WEBVTT - How ABC Reconfigured 'American Idol' Amid the Pandemic Lockdown 0:00:06.440 --> 0:00:10.920 Welcome to Strictly Business Varieties weekly podcast featuring conversations with 0:00:10.960 --> 0:00:15.200 industry leaders about the business of media and entertainment. I'm 0:00:15.240 --> 0:00:19.200 Cynthia Littleton, business editor for Variety Today. My guest is 0:00:19.320 --> 0:00:23.880 Rob Mills, ABC's head of Alternative Series, Specials and Late Night. 0:00:24.440 --> 0:00:28.000 We recorded this via the New Information super Highway, a 0:00:28.080 --> 0:00:31.000 zoom call, with Rob speaking from his home in Los 0:00:31.000 --> 0:00:34.800 Angeles and me from my place in Sunnyside, Queens. In 0:00:34.840 --> 0:00:39.520 a lively conversation, Rob offers insights into how ABC found 0:00:39.560 --> 0:00:43.360 the way to salvage American idols live shows. He also 0:00:43.479 --> 0:00:46.199 talks about the business of game shows and why he 0:00:46.240 --> 0:00:49.200 wants to get a new season of The Bachelor in production. 0:00:49.320 --> 0:00:54.200 A s a p. Rob Mills, Senior vice president of 0:00:54.240 --> 0:00:58.920 Alternative Series, Specials and Late Night for ABC Entertainment, Thank 0:00:58.960 --> 0:01:02.800 you so much for joining us today through the magic 0:01:03.160 --> 0:01:07.760 of zoom technology flying through the airwaves. Yes, this is amazing. 0:01:07.760 --> 0:01:09.520 It's as if we were doing this in person. Cyn't 0:01:09.520 --> 0:01:12.440 thea thrilled to be here. I'm disappointed because this in 0:01:12.520 --> 0:01:15.080 fact was set up initially to be done in person, 0:01:15.240 --> 0:01:17.800 but that was not meant to be, so we are 0:01:18.160 --> 0:01:21.479 being resilient and and finding new ways to communicate, which 0:01:21.520 --> 0:01:25.319 is basically the job of the entire media and entertainment 0:01:25.720 --> 0:01:29.480 complex right now, tell us give us a little color 0:01:29.520 --> 0:01:32.840 about how you and your team have been have been 0:01:32.840 --> 0:01:36.320 continuing to program and develop and you know, make the 0:01:36.319 --> 0:01:40.000 plans that you need to keep the robust alternative series 0:01:40.040 --> 0:01:44.319 flowing to the ABC Television Network. Well, I mean, fortunately 0:01:44.400 --> 0:01:47.520 have to say, I don't think anyone has ever been busier. Uh, 0:01:47.600 --> 0:01:50.840 it's sort of been a kind of two pronged approach. 0:01:50.920 --> 0:01:52.840 One is, there's a lot of stuff we already have 0:01:53.440 --> 0:01:59.440 that's in various stages of pre pre pre production, production, 0:01:59.480 --> 0:02:02.200 and post production, so you're getting everything kind of righty 0:02:02.200 --> 0:02:05.400 and keeping those trains running. And then, as we've seen 0:02:05.440 --> 0:02:07.680 a lot of certainly on the special side, there's a 0:02:07.720 --> 0:02:10.720 lot of these specials that are being put together kind 0:02:10.760 --> 0:02:14.880 of quickly and nimbly that we're working on. We're doing 0:02:14.919 --> 0:02:18.480 the the Together at Home thing with the w h 0:02:18.560 --> 0:02:22.040 O that's gonna air on the eight Team. We're working 0:02:22.080 --> 0:02:27.160 on doing something kind of with the Disney the Disney Songbook. 0:02:27.160 --> 0:02:29.600 We're going to special there with celebrities that we're really 0:02:29.639 --> 0:02:33.520 excited about. So uh, there's there's still a lot of 0:02:33.520 --> 0:02:35.760 stuff going on. Also, you know American Idol, which has 0:02:35.960 --> 0:02:39.120 it's just getting to its live component, keeping that going 0:02:39.200 --> 0:02:41.480 and how we're going to do that, getting Jimmy Kimmel 0:02:41.480 --> 0:02:46.280 back on the air. So we've actually been coping by 0:02:46.360 --> 0:02:50.320 just keeping incredibly busy. And I'm so proud of my team. 0:02:50.360 --> 0:02:53.799 Everyone's been just fantastic and really kind of working their 0:02:53.800 --> 0:02:55.920 butt off. And has it really been like you know, 0:02:56.200 --> 0:03:01.320 everybody you know, mostly if not exclusively at home, everybody 0:03:01.360 --> 0:03:04.840 at home. Yeah, I have to say, it's amazing. I 0:03:04.880 --> 0:03:08.079 didn't even know what zoom was, how to work it's 0:03:08.200 --> 0:03:10.639 what it meant, And now I feel like I don't 0:03:10.639 --> 0:03:12.600 even remember when we did when we worked without it? 0:03:14.360 --> 0:03:17.200 You um have you have you guys had the like 0:03:17.360 --> 0:03:20.120 you know, everybody's had the story of like the really 0:03:20.160 --> 0:03:23.520 important meeting where the glitches just you know became like 0:03:23.720 --> 0:03:26.840 became part of became part of an agenda item, Like 0:03:26.880 --> 0:03:29.600 how we're working through those? Oh, yeah, we've dealt with that, 0:03:29.639 --> 0:03:33.240 but we we've powered through and found a way and 0:03:33.240 --> 0:03:35.960 and things are still still going up. How are you 0:03:36.000 --> 0:03:40.920 how do you work with producers who also are you 0:03:41.000 --> 0:03:43.040 must there must be a certain level of producer that 0:03:43.160 --> 0:03:46.400 has to be in a building somewhere with cameras and 0:03:46.440 --> 0:03:50.280 a and a control board. Or is it literally everybody's 0:03:50.320 --> 0:03:55.720 contributing their part from home. No, it really is everybody 0:03:55.760 --> 0:03:58.240 from home. I mean I think that as we keep 0:03:58.240 --> 0:04:00.880 doing these things with each specific show, like with Jimmy 0:04:00.960 --> 0:04:03.480 Kimmel that was the first one, and that was really 0:04:04.280 --> 0:04:07.560 figuring out, Okay, how can everybody do this remotely? And 0:04:07.760 --> 0:04:12.720 somebody going to Jimmy's house setting it up as safely 0:04:12.760 --> 0:04:16.400 as possible, giving giving them the stuff, the sanitized cameras 0:04:16.440 --> 0:04:19.280 and everything, and doing it there. And then somebody else 0:04:19.320 --> 0:04:22.919 remotely is there in post produssion editing the show, getting 0:04:22.920 --> 0:04:25.280 it ready. And that's how all these that's how idols 0:04:25.279 --> 0:04:29.520 gonna work. They're all. It is amazing now how equipped 0:04:29.560 --> 0:04:34.960 certainly from a technology standpoint, Um, we are sort of 0:04:35.560 --> 0:04:39.000 able to to do these jobs even with everything that's 0:04:39.000 --> 0:04:41.760 going on. It. I mean, it's just people saying, but 0:04:41.800 --> 0:04:45.520 it is. It is utterly amazing. Um, are there any 0:04:45.640 --> 0:04:49.640 are you finding any you know, benefits at all in 0:04:49.680 --> 0:04:52.600 this work process? Is are you able to be more 0:04:52.680 --> 0:04:56.800 thorough in some ways or any any unexpected benefits to 0:04:56.839 --> 0:04:59.719 this process. I think certainly it's led the way to 0:05:00.040 --> 0:05:04.799 innovation and certainly things differently and things you just wouldn't 0:05:04.800 --> 0:05:06.680 look at and having to look at it in it 0:05:06.720 --> 0:05:08.640 through a different lens. I mean, like I said, I'm 0:05:08.680 --> 0:05:13.680 fascinated to see how American Idol looks and feels when 0:05:13.720 --> 0:05:18.040 people are doing these these performances remotely and what is 0:05:18.080 --> 0:05:20.400 it like. And this is a very different way of 0:05:20.480 --> 0:05:23.400 finding a winner on that show than we normally would. 0:05:23.480 --> 0:05:26.720 So I think that it certainly is interesting and it 0:05:26.760 --> 0:05:29.080 makes you curious how it's going to be. I mean, also, 0:05:29.279 --> 0:05:32.360 just right before this started, and I know we'll talk 0:05:32.360 --> 0:05:35.080 about it more with Billionaire, that was sort of the 0:05:35.120 --> 0:05:37.320 first one we got that in under the wire and 0:05:37.360 --> 0:05:39.520 we took the audience out, and doing it without the 0:05:39.560 --> 0:05:45.000 audience made it different. And you know, in some ways, look, 0:05:45.040 --> 0:05:47.760 you you you need that audience. The host feeds off it. 