TV execs say dumbest things

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. — As the latest installment of the Television Critics Association press tour gets under way here, it is educational to look back at some of the comments made by the folks who run the broadcast networks when they addressed us six months ago.

OK, it's not really educational. But it is kind of fun when you review those comments with an eye toward, well, dumbness. Fun for me, anyway.

Here are a few selected highlights, chosen by me with the sole intent of amusing you. (And if it seems like I'm picking on the NBC execs, well, they said the most dumb stuff. And if it seems like I'm ignoring the WB execs, well, they didn't say much of anything, period.)

"On Fridays, we took control of the night by introducing 'Medical Investigation,' this season's number one Friday series," NBC Universal chief Jeff Zucker said.

"Medical Investigation" was canceled weeks later.

"I think we're thrilled with Taye Diggs, and we're thrilled with 'Kevin Hill.' We love the concept of the show. We've been very happy with the show," said UPN Entertainment president Dawn Ostroff. . . . She canceled the show in May.

"Well, I certainly think that in the fourth iteration of a show, one can anticipate seeing some audience dispersion," then-Fox Entertainment president Gail Berman said of "American Idol" ratings.

Actually, ratings went up. But she was playing possum.

"We're not where we want to be, but we're still quite strong in the post-'Friends' era," NBC's Zucker said.

Oh, yes, fourth place in the ratings is "quite strong."

"Is it possible it will be on later than March 9? Yes, it's possible," Viacom co-COO and CBS chieftain Les Moonves said of plans to completely revamp "The CBS Evening News" post-Dan Rather.

Not untrue. Just a bit understated. It's mid-July, and there's still no revamp in sight.

"What changed for us was when we saw 'Point Pleasant,' we really felt we had a show that was incredibly compatible with 'The O.C.,' " Berman said, explaining why "Tru Calling" was canceled.

"Point Pleasant" was a critical and ratings disaster.

"I've seen the first five episodes, and I'm convinced it's both a distinct and compelling show that I'm very excited to premiere," Reilly said of "Law & Order: Trial by Jury."

It became the first "Law & Order" series canceled by NBC.