Studio exec slams US comedy

Studio executive Kevin Bright says his turned to teaching students how to direct sitcoms after becoming disheartened by the latest output on network TV.

His comments come despite a perceived revival in originality in the US comedy, with such shows as Arrested Development, My Name Is Earl or the American version of The Office – not to mention such non-network fare as Curb Your Enthusiasm or Entourage.

But Bright told The Boston Globe: ‘We're in a bad place. Since Will and Grace I haven't seen one original idea on network TV.’

Bright, who was also executive producer of Friends, added: ‘I like things that have something to say about society.

Joey, which launched with an audience of 18.5 million Americans, was cancelled midway through its second series, when figures had slumped to 4.1 million.

Bright blames other executives for the flop. ‘On Friends, Joey was a womaniser, but we enjoyed his exploits. [But he] was deconstructed to be a guy who couldn’t get a job, couldn’t ask a girl out. He became a pathetic, mopey character. I felt he was moving in the wrong direction but I was not heard.’

Of his own career, he added: ‘I still have an agent. I've still been getting scripts. But I'm going to be very particular about my next project.’

Published: 29 Nov 2006