0:05:47.839 --> 0:05:51.720 But it also was interesting to watch it and how 0:05:51.760 --> 0:05:55.039 you had to kind of innovate and really letting the 0:05:55.080 --> 0:05:57.679 crew kind of getting their reactions on audio and having 0:05:57.760 --> 0:06:02.400 Jimmy play more off of the contestant and the friend 0:06:02.480 --> 0:06:04.520 that they had brought to help them out. So I 0:06:04.560 --> 0:06:07.960 think that it's led to some really sort of interesting 0:06:08.160 --> 0:06:12.039 creative things that wouldn't have happened before that. And I think, 0:06:12.080 --> 0:06:14.680 no matter what, when this thing is all over, you 0:06:14.720 --> 0:06:16.919 have to be vigilant about learning. You know, what did 0:06:17.000 --> 0:06:20.039 we learn and how can we use those things in 0:06:20.080 --> 0:06:23.040 our everyday production once we get back to full speed. 0:06:23.480 --> 0:06:25.320 I mean, I think that a lot. You know, it's 0:06:25.360 --> 0:06:28.320 some of this the most sort of low tech, fuzzy 0:06:28.360 --> 0:06:32.520 shaky video has been some of the most compelling television 0:06:33.160 --> 0:06:37.440 that that we've all seen. I think that's that's exactly right, 0:06:38.160 --> 0:06:42.200 and it's just yeah, it's it's amazing, and it is 0:06:42.200 --> 0:06:45.839 a testament to you know, ow our world is really 0:06:46.320 --> 0:06:51.200 from that standpoints able to not only survive but thrive. 0:06:51.440 --> 0:06:54.720 Let's talk more specifically about Idle, which you you know, 0:06:54.960 --> 0:06:57.679 this is such your bit, such a big set piece 0:06:57.720 --> 0:07:00.080 for you for so much a prime time for the 0:07:00.120 --> 0:07:02.599 second half of the year here, so you had pretty 0:07:02.640 --> 0:07:05.599 much kind of just gotten off the ground and then 0:07:05.640 --> 0:07:07.840 like you know, not not a weekend, all of a 0:07:07.839 --> 0:07:10.680 sudden that you know, the sort of the growing awareness 0:07:10.800 --> 0:07:13.440 of of what this was gonna mean. Talk about how 0:07:13.480 --> 0:07:16.560 can you talk specifically about how you transition that from 0:07:16.560 --> 0:07:19.160 being up on its feet with a crew of I'm 0:07:19.200 --> 0:07:23.160 guessing hundreds to how you're doing it now. Yeah, I 0:07:23.160 --> 0:07:27.760 mean it was. It's so funny because everything really was 0:07:28.080 --> 0:07:32.200 trending in idolist direction. We we started, we were pacing 0:07:32.200 --> 0:07:36.120 ahead of last year. I think that the judges now 0:07:36.200 --> 0:07:40.200 three seasons in, are sort of better than ever. Their 0:07:40.280 --> 0:07:44.240 chemistry and and they're judging, They've really really gotten it. 0:07:44.320 --> 0:07:46.760 I think there arguably some of the best we've seen 0:07:46.760 --> 0:07:50.160 in those chairs. The talent was great. It really felt 0:07:50.200 --> 0:07:52.720 like this was this was a great season. Katie had 0:07:52.720 --> 0:07:55.920 announced she's pregnant, so that was really exciting every week 0:07:55.960 --> 0:07:59.160 with a bundle of joy on the way. Yeah, it was. 0:07:59.240 --> 0:08:02.480 It was all really great. We were so excited and 0:08:02.520 --> 0:08:07.000 then all of this happened and like everything and which 0:08:07.040 --> 0:08:09.520 I think is still the case, there's so much uncertainty. 0:08:09.680 --> 0:08:11.840 It was sort of like, Okay, we're gonna stop down 0:08:11.880 --> 0:08:14.440 for two weeks. It's not really going to affect us, 0:08:14.560 --> 0:08:17.920 but you know, we'll move. The goal line sort of 0:08:18.000 --> 0:08:21.440 kept moving, and then finally, I think a couple of 0:08:21.480 --> 0:08:23.160 weeks we had a couple of weeks ago we had 0:08:23.200 --> 0:08:25.800 to really say okay, we need to think about what 0:08:25.960 --> 0:08:28.160 is this show. First it was Okay, it's going to 0:08:28.240 --> 0:08:30.760 be on a sound stage within an audience, and then 0:08:30.800 --> 0:08:34.239 it was now, this thing might go longer than we're expecting, 