Apr 9, 2001 12:00am PT

NBC reloads ‘Shoot’

Net pays $86 mil for two years of U laffer

ByMichael Schneider

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Michael Schneider

Variety Editor at Large

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After weeks of sometimes intense negotiations, NBC has renewed the sitcom “Just Shoot Me” in a two-year, $86 million deal with Universal Studios Network Television.

Deal keeps the Thursday night laffer on the Peacock through at least 2003 at a pricetag of about $1.8 million per episode.

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The “Just Shoot Me” renewal comes a month after NBC and Paramount inked a three-year renewal deal for “Frasier,” which means the network has locked up all of its major comedy players for next season. Web snagged a two-season deal for “Friends” a year ago, while “Will & Grace” comes from the Peacock’s NBC Studios. Hourlong comedy/drama “Ed” was renewed for a second season in January.

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“Just Shoot Me” is “consistently one of the funniest comedies on television and we’re excited to have reached a deal to keep it on NBC,” NBC West Coast prexy Scott Sassa said.

NBC is paying over $5 million an episode for both “Friends” and “Frasier.” Universal was initially said to be asking for up to $3 million per seg for “Just Shoot Me,” but later lowered that figure in exchange for a two-year pickup. Also working to NBC’s advantage: Unlike the net’s negotiations for “Frasier,” outside interest in “Just Shoot Me” wasn’t as strong. Insiders say both sides were ultimately pleased with the deal.

“NBC’s renewal of the show for two more years is a testament to the extraordinary talents of the cast and the entire ‘Just Shoot Me’ team,” said Susan Workman, exec VP at Universal Studios Network Programming.

In a complex arrangement, Universal inherited “Just Shoot Me” in 1999 after Brillstein-Grey Television (now Brad Grey TV) moved its production base from U to Sony. BGTV, which developed and launched “Just Shoot Me” with NBC, still maintains a stake in the laffer.

“Just Shoot Me,” created by Steve Levitan, will enter its sixth season next fall. Series debuted in March 1997 to strong ratings and was even a contender for the coveted Thursday 9 p.m. slot after “Seinfeld” retired in 1998. Instead, “Frasier” and then “Will & Grace” landed that time period, and the fortunes of “Just Shoot Me” declined after moving to Tuesday nights.

At one point it even looked like “Just Shoot Me” would suffer the fate of another NBC laffer, “3rd Rock From the Sun,” whose ratings never recovered after continual timeslot shuffles.

“There were several times over the last five or six years where we were very concerned that we were going to be canceled, and everyone forged through that,” said BGTV principal Brad Grey. “Miraculously, here we are today.”

Must see ‘Shoot Me’

“Just Shoot Me” saw its ratings luster return this season in the plum Thursday spot between “Will & Grace” and “ER.” Season-to-date, the laffer has averaged an 8.8 rating/21 share among adults 18-49, up 87% from last year (on Tuesdays). Show has also received five Emmy Award and five Golden Globe nominations.

Levitan and Grey exec produce the laffer, along with Marsh McCall, Don Woodard, Tom Maxwell and Bernie Brillstein. Laura San Giacomo, George Segal, Enrico Colantoni, David Spade and Wendie Malick star.

“Just Shoot Me” heads into off-net syndication this fall; Columbia TriStar TV Distribution sold the sitcom to Fox’s WNYW New York, Tribune’s KTLA Los Angeles and Newsweb’s WPWR Chicago.

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