About a month and half ago, Bob Greenblatt stood proud in front of a room of people who have lampooned him and his network for the past few years. At long last, his once moribund network had rebounded to become the number one network in the coveted demographics. There would be a time for modesty, but those on top have no need for false modesty. Now was the time to celebrate the successes of the network, not a time to hide behind the humble curtain. After all, the network had plenty of enticing returning and new offerings to bridge the gap during the fallow period before the return of their big moneymakers "The Voice" and "Revolution".
Just like a character in a Greek tragedy, NBC is in the midst of its tumble from greatness. It has to gouge out its eyes, but it is impossible not to notice the castles built by their early fall programming were made entirely of sand. According to The Huffington Post, the one-time first place network has tumbled into fifth place behind Univision during February sweeps. Suddenly, all of those "NBC is back!" taglines seem pretty ridiculous. Once promising comedies "Go On" and "The New Normal" have nosedived without "The Voice" to prop them up, and the retooled "Smash" has absolutely bottomed out.
So what's left for NBC? Well, it is too soon for a complete write-off of the network for the season. If "The Voice" and "Revolution" can return in March with strong numbers, then the season is salvageable. However, if the audiences for either show don't return to their fall levels, then it will be another summer spent back at the drawing board for the former network kingpin.
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