0:08:34.280 --> 0:08:37.679 so how do we make this show? I mean, there 0:08:37.760 --> 0:08:39.200 was all sorts of things we told about do we 0:08:39.200 --> 0:08:41.280 just stop down and start back up again when this 0:08:41.400 --> 0:08:43.800 is over? But who knows how long that's going to be, 0:08:43.880 --> 0:08:46.240 and you want to keep keep it going. The audience 0:08:46.640 --> 0:08:48.760 is invested in these people now, and you don't want 0:08:48.760 --> 0:08:50.840 to have to then say, yeah, I remember six months 0:08:50.840 --> 0:08:53.800 ago these people that you really really liked, Well, they're 0:08:53.800 --> 0:08:57.679 back and they're gonna compete for American Idol. So I 0:08:57.720 --> 0:09:00.400 think that that was when we said, okay, how do 0:09:00.480 --> 0:09:04.920 we do the best version of the show at home? 0:09:05.200 --> 0:09:08.319 And to the producers credit, and they're really sort of 0:09:08.360 --> 0:09:11.560 the first ones out you know that that have to 0:09:11.559 --> 0:09:13.280 do this. We're going to be the first one doing 0:09:13.280 --> 0:09:16.600 this type of show. Uh, And they have just worked 0:09:16.720 --> 0:09:19.960 night and day to do something that's going to, you know, 0:09:20.160 --> 0:09:25.319 feel both relevant to our times but also hopefully at 0:09:25.320 --> 0:09:27.360 the end of the day, do the the main goal, 0:09:27.400 --> 0:09:29.720 which is entertained and get you invested and make you 0:09:29.720 --> 0:09:33.079 want to vote for somebody and and coron an American Idol. 0:09:33.360 --> 0:09:37.199 How um do you feel at all at the network. 0:09:37.240 --> 0:09:40.600 I'm I'm kind of guessing the sense of, like, you know, 0:09:41.360 --> 0:09:44.520 people are people need that normalcy. People want, you know, 0:09:44.600 --> 0:09:47.360 the idea that everything being shut down just adds to 0:09:47.400 --> 0:09:50.280 our dystopian feeling. And it's kind of this is your job. 0:09:50.320 --> 0:09:53.000 The show must go on. That's right, that's that's act. 0:09:53.040 --> 0:09:55.160 And that's the exact phrase we used, was the show 0:09:55.240 --> 0:09:58.800 must go on, keep it going people. Really, you're right, 0:09:58.880 --> 0:10:01.440 people want to feel that that the world is not 0:10:01.480 --> 0:10:04.520 shut down. And I know that in the grand scheme 0:10:04.559 --> 0:10:07.880 of things, this is you know, it's a singing competition, 0:10:08.360 --> 0:10:11.440 but we need to know that these things aren't. That 0:10:11.559 --> 0:10:14.640 life is not happening here. You know, we need to 0:10:14.679 --> 0:10:18.240 be present and and see everything that is going on 0:10:18.400 --> 0:10:21.880 and do everything we can to stay safe. But we 0:10:21.960 --> 0:10:25.000 also we need this more than ever. Especially we've seen 0:10:25.040 --> 0:10:29.800 how music too, especially has been really kind of you know, 0:10:30.000 --> 0:10:32.400 a cure all for for a lot of these things 0:10:32.440 --> 0:10:36.240 to avoid, keep your sanity and just lift your spirits. 0:10:36.280 --> 0:10:39.040 So hopefully we're going to do both those things, right, 0:10:39.360 --> 0:10:41.520 Can I ask you about and let me ask you 0:10:41.520 --> 0:10:45.040 about the business implications for that. I mean, I would imagine, 0:10:45.320 --> 0:10:49.600 and this is you know, with all sensitivity to the situation, 0:10:49.640 --> 0:10:52.760 I would imagine that that there is some savings, some 0:10:52.800 --> 0:10:57.280 cost savings in not having the extensive crew and all 0:10:57.320 --> 0:10:59.920 the production elements and the hair and the makeup and 0:11:00.000 --> 0:11:03.600 the costuming that you would otherwise have. You know, it's interesting. 