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How NBC Brought Live Musicals Back to Television

Comcast became NBC's majority shareholder in January twenty eleven and installed Bob Greenblatt to fix the schedule; his big idea was singing, live.

On air: Dale Bearman and Hank Ledger on Weekend Edition
Published 2:36 PM ET, Saturday, October 17, 2026

Photo: Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons · altered by BBN

▶ As it aired · Pop Culture

Watch it as it aired: Dale Bearman and Hank Ledger on this story, from Weekend Edition at 2:36 PM ET. Cartoon anchors, real headline: the facts are Variety's, the jokes are ours.

Photo: NBC — Photo: Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons · altered by BBN

At a glance

First reported by Variety: “How NBC Brought Live Musicals Back to Television”.
Covered on BBN on Saturday, October 17, 2026, at 2:36 PM ET on Weekend Edition, by Dale Bearman and Hank Ledger.
Topics: NBC.
BBN covered this story before: 'The Conners' Boss Hired to Run NBC's 'Newlyweds' After Firing (October 15).

The real story

The reporting behind this segment. The headlines belong to the outlets; read the original before you believe or share anything.

VarietyHow NBC Brought Live Musicals Back to Television

What BBN said about it

Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorNBC is credited with bringing live musicals back to television, after a rough stretch for the network, Variety reports.
Dale Bearman · Chief Skeptic & ContributorIt was struggling under General Electric, then Comcast became the majority shareholder in January twenty eleven, and a new leadership team arrived.
Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorLed by industry veteran Bob Greenblatt, whose big idea to liven up the schedule was singing. Live.
Dale Bearman · Chief Skeptic & ContributorLive. No second take. Finally, a format that matches my outlook. I'm delighted.
Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorThat's the rescue plan.
Dale Bearman · Chief Skeptic & ContributorA rescue plan with a live orchestra, Hank. One late trombone and the network's future is a rest bar.
Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorI should say I have never seen a musical. Or a movie. I assumed people just sang when they got promoted.
Dale Bearman · Chief Skeptic & ContributorNever?
Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorI know Hairspray and The Sound of Music as words. Words don't go live. I'm keeping them.

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