Trivial, this, but still, petty deluxe.

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Sources confirm that the cast of Fox's hit series Glee will not take part in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, which airs next month on NBC.

According to sources, NBC and Fox had been in discussions for weeks about the Glee stars appearing when NBC decided to opt out. No contract had been signed; however, according to insiders on set, wardrobe and choreography was in the works and the cast had been informed they'd be performing.

According to a source at NBC, Macy's made the offer to the Glee cast without consulting NBC first.

Fox network and studio reps had no comment. Neither did reps at NBC.

Fox's stars have participated in the Macy's parade before—American Idol singers have performed for the past six years.

So why the Glee diss?

Insiders tell me that no reason was given for the change. So while it's possible the higher-ups at NBC have overplayed their Glee iTunes downloads to the point of annoyance (as if such a thing could happen), it seems more likely that the pea**** net might be a little concerned about the new competition…

And yet, something tells me Glee will survive.

One NBC source pointed out that the network never promotes castmembers from competing programming, and that the Idol singers performed only after they had moved on from the Fox reality series to become recording artists.
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Betcha Jay Leno will be there, though. An act of the past who doesn't know his 15 years is up, let alone his 15 minutes.

LOL @ NBC. They're just jealous cause no show on that network does nearly as well as Glee.

quote:

Originally posted by PaulHan:
Betcha Jay Leno will be there, though. An act of the past who doesn't know his 15 years is up, let alone his 15 minutes.

Leno was still beating Letterman when he left late night; in fact, he was still beating everyone and holding onto the #1 spot. Sure, I prefer Letterman and Ferguson and O'Brien and Kimmel and Stewart and Colbert to Leno, but is it appropriate to call him an "act of the past who doesn't know his 15 years is up, let alone his 15 minutes"?

Aw, poor Glee cast can't be at the parade. Excuse me as I go cry my eyes out. *rolls eyes*

Joe, I agree it's trivial, but this is the level that NBC has stooped to. Nikki Finke of Deadline Hollywood Daily has jumped in with both feet:

"Those morons at Jeff Zucker's company have stepped in it yet again. It's bad enough NBC can't get anyone to watch its ****-poor network primetime shows, but now NBC is making sure the American public can't watch other networks' shows as well. The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade is known for annually including "cultural touchstones of the moment" in its broadcast, from every American Idol winner since the 2nd season (a Fox show), the stars of High School Musical (a Disney Channel show). Not a peep out of parade broadcaster NBC.

"But then, a month ago, the parade producers (who aren't part of NBC) invited this season's hot Fox show Glee's cast members to march and perform during the parade. "They wanted us to have the cast ride a float down the parade route and do a number at the end," a 20th Century Fox TV exec tells me. "Late last week, we confirmed that the Glee cast was able to participate, and we began to talk choreography." But on Thursday, the studio received a call from the parade producers disinviting the show.

"They called all mortified and apologetic. They said that after conversing with NBC they had to withdraw the invitation because NBC was forcing them to. According to the NBC people, the parade was not going to promote a Fox show on their air." The parade producers acknowledged to 20th TV that NBC has never vetoed a single act booked in the past. Funny thing is, Glee airs opposite NBC's Law & Order: Special Victims Unit; that's hardly the same demographic. So what the hell is NBC's problem?"

As for Leno, he is the single biggest threat to scripted TV this season, and IMO his show (not him, personally) is the main, direct reason why Southland was canceled. He and Jeff Zucker are costing writers and actors precious jobs when they erased 5 hours of drama series programming to satisfy the Chin's massive ego.

Check out this NYTimes article and see just how badly he's f'd the entire weeknight lineup. SVU's bombing at 9PM when it was clearly a 10PM show. They are a self-professed cable network now. They are not interested in putting out shows as much as saving money at every turn. They'll declare victory at the end of the day, no matter if they destroyed their own 'village' in order to save it.

And the final word on this tempest, via Glee showrunner Ryan Murphy:

"I completely understand NBC's position, and look forward to seeing a Jay Leno float."

SNAP!

This message has been edited. Last edited by: PaulHan,

This is pathetic! Shame on NBC! I can really see that their network is just so successful... My god, this makes me sick! Seeing Glee at the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade would have been great! I would have loved that, but ya know what, if NBC is gonna act like little babies then I think the Glee is better than that!

Maybe ABC won't be such a baby like NBC and allow them to perform at the Disney Christmas Parade!

Why would NBC want to promote a popular television show on their network? People don't seem to understand that AI (especially since it's like the winner) and High School Musical were NOT in direct competition with NBC programs. I understand that NBC is in a downward spiral, but no need taking cheap shots for no reason.

it's as if we're not yet aware that NBC sucks.

NBC has never promoted another network's series on the Macy's parade. Why start now?

American Idol singers are not cast members of the next American Idol season. While the Glee people wanted to be there in their capacity as singers and best selling recording artists they are on a show that is in direct competition with NBC shows. I can see where NBC is coming from in this case.

Question; haven't there been Stewie floats in the Macy's parade? I sure as heck saw them on NBC, which means NBC was indirectly pimping Family Guy.

Or not?

Maybe a Stewie balloon?

My understanding is Glee would've performed in the first hour while the parade was still making its way down the route when they have all the Broadway shows perform. The Glee cast on some random float singing 30 seconds of "Don't Stop Believing" may have been something NBC would *think* about, but having Glee as a featured performer, performing a full number would not be a smart thing for NBC to allow especially in their position now. That would be excellent promo for a show that is going up against NBC's highest rating drama which is now down in its new timeslot.

Balloon, yes

quote:

Originally posted by dryedmangoez:
My understanding is Glee would've performed in the first hour while the parade was still making its way down the route when they have all the Broadway shows perform. The Glee cast on some random float singing 30 seconds of "Don't Stop Believing" may have been something NBC would *think* about, but having Glee as a featured performer, performing a full number would not be a smart thing for NBC to allow especially in their position now. That would be excellent promo for a show that is going up against NBC's highest rating drama which is now down in its new timeslot.

Because The Jay Leno Show is in SVU's old timeslot. SVU is not a 9PM show the same that Heroes isn't an 8PM show. Maybe NBC should have just let Leno walk and then they wouldn't be this deep into sh!t's creek with their schedule in tatters because of him.