0:11:03.640 --> 0:11:05.600 I guess we'll look and see. I'm not sure how 0:11:05.640 --> 0:11:07.920 that's all going to net out at the end. We'll 0:11:07.920 --> 0:11:13.040 look at everything and see. But but yeah, I have 0:11:13.160 --> 0:11:15.960 no idea if this is going to be cost savings 0:11:15.960 --> 0:11:18.120 because you're right, it's a little bom low tech, or 0:11:19.400 --> 0:11:20.960 is it going to cost more? Is it all going 0:11:21.040 --> 0:11:22.280 to come out in the wash? I mean, I know 0:11:22.400 --> 0:11:25.000 that the said is loaded on CBS. I mean, we 0:11:25.080 --> 0:11:29.559 could go if if things, if this thing all of 0:11:29.640 --> 0:11:33.600 a sudden was gone tomorrow, we could go right into 0:11:33.679 --> 0:11:36.960 CBS and go and do big live shows. But we've 0:11:36.960 --> 0:11:38.800 got the stage ready to go, so I'm not sure 0:11:38.840 --> 0:11:40.760 where the dollars and cents of it all is gonna 0:11:41.080 --> 0:11:43.440 pan out. Now that that'll be interesting And of course, 0:11:43.440 --> 0:11:45.920 in some cases, obviously through no fault to their own 0:11:45.960 --> 0:11:48.240 there are crew members that are still on the payroll 0:11:48.280 --> 0:11:50.800 even if they're not able to fly their trade. So yeah, 0:11:51.000 --> 0:11:53.840 that's right absolutely. How in the it's sort of in 0:11:53.840 --> 0:11:56.000 the bigger picture you mentioned some of it with the 0:11:56.200 --> 0:11:59.720 with the question for you is how is Idle change 0:11:59.800 --> 0:12:03.560 for you for ABC as a business now that you've 0:12:03.559 --> 0:12:06.280 had it a couple of years and you can you know, 0:12:06.360 --> 0:12:09.280 it's it's it's so clearly there's so much you know, 0:12:09.320 --> 0:12:12.559 integration with other parts of Disney. Now, can you talk 0:12:12.600 --> 0:12:14.920 about how it's changed as a business from year one 0:12:15.000 --> 0:12:18.480 now that you're in year three? Yeah, I think that. 0:12:19.000 --> 0:12:22.520 You know, year one was a year unlike anything I'd 0:12:22.520 --> 0:12:27.720 ever experienced professionally, because it was literally every corner of 0:12:27.760 --> 0:12:30.720 the Walt Disney Company sort of got behind it. They 0:12:30.800 --> 0:12:33.679 knew how great this could be. It could enhance everything. 0:12:34.400 --> 0:12:39.080 We've shot episodes at the Alani, We've had Disney Nights, 0:12:39.120 --> 0:12:41.080 so it's really been one of those things that's just 0:12:41.160 --> 0:12:45.320 been a great sort of brand enhancement. And I think 0:12:45.360 --> 0:12:49.440 now the big question was is there still room for idol? 0:12:49.559 --> 0:12:51.720 We're people sick of it, and I think we saw 0:12:51.920 --> 0:12:54.840 that there is. You know, it's not what it was 0:12:55.200 --> 0:12:58.800 fifteen years ago. But I don't know that anything is 0:12:59.280 --> 0:13:01.960 could be. But what we have seen is that there 0:13:02.200 --> 0:13:06.080 is this is an audience that has incredibly loyal following 0:13:06.160 --> 0:13:08.520 and a four quadrant following that, this is a show 0:13:08.520 --> 0:13:11.520 that people watch together. The fact that we had this 0:13:11.720 --> 0:13:14.120 room on Sunday night to which just feels like that 0:13:14.240 --> 0:13:17.120 was always the family night. This show just sort of 0:13:17.360 --> 0:13:20.040 fits like a glove on our Sunday night schedule. And 0:13:20.080 --> 0:13:22.280 we look at what we had before and what we 0:13:22.360 --> 0:13:25.360 have now with IDOL, and it's just great. So we 0:13:25.600 --> 0:13:28.360 just consider ourselves really lucky to have it, and it's 0:13:28.360 --> 0:13:32.440 one of those things that's just helped strengthen everything that 0:13:32.600 --> 0:13:35.960 the network things around it. I think it's paired really 0:13:36.000 --> 0:13:39.280 well with the rookie this year UM, so it's good. 0:13:39.320 --> 0:13:43.760 And everyone's credited here too. They really, from a marketing 0:13:43.800 --> 0:13:47.240 standpoint scheduling everything, they have not taken their foot off 0:13:47.280 --> 0:13:49.240 the gas. I mean, they still treat it like an 0:13:49.280 --> 0:13:52.280 important asset UM and I think that's been really helpful. 