In "equal time" decision, NBC will not air Thompson "Law & Order" episodes; TNT won't alter schedule

[DeepModem Mom]

NYT/AP: TNT to Air Thompson on 'Law & Order'
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: September 1, 2007

NEW YORK (AP) -- While Fred Thompson's ''Law & Order'' character disappears from NBC starting Saturday because of concerns over federal equal time provisions, cable viewers will still have plenty of opportunities to see his District Attorney Arthur Branch. TNT will air 23 episodes of the drama next week alone, apparently unworried about limiting Branch's airplay even as the Tennessee Republican plans to announce his presidential candidacy.

''TNT has no plans to alter its schedule,'' spokeswoman Shirley Powell said, a stance that could provoke a fight in the courts or before the Federal Communications Commission. Equal time rules require TV stations to provide the same airtime to opponents when a candidate appears on the air. The many exceptions -- news shows, talk shows, interviews, documentaries -- essentially mean the rules apply to entertainment programming. Thompson's expected post-Labor Day entrance into the race triggered NBC's decision to stop airing ''Law & Order'' reruns featuring him starting Sept. 1....

The equal time rules were written when cable was in its infancy, and it has never been clear whether or not they apply only to broadcast stations. It would seemingly take a challenge from one of Thompson's opponents to force a clarification....

***

Cable's growth could make it harder for its executives to argue that it should receive different treatment from broadcasters. TNT dramas like ''The Closer'' and ''Saving Grace'' this summer had larger audiences than much of what was shown on broadcast networks.

Thompson appeared on ''Law & Order'' for five seasons, more than 100 episodes. Taking him from the air isn't much of a hardship for NBC; once a new season starts, a network is unlikely to air reruns from previous seasons. Yet ''Law & Order'' reruns are a backbone of TNT's schedule, and eliminating some 100 episodes from the rotation would be a serious hardship.

http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/arts/AP-TV-Thompsons-Reruns.html

[snowbear]

1. I'm probably in the minority on this... but I have NEVER seen his show..

...ever.

[valerief]

2. Me either. Not a whit of interest in it. nt

[Fed_Up_Grammy]

3. It's a favorite of mine,but he could never replace Steven Hill !

[Skittles]

6. OMG STEVEN HILL

he was THE best

[tularetom]

4. It defies credibility that New Yorkers would elect a DA

who talks like he has a mouth full of cornpone and spouts cutesy poo rustic truisms like dan rather.

The whole premise makes no sense and it made me quit watching the show too.

[DeepModem Mom]

5. Thompson actually came very late to the show, after many years...

when a great actor who played the part of NYC's district attorney retired. So most people wouldn't characterize the show as Thompson's. (I always thought it unlikely that NYC would ever elect Thompson's character as D.A.) Most people consider the show a good one -- certainly a successful one. Sam Waterston, of course, has played the part I think considered the lead almost from the show's beginning.

[katmondoo]

8. Me neither

I watch a few seconds then off it goes

[razorman]

7. Does this mean that NBC can't show reruns of old SNL episodes with Al Franken anymore?

This could put a crimp in TV scheduling of more actors of either party start running for office. Might not be a bad thing.