Drama or comedy programming is still the surest way for advertisers to reach a mass audience. Once that changes, all bets are off.

Everybody knows things are not the same. The people running the TV end of a major vertically integrated company know how much money a successful show can make.

People recognize certain things, like 'D' means 'this dialogue stinks.' We're dealing with shows that are written here, shot in New York and posted back here. Accurate communication is a necessity.

There are other options out there, after all, like read a book, go on the Internet, rent a movie.

I consider myself one of the luckiest people in the history of show business.

If the scripts are not good, I'll tell somebody, 'This isn't good.

Their argument is that most shows are losers, which is true, but it's also disingenuous to say, 'We are not going to take the risk unless it is totally covered by the few successful shows that are out there.'