Siegfried and Roy tigers in prime time!

[Bob L]

Here's intriguing news. Somebody at NBC must have a lot of faith in this program.

http://www.tvbarn.com/ticker/archives/019015.html

"EXTRA" EXCLUSIVE:
NBC PLANS TO ROAR BACK
AFTER "FRIENDS" GOES OFF THE AIR

(Burbank, CA - February 5, 2004) - NBC is planning to roar back after its hit series "Friends" is off the air next season. "Extra" has learned the Peacock has put the Siegfried & Roy-based animated series "Father of the Pride" at the front of the pack to fill the timeslot left vacant by TV's most beloved "Friends."

Sources close to the situation have revealed exclusively to "Extra" the inventive animated series - poised to become primetime's first computer generated imaging (CGI) series - is the network's top contender for their Thursday night line-up. Spearheaded and executive produced by Dreamworks' Jeffrey Katzenberg, "Father of the Pride" is about a family of white lions who work as performers in the Las Vegas act of illusionists Siegfried & Roy.

Katzenberg, the driving force behind the lucrative "Shrek" franchise, once told "Extra" he's always on the lookout for film and TV subjects. "Good ideas can come from anyplace. It's part of it, to keep your eyes and ears open and not be afraid of having a good idea come to you from any place."

An NBC spokesperson told "Extra" the network brass are "thrilled with 'Father of the Pride' but no formal decisions have been made for the fall schedule."

"Father of the Pride" was said to be in question after Roy Horn was mauled on-stage by one of his performing tigers this past October. Katzenberg visited the critically injured showman at his hospital bedside, sources told "Extra." Now, as Horn is making steps towards recovery, the series is moving forward. John Goodman, Cheryl Hines and Carl Reiner have already been lined-up to lend their voices to the project.

[Guest]

I don't watch a lot of TV, never seen Friends or any of that, but a cartoon about a pack (herd?) of tigers doesn't sound like a winner to me. They must have nothing else to put on.
Steve V

[Jeff Haas]

If you haven't noticed, in the last few years, network TV has really gone downhill. NBC, CBS, ABC, etc have all lost viewers consistently to the many choices out on cable.

They can still pull in a lot of viewers now and then for a few special shows, but overall the audience is very fragmented among the many choices out there.

So they're willing to try anything to get some kind of attention...which is why programs where people eat bugs have been on so much.

Jeff

[Jim Maloney_dup1]

According to some info I read today, the show replacing Friends will be -- not surprisingly -- Joey, a spinoff based on Matt LeBlanc's character. As interesting as it would be to see the S&R animated show, I think Joey trumps it.

-Jim

[Pete Biro]

However, it could be a "summer replacement" which makes some sense. Kids home from school, etc. :genii: