ABC has pulled the plug on "The Stu and Lloyd Show," citing low ratings as the cause of death.
Alphabet net's Disney parents Monday ousted longtime top programmer Stu Bloomberg -- but kept in place partner Lloyd Braun -- as part of an exec reshuffling aimed at turning around the beleaguered net's fortunes. Susan Lyne, who has been in charge of ABC's successful longform unit, has been tapped entertainment prexy.
Braun, who had shared the title of ABC Entertainment Television Group chairman, will assume full day-to-day control of the unit, which oversees both the network and studio arm Touchstone Television.
Bloomberg's departure came the same day as another top ABC exec, marketing guru Alan Cohen, ankled the net for a job in the feature world.
Braun and Bloomberg both recently inked multiyear deals with ABC, which had led many to believe an exec restructuring was at least a year off. Disney execs, however, decided the situation at the net had grown too serious to ignore.
The exec shuffle comes as Disney-owned ABC suffers through one of its worst seasons ever, having fallen to fourth place among the advertiser-coveted demo of adults 18-49. An overreliance on "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire" and weak development are largely blamed for the decline.
Disney prexy Bob Iger said those results made a change necessary.
"Lloyd and Stu were partners, and they both have great talents in creative and business areas," Iger told Daily Variety. "But Stu was the heart and soul of the place creatively, and when we all agreed we were disappointed with the results (of the season), it made sense to make a change."
"We need to turn this (network) around," Iger added. "We felt the most important direction (to change) was in the development and programming area."
Iger more hands-on
To that end, Iger said he plans to be more hands-on in supervising ABC's primetime sked.
"I will be more involved," he said. "I'm not going to be on the line creatively. But it's important for me to impart the wisdom and experience (gained) over the years."
Iger said that having "established a rhythm" in his current gig, he can now afford to focus more on Disney's network unit.
Bloomberg said it's likely he'll remain associated with ABC in some form. He conceded that the net's "performance has not been great as of late … and for better or worse, I've been perceived as the creative engine at ABC over the last 15 years."
As for Braun and Lyne, "we couldn't be in better hands," Bloomberg said.
Lyne -- a former journo who served as the founding editor of Premiere magazine -- is the first person to serve as ABC Entertainment prexy since Jamie Tarses was pushed out in August 1999. Bloomberg and Braun had shared responsibilities for both the creative and business affairs of the network.
Fast results
Despite being new to television, Lyne has quickly built an impressive list of accomplishments since joining ABC three years ago. As other nets abandoned the longform arena or suffered huge ratings losses, Lyne worked with several key producers to create "event" productions that drew critical raves and solid ratings.
Among her successes have been biopics of Anne Frank, Judy Garland, the Beach Boys and the Three Stooges, as well as a remake of "Annie."
Iger said Lyne has shown an ability to "take some risks" and has "good creative instincts."
Braun said Lyne is able "to see the big picture" in developing programming.
"With her, it's about getting the job done right," he said. "It's not about ego or any of the silly things that dominate showbiz."
Under the new structure, it's expected Braun will take a less direct day-to-day role in program development, allowing Lyne to spread her wings.
"She is a gifted executive, and I think it's important she's allowed to do her job," Braun said. "I'm certainly going to be involved in all areas of our division, but we have Susan here for a reason. She's going to be given the freedom to make her imprint on the network."
Lyne wouldn't speculate as to how long it'll take to dig ABC out of the ratings basement. But she said her first goal was to develop a new signature night of programming for the net.
"We need to develop a night where we dominate," she said. "We have some great shows, some great building blocks. We need to have a night where we clearly sweep -- primarily so that we can launch other nights of the week."
Rebuilding talent ties
Lyne also wants to focus on rebuilding ABC's relationships with talent. She said her successes in longform were chiefly the result of establishing strong connections with superstar producers such as Craig Zadan and Neil Meron of Storyline Entertainment.
"We need to make ABC the network of first choice for producers," she said. "That's going to be a big part of my job."
Zadan doesn't think that will be a problem for Lyne, calling the exec an inspiring force "who's never afraid of taking chances."
"She can make any situation work," the producer said. "She's one of those people who walks into a room and takes a group of people who are difficult or uncertain and makes them trust (one another). She's just a leader."
Lyne will continue to commute between New York (where her family is based) and Los Angeles, though she'll spend more time in Los Angeles now.
With Bloomberg gone, only two network entertainment prexys have programming backgrounds: Fox's Gail Berman and the WB's Jordan Levin.
Big hits, critical successes
As for Bloomberg, during his 23-year run at ABC, the exec was involved with the development of some of the net's biggest hits, including "Roseanne," "Home Improvement," "NYPD Blue" and "The Wonder Years."
Bloomberg also championed such critically acclaimed skeins as "My So-Called Life" and "Max Headroom."
"He's a good guy," said Gavin Polone, head of Pariah Prods. "He's so uncorporate, and he always gave you a straight answer."
Bloomberg joined ABC in 1978 and quickly rose through the ranks to serve under Iger as chief development exec in 1989. He later moved to New York for several years before returning to the West Coast in 1997 to oversee Tarses.
He and Braun paired up in 1999.
In addition to his laid-back style, Bloomberg has become known for his well-groomed facial hair, which has taken various shapes and sizes over the years.
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