The TV Zone

Woohoo! Still one big happy family...

Kevin Reilly, Fox boss, told critics, writers, bloggers and assorted other troublemakers in BH this morning that "there's no cause for panic" on "The Simpsons" front, and that "I'd love to see it go on forever, but it won't." Numbers - which soured over the last few seasons - are basically fine, he said, but he did note that he's stepped up animated production at Fox just in case. Or, as he put it, "I don't want to be caught short on my watch...without having the next generation" in place. Some critic punk - wait, that was ME - asked if there was a deal for a 21st season and why Fox didn't give "Simps" a multiyear show deal when it gave the key voicers a multi-year one? He looked at me as though I'd downed two bottles of cheap vodka then appealed to his top execs in back, joking: "Is this something else you haven't told me?" They said that in fact, show was in the midst of production on its 21st...So that, friends, is real news. Fox just in June would only say that it had signed Gracie Films/ show-runners to a 20th which then sparked speculation about a 21st, and whether the show had become too expensive, etc.

Meanwhile, ...here's what else Kev had to say about...

* "24: Exile": Contrary to annoying reports, this November episode will be a STANDALONE, period. Again, there's been confusion over whether it might be the first two hours of the day that'll pick up in January. No, no, no. Banish the thought. The idea for the movie, he said, came up when he and Howard Gordon were batting around ideas for a possible webisode; HG said the idea he came up with could work fine on the boob tube, instead.

* Writers strike: Yes, it had an impact but not a horrific one, in part because web's spreading out development anyway, so that the pitches, pilots, etc., are spread out over the entire year. He'll see a total of eight this December, which means a lotta new product (possibly) on Fox next winter.

* Osbournes: Who the hell greenlighted that nutty idea, someone wondered. "A great bet to make," he said with absolute conviction. "This is zigging while the other guys are zagging." Oh yes...

* "The Moment of Truth:" Has Fox really gone to the dogs with this beast (I'm paraphrasing here, but you get the idea)? "This is Fox. We're never going to give up our DNA...No excuses for it."

* Comedy: In his own network-suitish way, he admitted that most of it sucked, and sucked really bad, and as a result, a lot of sitcom writers have lost their confidence, etc. but that he's gonna suggest to 'em that those who pitch the network should first go out and shoot something shortish, and not-ready-for-air, and - implication here, in reference to the Affleck/Kimmel vid that got such a huge splash - maybe even get a web following first.

* Bad network ratings: 'Nother good question came up on lousy network ratings and why people simply aren't watching TV anymore (again, I paraphrase for dramatic effect here). Said Kev, yeah, "it's down [but] I'd hope this fall is a reset. " He reminded us that everyone had pretty much written off the feature film industry a few years ago, and then look what's happened since.

(Photo: Courtesy of the wonderful people at Fox...)