21,960 --> 00:32:25,720 Speaker 1: well in all this and look forward to a sequel 589 00:32:25,840 --> 00:32:28,400 Speaker 1: that we can do in person. You two Cynthia, I'm 590 00:32:28,440 --> 00:32:34,320 Speaker 1: excited for that. Take care. Thanks Rob, thanks for listening. 591 00:32:34,680 --> 00:32:37,360 Speaker 1: Be sure to tune in next week for another episode 592 00:32:37,360 --> 00:32:38,360 Speaker 1: of Strictly Business.