0:13:54.280 --> 0:13:56.959 And you're taking UM, as you mentioned earlier, you are 0:13:57.000 --> 0:14:00.600 taking another you know, very high watted brand name for 0:14:00.679 --> 0:14:05.600 ABC who wants to be a millionaire and bringing it 0:14:05.640 --> 0:14:09.160 back with with Jimmy Kimmel. Jimmy, you've got Jimmy Kimmel. Uh. 0:14:09.559 --> 0:14:13.000 His productivity has definitely stepped up under your tenure heading 0:14:13.000 --> 0:14:17.280 the department between Millionaire and the Live from his Studio, 0:14:17.480 --> 0:14:21.560 Live with the Studio audience, Uh specials. I butchered that name, 0:14:21.600 --> 0:14:25.640 but yeah, I mean I've always I started in light 0:14:25.840 --> 0:14:28.040 when I started ABC started late night, So I go 0:14:28.160 --> 0:14:30.640 back with Jimmy almost to the beginning of the show, 0:14:30.960 --> 0:14:35.200 and it's been really lucky. I mean, and before all that, 0:14:35.280 --> 0:14:37.000 I remember I used to listen to as Jimmy the 0:14:37.000 --> 0:14:39.800 sports guy at KA Rock and watched all this Comedy 0:14:39.840 --> 0:14:42.960 Central stuff. So I feel like I really go back 0:14:43.000 --> 0:14:46.200 with Jimmy, and um, it has been great to sort 0:14:46.200 --> 0:14:49.120 of watch him become. I mean, I always think he's 0:14:49.160 --> 0:14:51.920 been sort of the face of the net work. But 0:14:52.040 --> 0:14:56.480 now to your point from a produce oreal standpoint, from 0:14:56.560 --> 0:15:00.280 now he's hosting in prime time, Uh, watching a late 0:15:00.360 --> 0:15:04.240 night show really become I think, you know, for my money, 0:15:04.320 --> 0:15:07.840 he's the best monologue, the best interviewers. So it's been 0:15:07.960 --> 0:15:10.640 sort of great to do this. But this has been 0:15:10.840 --> 0:15:15.360 really exciting. I mean, Millionaire, Michael Davies, who produced the original, 0:15:15.360 --> 0:15:18.359 who also goes way back with Jimmy. He's a predecessor 0:15:18.400 --> 0:15:21.200 of yours. In Your Job as Alternative really sort of 0:15:21.320 --> 0:15:27.800 started started the Department Um and cast one Jimmy Kimmel 0:15:28.160 --> 0:15:31.920 as the what question reader in wind Benstein's Money. That's 0:15:31.920 --> 0:15:35.240 exactly right. So it's all sort of come full circle. 0:15:35.440 --> 0:15:39.120 But it's exciting. I mean, Michael came in and pitched 0:15:39.160 --> 0:15:42.720 it and he said, it drives me crazy. That sort 0:15:42.720 --> 0:15:45.760 of the beginning of this reality boom was Millionaire, and 0:15:45.840 --> 0:15:49.040 I think we all remember in this thing became this 0:15:49.400 --> 0:15:52.800 just a phenomenon, and then you had Survivor, and then 0:15:52.840 --> 0:15:56.680 you had Idol and The Bachelor and Dancing with Stars 0:15:56.720 --> 0:16:00.320 and Big Brother, Big Brother, and every one of those 0:16:00.360 --> 0:16:02.280 shows that we're telling you about are still on the air. 0:16:02.280 --> 0:16:05.160 It's a Millionaire and it drives them crazy. And he said, 0:16:05.240 --> 0:16:07.680 you know the goal of this show was always to 0:16:07.760 --> 0:16:11.520 be a an event, a limited event that comes back 0:16:11.760 --> 0:16:13.800 every now and then, and that's sort of how we started. 0:16:13.800 --> 0:16:16.080 And then it became a regular show and it burned 0:16:16.120 --> 0:16:19.400 out and this this should be back on and I 0:16:19.440 --> 0:16:23.040 totally agreed with him, and he sort of developed a 0:16:23.200 --> 0:16:26.640 really special. We knew the twenty anniversary was coming up, 0:16:26.720 --> 0:16:30.360 and he developed a way to make it feel like 0:16:30.960 --> 0:16:33.680 an event like it did before, and a lot of 0:16:33.680 --> 0:16:35.440 this stuff you knew and loved Pa Millionaire, but he 0:16:35.480 --> 0:16:39.600 also really innovated, and I think it helped to having Jimmy. 0:16:39.640 --> 0:16:42.920 And we aired a special where Jimmy said with Regis 0:16:42.920 --> 0:16:46.080 and I think regious even you know, Reis gave his blessed. 