NBC at TCA: Bob Greenblatt Repeats Tweets; Sarah Palin Stuns the Critics - Ed Martin

NBC's day at the Summer 2012 Television Critics Association Tour may have been a relatively unremarkable one, but it ended with a special guest at the network's poolside party that had critics and journalists tumbling over each other just to get within arm's reach – or to snap a fast picture with their cell phones.

Yes, Crystal the Monkey – the captivating star of the network's upcoming sitcom "Animal Practice" – had the press swarming around her at the Beverly Hilton pool, patiently waiting for her to climb ontheir heads and be photographed, thereby providing them with exciting new pictures for their Facebook and Twitter profiles.

Meanwhile, across the pool, critics were swarming around another prominent party guest – former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin, who was so glam she could have been mistaken for a cast member from the "Real Housewives of Beverly Hills." Palin had tagged along with her husband Todd, who was on hand to help promote the new reality competition series "Stars Earn Stripes," in which celebrity contestants are challenged to execute missions inspired by real military exercises. Todd Palin is one of the contestants in the series' first season.

There were plenty of stars from NBC's other upcoming fall series at the party and several from summer shows on various NBCU cable networks, including half the contestants from Oxygen's "The Glee Project." But Crystal the Monkey and Sarah Palin were definitely the star attractions. I actually think Crystal drew the larger crowd, perhaps because she provided so priceless a photo opportunity.

It was an exciting and surprisingly upbeat ending to a day that had been problematic at worst and rather ordinary at best. It began with a decidedly dull executive session with NBC Entertainment Chairman Bob Greenblatt, NBC Entertainment President Jennifer Salke and Alternative and Late Night Programming President, NBC Entertainment, Paul Telegdy that provided the press with absolutely nothing interesting to write about.

Plainly, Greenblatt and his publicity team understood that their day was in trouble and that they had to do something to salvage it, because one hour later, just before the beginning of the first program panel of the day – for the sitcom "Guys with Kids" – Greenblatt returned to the stage with a spontaneous announcement.

"I wanted to give you the Twitter report," he said, immediately snapping critics out of their collective stupor. "We are trending, which I'm thrilled. Thank you very much for that. There are a couple of fun ones I wanted to read.

"The first one is, 'NBC's Bob Greenblatt on great spring. NBC hasn't finished better than 4^th since 2004/5. We're #3. We're #3.'"

In the deadly dull executive panel, Greenblatt had noted that NBC, due in no small amount to spring successes "Smash" and "The Voice," was No. 3 for the 2011-12 season in adults 18-49 and reminded the critics that the network hadn't finished better than fourth place in that demo since the 2003-2004 season.

"Here's another one," Greenblatt continued. "'NBC, we're proud to be #3, and we have a monkey.'"

That one was a reference to the amazing Crystal. Greenblatt joked that that it "could be the next on-air promo you see."

The next tweet was a real killer. "'NBC's Press Tour this year feels like that year you went to the local Holiday Inn for vacation because your dad lost his job.'

"I am canceling the Holiday Inn reservations I have at the Olympics," Greenblatt laughed.

Then came the last tweet, which Greenblatt described as "a fun one" before he read it.

"'NBC has the #1 program on TV in the 18-49 demographic and a bunch of rusty tin cans that it can't even get a goat to eat.'

"I'm not sure I quite understand it, but I think we have the next show-runner for 'Community,'" Greenblatt chuckled. This brought a huge blast of good-natured booing from the approximately 250 critics and bloggers in the room, who together comprise much of the audience for the ratings-challenged "Community."

Unfortunately, those tweets (and Greenblatt's delivery) proved to be a good deal more entertaining than most of the new shows NBC will premiere in the fall. In fact, that's true of most of the new shows that all of the networks will premiere in the fall.

Regardless, Greenblatt's Twitter fun instantly changed the tone of the room, at least for the rest of the morning. Jimmy Fallon appeared from New York via satellite during the panel for "Guys with Kids," for which he serves as an executive producer, and in an inspired touch his head appeared on a small screen positioned on stage next to cast members from the show, rather than on the giant screens in front of the room on which are displayed most satellite interviews during TCA panels.

A panel later in the morning for "Animal Practice" was similarly lively and entertaining, helped considerably by charming new cast member JoAnna Garcia Swisher and a surprise late-session appearance by Crystal. She rode onto the stage on a toy ambulance, handed Jennifer Salke anenvelope (with a card inside that had "last question" written on it) and then rode off, waving to the audience as she went.

"Guys with Kids" and "Animal Practice" may have benefited from Greenblatt's Twitter fun, but there was nothing that could be done to save the panel that ran between them for the new drama "Chicago Fire," about firemen in the Windy City, because there is zero interest in this show.

NBC's afternoon panels included sessions for the science-fiction drama "Revolution," which seemed to generate as much interest and enthusiasm as the one for "Chicago Fire," and the comedies "The New Normal," from Ryan Murphy, and "Go On," starring Matthew Perry. The comedies fared considerably better, mainly because of the strong appeal of their casts, though neither came off as a slam-dunk.

The closing panel, for "Stars Earn Stripes," was arguably the strongest session of the day. After the Palins worked the party, "Stripes" became the most talked about show of the day, as well.