MacDailyNews Take: We imagine the cheers must have been deafening.
Carter continues, “In an interview at NBC’s executive offices, Mr. Zucker, who is 45, said the decision to leave the only employer he has ever worked for — a decision that he acknowledged was not his own choice — became inevitable after a meeting two weeks ago with Steve Burke, Comcast’s chief operating officer… ‘Look, I knew from the day this was announced that this was a possibility,’ Mr. Zucker said. ‘“I wasn’t going to shut the door on anything. But in the last nine months it became increasingly clear that they did want to put their own team in place — and I didn’t want to end up being a guest in my own house.'”
MacDailyNews Take: Basement, Jeffie, not house. Right where you put it.
Carter continues, “While he often faced withering criticism in Hollywood circles for his leadership of the entertainment division of the NBC network — in his note to the staff he mentioned the ‘ups and downs’ the company had experienced — Mr. Zucker said he did not detect ‘any particular reason’ beyond the broad desire for new leadership for Comcast’s inclination to make a change.”
MacDailyNews Take: Here’s the reason: You suck and you’re a visionless schmuck who took a once-great network and reduced it to a perennial ratings basement dweller. It’s not difficult to detect the reason why you finally got the pink slip you’ve deserved for so long, Jeffie.
Carter continues, “Mr. Zucker conceded that his legacy at NBC would be colored by what he called “the rap on me,” which has centered on his failure to solve chronic problems in the most high-profile (if not the most high-earning) part of the NBC empire, the prime time hours on the broadcast network. ‘Do I wish we’d had more success at NBC Entertainment in recent years? Yes, of course,’ Mr. Zucker said. He acknowledged one recent widely publicized blunder, the effort to shift NBC’s late-night star Jay Leno to prime time. He said the move had been a risk worth taking, but one ‘that simply didn’t work out.'”
Carter reports, “As for his future, Mr. Zucker said: ‘I don’t know. I never really thought about it because for 24 and a half years I only thought about this place. I have a lot of interests, producing, politics, sports, business.’ Friends have previously suggested Mr. Zucker might try to enter political life. ‘Am I interested in politics? Yes,’ he said. ‘Is it something I am going to do right away? No.'”
MacDailyNews Take: Oh, for God’s sake, that’s all we need, yet another visionless politician. Can you please move to another country before you jump into politics, Jeff?
Full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: Congrats, NBCU! There’s hope for you yet! May NBCU’s next CEO have a clue and a clear vision for the future (hint, hint: Apple TV).
[Thanks to MacDailyNews Readers “Terry P.” and “Jay in DC” for the heads up.]