0:16:46.120 --> 0:16:48.400 I think he's thrilled said if anyone's going to do it, 0:16:48.400 --> 0:16:50.840 it's Jimmy, and I think that means a lot. So 0:16:50.880 --> 0:16:54.240 it feels like it's really true too, everything that made 0:16:54.240 --> 0:16:59.000 it great, but it also feels really relevant. And like 0:16:59.040 --> 0:17:01.760 I said, we did without an audience, so it really 0:17:01.760 --> 0:17:06.920 feels relevant now. Rob on your watch, the the the 0:17:07.119 --> 0:17:11.680 caliber and the number of game shows has really has 0:17:11.720 --> 0:17:15.000 really climbed on ABC. Can you talk about the business 0:17:15.000 --> 0:17:18.920 of game shows and why they're so attractive to the network? Well, 0:17:19.200 --> 0:17:25.040 they're they're they're great. Obviously, they're inexpensive. Um, I don't 0:17:25.160 --> 0:17:28.520 necessary for whatever reason, we have not done We've not 0:17:28.600 --> 0:17:30.080 had one, and I don't think we've had one that 0:17:30.119 --> 0:17:32.760 had the caliber of success that Millionaire did back in 0:17:32.800 --> 0:17:36.080 the day, so we haven't run the sprockets off them. 0:17:36.119 --> 0:17:39.679 And it really sort of honestly, it started when I 0:17:39.720 --> 0:17:43.760 first got this job. The first thing I knew would work. 0:17:43.800 --> 0:17:47.359 I've been watching Steve Harvey on Family Feud forever and 0:17:47.600 --> 0:17:51.040 I knew that a primetime version would work. Whatever. It 0:17:51.160 --> 0:17:54.080 ended up being Celebrity just because we wanted to differentiate 0:17:54.119 --> 0:17:59.160 it from the syndicated version. But it's sort of snowballed 0:17:59.200 --> 0:18:03.640 from there. There was no you know, preconceived idea of okay, 0:18:03.840 --> 0:18:06.080 once you know, after Celebrity Family Feud, we're going to 0:18:06.200 --> 0:18:10.000 do eight more game shows. It just sort of worked 0:18:10.000 --> 0:18:13.240 out that way. Uh, that worked, and then Michael Strand 0:18:13.280 --> 0:18:15.119 came to us and said, I'm dying to do Pyramids, 0:18:15.160 --> 0:18:18.480 so that was a no brainer. And then we started thinking, okay, 0:18:18.480 --> 0:18:20.280 how do we make a night out of this? And 0:18:20.320 --> 0:18:22.879 then it was okay, Match Game was great, and that 0:18:22.880 --> 0:18:25.560 that could be a great ten o'clock show, and the 0:18:25.600 --> 0:18:27.960 fact that Alec Baldwin wanted to do it was great. 0:18:28.040 --> 0:18:31.000 And then these things just kept working. So it's snowballed. 0:18:31.080 --> 0:18:34.480 And the great thing about game shows is they're all different. 0:18:34.680 --> 0:18:38.560 I mean, they're so Jeopardy is different from Weave of Fortune, 0:18:38.560 --> 0:18:41.160 which is different from Family Feud, which is different match game, 0:18:41.200 --> 0:18:45.359 which is different from Millionaire. So it just was, okay, 0:18:45.440 --> 0:18:48.280 let's just if they're good, and the fact you have 0:18:48.359 --> 0:18:50.960 so much different and great talent that want to host 0:18:51.000 --> 0:18:56.160 these things, Um, they really can become great, great propositions. 0:18:56.400 --> 0:18:58.040 It's fair to say that these are you know, these 0:18:58.040 --> 0:19:01.239 are very efficient hours of program for ABC, and that 0:19:01.280 --> 0:19:04.399 does help make them attractive. Yes, absolutely, I think that 0:19:04.520 --> 0:19:07.560 definitely helps. Um. I think you still don't want to 0:19:07.600 --> 0:19:11.040 do too many of them or run them forever, but 0:19:11.840 --> 0:19:14.520 even in the short runs they've been, they've been very 0:19:14.520 --> 0:19:16.720 good to us. Is there something about the summer months, 0:19:16.760 --> 0:19:19.280 like people people it's a little more casual, people are 0:19:19.320 --> 0:19:21.400 more inclined to kind of slip into a game show. 0:19:21.800 --> 0:19:23.800 I think that's a there's a little bit of that, 0:19:23.960 --> 0:19:27.000 But also for us, it just was always that's when 0:19:27.680 --> 0:19:30.440 alternative programming really kind of