Netflix Saves The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt
In an unprecedented move, Netflix has swooped in and rescued
The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt from NBC network limbo. The comedy
from 30 Rock creative team Tina Fey and Robert Carlock stars Ellie Kemper as a sheltered woman who escapes from a doomsday cult and tries to start life over in New York City. Sounds great, no? Not that great according to NBC, while the network picked up the series, it failed to earn a place in the NBC fall schedule and had not been talked about as a possible midseason show.
With its future suspended in network stagnancy, NBC decided to sell the show off to Netflix, which has made a two-year commitment to the series and a March 2015 release.
NBC entertainment chairman, Robert Greenblatt, explains in a
press release:
"While it was originally developed for NBC, we have a very drama-heavy mid-season schedule so we're thrilled about this Netflix opportunity; it’s an instant win-win for everyone, including Tina, Robert, and Universal Television. We’re already talking to these extraordinary creators about new development for NBC, but meanwhile, everyone here from Universal Television will do everything possible to see that
Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt becomes a long-running hit on Netflix."
Even though we have seen show’s resurrected by other networks or different outlets (Community, Cougar Town, The Killing, etc.) this might be the first time a streaming site like Netflix has saved a show before it even premiered. Is this the start of a new trend?
In an unprecedented move, Netflix has swooped in and rescued The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt from NBC network limbo. The comedy from 30 Rock creative team Tina Fey and Robert Carlock stars Ellie Kemper as a sheltered woman who escapes from a doomsday cult and tries to start life over in New York City. Sounds great, no? Not that great according to NBC, while the network picked up the series, it failed to earn a place in the NBC fall schedule and had not been talked about as a possible midseason show.
With its future suspended in network stagnancy, NBC decided to sell the show off to Netflix, which has made a two-year commitment to the series and a March 2015 release.
NBC entertainment chairman, Robert Greenblatt, explains in a press release:
"While it was originally developed for NBC, we have a very drama-heavy mid-season schedule so we're thrilled about this Netflix opportunity; it’s an instant win-win for everyone, including Tina, Robert, and Universal Television. We’re already talking to these extraordinary creators about new development for NBC, but meanwhile, everyone here from Universal Television will do everything possible to see that Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt becomes a long-running hit on Netflix."
Even though we have seen show’s resurrected by other networks or different outlets (Community, Cougar Town, The Killing, etc.) this might be the first time a streaming site like Netflix has saved a show before it even premiered. Is this the start of a new trend? 
