Execs ought to like TV

On the most recent Television Critics Association press tour, NBC publicists were ticked off at the critics — not unusual. The reason, however, was all but unprecedented.

NBC flacks believed that network president Jeff Zucker had been booed by the critics. Which isn't true. But it could well have been.

It happened when critics visited the Paramount backlot in Hollywood to interview the cast of "Frasier." Zucker was on hand, but there was no need for him to say anything. When we were told he had some "important remarks," there was an audible groan from the assembled critics.

It was not booing. It was not planned. It was spontaneous. And I'll admit I was one of those who groaned.

Zucker is not popular with the critics. In an industry filled with ruthless braggarts and unabashed self-promoters, Zucker still stands out. His lengthy filibusters in press conferences and teleconferences extolling all things NBC and Zucker have become infamous. And painful to endure.

Still, such an open display of antipathy by the critics toward an executive is far from the norm. Even "Frasier" star Kelsey Grammer could only say, "Now, now. . . . Tough crowd."

The fact is that CBS President Les Moonves brags about as much as Zucker does, and yet he's rather popular with critics. Sure, he's got the sense of humor Zucker lacks — and he's a former actor who knows how to play a crowd — but what makes the difference in critics' attitude is the difference in attitude between the two men.

Moonves clearly loves TV. He clearly has a passion for the medium and his job.

Zucker, however, might just as well be running the widget division of General Electric instead of the television division. His passion is ratings, profit and stock prices, not programming.

And it shows. This is a guy who has, in a lot of ways, dumbed down once-proud NBC. His biggest successes since taking over as the network's chief programmer in December 2000 are reality shows — and most of them are nothing to be proud of, unless you consider bug-eating on "Fear Factor" to be an accomplishment.