premiered and where we had 0:19:30.880 --> 0:19:33.639 the time slot, So it was it was a little 0:19:33.640 --> 0:19:38.600 bit of both. I still think absolutely you could have 0:19:38.680 --> 0:19:41.719 game work in season. I think Ellen's Game of Games 0:19:41.760 --> 0:19:45.960 works great. Um. I think if there were slots and 0:19:46.000 --> 0:19:48.480 there was something that we really felt we could do 0:19:48.560 --> 0:19:51.840 we could do more of in season. Absolutely, I would definitely, 0:19:52.880 --> 0:19:55.560 you know, I wouldn't be against it, but I agree 0:19:56.080 --> 0:19:58.320 there is something that the summer you just sort of 0:19:58.359 --> 0:20:01.199 want to relax, and I mean no, the equivalent of 0:20:01.240 --> 0:20:03.760 beach reads. You know, you just sit back and enjoy yourself. 0:20:03.920 --> 0:20:06.919 You guys also took a great shot this past season 0:20:06.960 --> 0:20:09.359 with Tiffany Hattish, putting her in a kind of a 0:20:09.359 --> 0:20:12.359 different in a different role that is. You know, I 0:20:12.400 --> 0:20:14.320 gave you a lot of credit for seeing her in that. 0:20:14.400 --> 0:20:16.120 And as soon as you see her as the host 0:20:16.160 --> 0:20:18.359 of kids say the darnest thing, it's like, oh my god, 0:20:18.440 --> 0:20:21.080 of course, but to see her, to see her initially 0:20:21.119 --> 0:20:23.520 as a good candidate, I UM give you guys a 0:20:23.520 --> 0:20:26.560 lot of credit for that. Um, the show I thought. 0:20:26.560 --> 0:20:28.840 I just I found the show charming. Thought they did 0:20:28.840 --> 0:20:33.080 a really nice job of kind of adding some new elements. Um, 0:20:33.240 --> 0:20:35.639 how was it for you guys? Oh it was great. 0:20:35.720 --> 0:20:38.640 I mean you believe me. I wish I could say 0:20:38.680 --> 0:20:42.920 we were complete visionaries and saw Tiffany, But honestly, everybody 0:20:43.040 --> 0:20:45.440 under the sun wanted to be a business with Tiffany Aish. 0:20:45.480 --> 0:20:49.280 I mean, she is the minute. You saw her in 0:20:49.400 --> 0:20:52.480 Girls Trip and you've seen her done um Jimmy kimme 0:20:52.480 --> 0:20:55.040 alive telling she told this story about group on if 0:20:55.040 --> 0:20:57.120 you've ever seen it, that was sort of I mean 0:20:57.160 --> 0:21:00.880 just you knew this woman was star. So we had 0:21:00.920 --> 0:21:03.520 really wanted to figure out something with her and then 0:21:04.400 --> 0:21:07.840 we were Look, we were fortunate. That's I think it's 0:21:08.080 --> 0:21:10.960 literally just about a year ago. Last April, she came 0:21:11.000 --> 0:21:13.720 in with this package and Eric Shots, who produces kids, 0:21:13.720 --> 0:21:15.800 say that darnis things We had always talked about it 0:21:15.880 --> 0:21:18.520 because that's another one too. Like you said, Cynthia, that 0:21:18.600 --> 0:21:22.000 you just you grew up. You know you you you 0:21:22.040 --> 0:21:25.960 loved it, you watched it. There's certain things that are 0:21:26.000 --> 0:21:28.240 just timeless. This is one of them. And we always said, God, 0:21:28.280 --> 0:21:29.800 if we can find the right host, it would be 0:21:29.800 --> 0:21:32.080 great to bring it back, and he to his credits 0:21:32.119 --> 0:21:34.639 attached Tiffany, and for us, yeah, it was like a 0:21:34.680 --> 0:21:38.240 no brainer. We always think about gosh a f V, 0:21:38.400 --> 0:21:40.400 which I know you're a huge fan of as well. 0:21:41.119 --> 0:21:44.439 It is such a great it's been such an anchor 0:21:44.440 --> 0:21:47.000 for us for over thirty years, and what is how 0:21:47.080 --> 0:21:49.640 you keep that audience there? And this just was sort 0:21:49.640 --> 0:21:52.040 of like, Wow, this is the perfect show to go 0:21:52.119 --> 0:21:55.240 with it. So it was. It was really a privilege, 0:21:55.280 --> 0:21:59.560 honestly to do it. Kids, cameras and unpredictability. What could 0:21:59.560 --> 0:22:04.080 go wrong? Nothing? Absolutely? Actually a little more serious now, 0:22:04.240 --> 0:22:06.720