NBC names Bruce Helford showrunner of Newlyweds after Gail Lerner's firing
NBC and Universal Television have hired sitcom veteran Bruce Helford to run the new comedy Newlyweds, replacing co-creator Gail Lerner, who said she was fired over "creative differences". The show premieres Oct. 23.
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The story, neutrally told
Centre · 2NBC and Universal Television have hired sitcom veteran Bruce Helford, former showrunner of The Conners, as the new showrunner of the freshman comedy Newlyweds. DeadlineN “hiring sitcom veteran Bruce Helford (The Conners) as new showrunner to replace Gail Lerner who was fired last Friday.” Read at Deadline ↗ TVLineN “has signed on to be the new showrunner of the freshman sitcom, following the exit of co-creator Gail Lerner” Read at TVLine ↗ Left · 2He replaces co-creator Gail Lerner, who announced in an Instagram post on Oct. 9 that she had been fired, saying the reason she was given was "creative differences". VarietyLC “Lerner announced that she had been fired on Oct. 9, writing in an Instagram caption, “The reason I’ve been given is ‘creative differences.’” Read at Variety ↗ The Hollywood ReporterLC “Helford replaces series co-creator Gail Lerner, who said in an Instagram post last week that she was fired from Newlyweds over creative differences.” Read at The Hollywood Reporter ↗ Centre · 1NBC and Peacock Scripted Content President Lisa Katz told Deadline on the day of the firing that it "truly was an instance of creative differences", and that the network was still committed to the show and working to find the right person to move forward. DeadlineN ““That truly was an instance of creative differences, and we feel like that concept of a romantic comedy in a multi-cam format was very winning.” Read at Deadline ↗
Left · 2Lerner said she was sad to leave "the most joyous TV experience of my life" and that the first six episodes were made under her leadership. She keeps her credit as an executive producer alongside Helford. VarietyLC “the first six episodes were made under my leadership, and I wouldn’t change a thing.”” Read at Variety ↗ The Hollywood ReporterLC “Lerner will remain credited as an executive producer along with Helford, Curtis, Eric Tannenbaum, Kim Tannenbaum and Jason Wang” Read at The Hollywood Reporter ↗ Centre · 1According to Deadline, Newlyweds was on a previously scheduled weeklong hiatus, which is now extended to give Helford time to get up to speed. The show filmed Episode 8 of its 13-episode order on the Friday Lerner was fired, and production will resume in November. DeadlineN “The break will now be extended, giving Helford time to get up to speed on the series”“Production will resume in November.” Read at Deadline ↗ Mixed · 2Helford's credits include co-creating The Drew Carey Show and George Lopez, and writing and executive producing Roseanne, its revival and The Conners. Deadline also cites Anger Management, with Charlie Sheen, and notes that he is known mostly for male-lead and family sitcoms, so a romantic comedy "may seem like a stretch". VarietyLC “His credits include “The Drew Carey Show,” “The Norm Show” starring Norm Macdonald, “George Lopez” and more.” Read at Variety ↗ DeadlineN “Helford is known mostly for male-lead and family sitcoms (the list also includes The Norm Show and Kevin Can Wait), so doing a rom-com may seem like a stretch for him.” Read at Deadline ↗
Centre · 1Deadline also notes that one of Helford's first writing jobs was on Anything But Love, the 1989 ABC sitcom that starred Jamie Lee Curtis, who co-created Newlyweds and appears in it. DeadlineN “One of his first writing jobs was actually on the 1989 ABC sitcom Anything But Love, about the romance of co-workers played by leads Curtis and comedian Richard Lewis.” Read at Deadline ↗ Mixed · 2Newlyweds stars Téa Leoni and Tim Daly, who are married in real life, as a couple who marry impetuously after a whirlwind courtship. Curtis, Emma Meisel, Ignacio Diaz-Silverio and Bill O'Neill are also in the cast, and the series premieres Friday, Oct. 23 at 8:30 p.m. on NBC. TVLineN “"Newlyweds" — premiering Friday, October 23 at 8:30 p.m. on NBC — is billed as "a later-in-life love story"” Read at TVLine ↗ VarietyLC “Along with Leoni and Daly, the cast includes Curtis, Emma Meisel, Ignacio Diaz-Silverio and Bill O’Neill.” Read at Variety ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.
Left2 outlets
- Framing
- Trade reports of the hire that lead with Lerner's firing and quote her Instagram statement.
- Emphasis
- Lerner's own words and Helford's credits.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Neither carries NBC's comment or the extended hiatus.
- Charged language
- “Firing”
- For example
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“After Gail Lerner’s recent announcement that she’d been fired as the showrunner of “Newlyweds,”” — Variety
“Helford replaces series co-creator Gail Lerner, who said in an Instagram post last week that she was fired from Newlyweds over creative differences.” — The Hollywood Reporter
Centre2 outlets
- Framing
- Deadline presents the hire as NBC bringing in a 'steady hand', with production detail; TVLine reports the hire more briefly as 'a new boss behind the scenes'.
- Emphasis
- Production schedule, NBC's comment, Helford's track record with big personalities.
- Leaves out or plays down
- TVLine does not mention the hiatus or NBC's comment.
- Charged language
- “steady hand”“stretch”
Right0 outlets
No right outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
What every side reports
- Bruce Helford is the new showrunner of Newlyweds.
- Gail Lerner, co-creator, said she was fired over 'creative differences' and keeps an executive producer credit.
- Newlyweds premieres Oct. 23 on NBC; Universal Television is the studio.
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Bruce Helford has been hired as the new showrunner of Newlyweds.
Reported- Reports 4
- The Hollywood Reporter, Variety, Deadline, TVLine
-
Gail Lerner was fired from Newlyweds, with the reason given as creative differences.
Reported- Reports 4
- The Hollywood Reporter, Variety, Deadline, TVLine
Left2 articles
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NBC’s ‘Newlyweds’ Names Bruce Helford as New Showrunner
Neutral Straightforward hire report quoting Lerner's post and listing credits.
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‘The Conners’ Boss Bruce Helford Hired to Run ‘Newlyweds’ at NBC After Gail Lerner’s Firing
Neutral Reports the hire as following Lerner's firing, with her Instagram quote and Helford's credits.
Centre2 articles
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Mixed Frames Helford as a steady hand while noting rom-com may be a stretch, and adds NBC's comment and the hiatus.
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TVLineN ·
NBC's Newlyweds Adds Former Conners Boss As New Showrunner After Co-Creator Exit
Neutral Brief report on Helford signing on after Lerner's exit.
Right0 articles
No coverage yet.
- 15 Oct 19:00 First The Hollywood ReporterLC NBC’s ‘Newlyweds’ Names Bruce Helford as New Showrunner
- 15 Oct 19:00 First DeadlineN ‘Newlyweds’: Bruce Helford Tapped As New Showrunner In ‘Anything But Love’ Reunion With Jamie Lee Curtis, Production Hiatus Extended
- 15 Oct 19:00 First VarietyLC ‘The Conners’ Boss Bruce Helford Hired to Run ‘Newlyweds’ at NBC After Gail Lerner’s Firing
- 15 Oct 19:00 First TVLineN NBC's Newlyweds Adds Former Conners Boss As New Showrunner After Co-Creator Exit
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.
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