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The Business

Littlefield on NBC's 'Must See TV' Era

Former network chief Warren Littlefield recounts stories from his new book, "Top of the Rock: Inside the Rise and Fall of Must See TV."

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By Kim Masters • May 14, 2012 • 28m Listen

Will & Grace, ER and Seinfeld are just a few of the iconic shows that made NBC's 'must see TV' era. Former network chief Warren Littlefield recounts stories from his new book, Top of the Rock: Inside the Rise and Fall of Must See TV. He talks about the origin of Will & Grace and how The Cosby Show made Seinfeld a hit. He also looks at the role that tragedy and fame played in Kelsy Grammer's life, how Jeff Zucker took NBC in a radically different direction after Littlefield was let-go, and how CBS is the number one broadcast network because it knows who it is.

Today's Banter Topics:

- AMC Theaters is in talks to sell all (or part of itself) to the Chinese Theater company, Wanda Group

- Discovery earnings down, partly due to losses born from the Oprah Winfrey Newtork's struggles

- NBC and FOX announce some new shows they'll reveal to advertisers at the Upfronts in NY

Interstitial music, post-Banter: "1901" by Phoenix

Midshow: "Shake"

Outro music: "Diversion" by Marc Ronson

  • https://images.ctfassets.net/2658fe8gbo8o/AvYox6VuEgcxpd20Xo9d3/769bca4fbf97bf022190f4813812c1e2/new-default.jpg?h=250

    Kim Masters

    partner/writer at Puck News, host of KCRW's “The Business.”

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    Darby Maloney

    Producer

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