Jack Donaghy’s “Tanking It” Strategy is Failing; NBC Succeeding Under Comcast

In the fictional world of 30 Rock, Alec Baldwin’s Jack Donaghy is trying to tank NBC’s ratings so that he can buy the network from Philadelphia-based KableTown. In real life, Philadelphia-based Comcast—which acquired the network back in 2009—has been cutting costs like crazy: Jay Leno’s salary has been cut in half, and there’s talk Matt Lauer might get a similar haircut. That’s helping the network achieve profitability, but it’s also helpful that NBC’s prime time schedule is showing signs of life this fall: Shows like Revolution and Go On are giving the network some hope it will be able to escape the fourth-place cellar it’s owned for several years. “I’m impressed they’re both taking all these creative shots and exercising financial discipline,” one analyst says. Looks like Hank Hooper is going to win this round. [Associated Press]