THE BIZ: Zucker tries to fill NBC tough spot.(Jeff Zucker, 8:30-9:00 p.m. timeslot)(Brief Article)(Editorial)

Advertising Age, January, 2002 by Goetzl, Edited By David

When Jeff Zucker stood before advertisers at NBC's upfront fandango last May-his first as president of NBC Entertainment-he gushed about his solution to the network's weakest link: the 8:30-9 p.m. timeslot on must-see Thursdays. He offered up the comedy ``Inside Schwartz.''

For years, NBC executives have failed to place a hit in what had come to be known as ``walk the dog time,'' but Mr. Zucker was confident the show about an aspiring sportscaster and his romantic adventures would score. Now, at midseason, ``Schwartz'' is gone and the network's 8:30 problem persists.

For Mr. Zucker, the former legendary producer of ``Today,'' a solution remains critical to his legacy as he starts his second year in his new job. ``If I do nothing else, that would...

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