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Tag: Robert Greenblatt

  • Dolly Parton: Hit Song ‘Coat Of Many Colors’ To Be Made Into A TV Movie

    A day after announcing its 2015-2016 schedule, NBC got down to the brass tacks and unveiled its plan to turn Dolly Parton’s hit “Coat of Many Colors” into a TV movie that will be aired next season.

    The made-for-TV movie pays homage to Parton’s 1971 hit, which she also claims as “her favorite.” The song, which is largely autobiographical, is about a girl whose mother made her a colorful coat out of rags given to her family. But when she wore her new coat to school, she was greeted with laughter from classmates who ridiculed her for wearing rags.

    That girl would later grow up to write hit songs like “Jolene” and “9 To 5.” She would also have her own theme park and become one of the most loved country singers of all time.

    Parton’s colorful coat would eventually be placed on display at her Chasing Rainbows Museum in Tennessee.

    NBC Entertainment Chairman Robert Greenblatt announced the news with more fanfare than expected during the network’s upfront press event.

    After announcing the news of Parton’s TV movie, the star actually walked out onstage and performed the songs “Colors” and “I Will Always Love You” with Greenblatt playing the piano.

    The special is described as a look “inside the tight-knit Parton family as they struggle to overcome devastating tragedy and discover the healing power of love, faith, and a raggedy patchwork coat.”

    Sources also say the TV movie is just the first of several Parton songs that will be adapted, as the network wants to bring more family-friendly programs to primetime.

    While being treated to two songs by Parton was a nice touch, the upfront presentation was remarkably lacking in details about where the network’s new season was going.

    Viewers and advertisers expecting an explanation on why the network seems to have abandoned comedy and news shows were left disappointed.

    But here’s hoping that the 15-minute Dolly Parton interlude was enough to appease them.

  • NBC Plans a Peter Pan Live Production

    At the Television Critics Association winter press tour in Pasadena, Ca, NBC chairman Robert Greenblatt announced NBC’s plans for the upcoming television year. He revealed Parks and Recreation seventh season renewal, and unveiled two new miniseries. The eight episode miniseries, based on an Australian drama called The Slap, follows the repercussions of slapping a non-relative child. Their other mini-series, Emerald City, is a 10-episode reimaging of the Wizard of Oz. It follows a stubborn 20-Something Dorothy battling to gain control of Oz.

    Greenblatt’s biggest announcement was NBC’s plans for a live-musical production of Peter Pan. Carrie Underwood’s live-production of The Sound of Music drew 18.6 million viewers.  The network quickly announced plans to do another live production after those numbers were publicized. NBC decided to make the production Peter Pan because it has family appeal. Children and adults can get equal enjoyment out of watching it. Additionally, NBC has done live broadcasts of Peter Pan before. In 1955, they did the famous Mary Martin version, and then adapted it again in 1956 and 1960.

    Despite the huge ratings, NBC’s The Sound of Music received poor reviews. The network is likely to use caution with their casting decisions and rehearsals this time around.

    At the press conference, Greenblatt joked that he planned to cast Miley Cyrus as Peter. Joking aside,he firmly stated plans to have a male play the role of Peter, unlike their original version. He also ruled out Justin Bieber as a possible Pan. NBC will probably try to hire someone with enough name recognition to draw in a younger audience, but also ensure that they can sing and act to please critics.

    Peter Pan is a hot topic right now for the media. ABC’s series Once Upon a Time did an entire story arc this season revolving around Pan, and there is a Pan origin movie being released next year.

    Is this too much Pan for fans?

    NBC’s live-musical production of Peter Pan airs on December 4, nearly a year after The Sound of Music’s live production aired.

    Image Via Wikimedia Commons