‘They Needed This Show’

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In the vein of shows like “Jon & Kate Plus 8“, TLC has consistently struck gold by showcasing unique reality TV families since around 2007. Shows such as “19 Kids and Counting“, “Sister Wives“, “Outdaughtered“, and now “The Baldwins” are part of this nearly two-decade long success story.

Similar to numerous past hits on this network, TLC’s latest series features a large, charismatic family filled with larger-than-life personalities (seven children! two nannies! various pets!). However, unlike previous families who were unknown, this one is led not by ordinary Middle Americans but by Alec Baldwin, a half EGOT recipient, and his often-tabloid-targeted spouse Hilaria. Unlike other shows on TLC that aim to make its leads into stars, The Baldwins leverages star power to create a successful reality show. In this aspect, it certainly breaks away from the traditional TLC formula, although such departures are not uncommon for the network.

In 2010, TLC attempted to cash in on the admiration for Sarah Palin from the right wing with the overly wholesome series “Sarah Palin’s Alaska.” Later in 2013, they experimented with shows featuring rapper T-Boz (formerly of TLC) and Pete Rose. Additionally, they produced 26 episodes of “Leah Remini: It’s All Relative” in 2015. However, none of these shows resonated with viewers as much as their other successful series, and so, predictably, TLC’s management continued to concentrate on developing its own roster of reality stars in the ensuing years. With the ongoing success of the “90 Day” series and newcomers like “Baylen Out Loud,” TLC continues to be a significant player in cable television. Despite experiencing the same viewer decline affecting most basic-cable channels in 2024, TLC still ranked among cable’s top five entertainment networks (excluding news channels and ESPN) in key demographics and was one of the ten most watched entertainment networks overall.

Is there any reason to delve back into the celebreality genre? That’s what Howard Lee, the chief creative officer of Warner Bros. Discovery’s U.S. TV networks, thought when considering the Baldwins. “It was quite unexpected that Alec wanted to participate in a television series, discussing openly his personal life during such a critical period,” Lee explained. “They noticed that we have other shows featuring individuals who are often misunderstood.

Last year in the spring, I became aware of this intriguing project. It was brought to our attention by the team at TLC, and the Baldwins were working with producers from Terminal B – a company backed by Tom Forman and Dave Metzler. They pitched it to potential buyers, and my curiosity was piqued when I learned about it due to all the buzz surrounding Alec’s activities. It turned out he was eager to star in a TV series showcasing his daily life, allowing cameras to capture his family’s moments. Instantly, I felt our channel would be an ideal fit for this family-oriented program, as (a) it aligns with TLC’s focus on families, and (b) I strongly believe that much of TLC’s content, like Baylen Out Loud, features individuals who have been overlooked or haven’t had a chance to share their perspective.

Was there competition among other parties vying for the program?

Including streaming platforms?
Yes.

What led you to believe the Baldwins chose TLC over other networks and platforms? Our argument was that TLC offered a perfect fit for what we had, providing balanced coverage without feeling like just another reality show. Furthermore, they recognized our potential to feature stories about people who are often misunderstood. The strength of TLC lies in giving these individuals a platform to truly tell their unique stories.

As a fan, I found myself delving into a captivating dialogue with the producers, Alec, Hilaria, and my team, as we explored the boundaries of candor, honesty, humor, and vulnerability they were willing to showcase in this series. To their credit, they desired an unfiltered portrayal, eager to reveal their authentic selves without reservation. They didn’t shy away from exposing their imperfections, and we held them accountable to that promise. What surprised us most was the level of openness they demonstrated, as even in upcoming episodes, there is nothing off-limits for discussion. Their commitment to authenticity is truly commendable, and it’s this honesty that makes a series successful, whether featuring celebrities or not.

Was the focus of the program more on Alec Baldwin’s perspective regarding the Rust trial and court proceedings, or was that not the primary consideration when commissioning this show? Instead, our intention was to delve into the emotional journey they were experiencing at home. We wanted to explore their feelings about this rollercoaster ride and whether they would share these emotions with us. I believe they found solace in this show. They feel misinterpreted. They desperately sought a platform where they could openly express their thoughts, and this was the ideal opportunity for them to do so.

1. In other words, you’ve watched more episodes than us. What key aspects do these episodes reveal about the storyline? What’s the overall narrative arc for this season?

2. In the first episode, Alec appears noticeably preoccupied with the upcoming trial. Does the mood of the show change significantly once the case is dismissed? Will it transform into a completely different series?

In the year 2025, we aim to discover top-notch projects suitable for TLC. However, our goal is not limited to TLC alone; these projects should also resonate with our partners like Max and Discovery+. This consideration is indeed a factor in our decision-making process when deciding whether or not to move forward with a project.

Indeed, there’s a notable age difference between the audiences watching on cable and those using streaming services. While traditional cable tends to cater to an older demographic, the younger generation without a cable subscription can still access these channels via streaming platforms.

It’s intriguing to observe that you haven’t shifted your focus towards targeting mythical streaming viewers like many other established companies with streamers seem to have done. Haven’t you faced pressure from Warner Bros. Discovery to create shows that would attract people to Max? While we do pay attention when shows succeed on Max and Discovery+, our primary concern remains the linear channels. We still value advertisers significantly at this point in time, but we also engage in discussions with the streaming team regularly. However, our main priority is ensuring the success of our linear channels.

Are you curious if The Baldwins might be interested in a second season? It’s unclear at this point as neither Alec nor Hilaria have publicly expressed any desire to return. However, we are eager to see if the show resonates with audiences and if the opportunity arises for another season, we hope they will consider it. As of now, we haven’t had discussions about their involvement in a potential second season.

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2025-02-27 23:54