I am – Hercules!! NBC Universal chief Jeff Zucker, the man whose regime kicked Conan O’Brien to the curb in favor of Jay Leno, is reportedly himself about to leave NBC with a similar exit deal, taking with him about $30-40 million for his stewardship of what is now America’s fourth-place network, according to the New York Post. The Post says Zucker will be out “a couple of months” after Comcast’s expected acquisition of NBCU is completed, likely in early 2011. Current NBCU parent GE calls reports of the exit package “not true.” From the Post story:

Just a few months ago, Comcast and GE extended Zucker's contract until 2013 saying he would continue as CEO of the newly merged entity, though sources say it's clear Comcast Corp. COO Steve Burke intends to play the lead role.

Zucker ascended from executive producer of “The Today Show” to president of NBC entertainment in 2000. During his tenure overseeing the network, NBC slid from first place to fourth among broadcast networks, where it remains today. He was promoted to president of NBC Entertainment’s News & Cable Group in 2003, promoted again to president of the NBC television group in 2004, promoted again to CEO of NBC in 2005, and promoted again to president and CEO of NBC Universal in 2007. Zucker’s regime famously saw the ouster of Aaron Sorkin as showrunner of “The West Wing.” From Wikipedia:

New York Times columnist Maureen Dowd wrote that in Hollywood “there has been a single topic of discussion: How does Jeff Zucker keep rising and rising while the fortunes of NBC keep falling and falling? ...many in the Hollywood community have always regarded him as ...a network Napoleon who never bothered to learn about developing shows and managing talent." She explained that Zucker "is a master at managing up with bosses and calculating cost-per-hour benefits, but even though he made money on cable shows, he could not program network to save his life." Dowd also reported that an unnamed "honcho at another network" stated that "Zucker is a case study in the most destructive media executive ever to exist... You’d have to tell me who else has taken a once-great network and literally destroyed it."

Series introduced by NBC since the fall of 2000 include “The Michael Richards Show,” “DAG,” “Titans,” “Cursed,” “Tucker,” “Deadline,” “Emeril,” “Inside Schwartz,” “UC Undercover,” “In-Laws,” “Hidden Hills,” “Good Morning, Miami,” “American Dreams,” “Boomtown,” “Whoopi,” “Happy Family,” “Coupling,” “Miss Match,” “The Lyon’s Den,” “LAX,” “Hawaii,” “Joey,” “Medical Investigation,” “Surface,” “E-Ring,” “Three Wishes,” “Inconceivable,” “Four Kings,” “Father of the Pride,” “The Book of Daniel,” “Teachers,” “Heist,” “Windfall,” “Conviction,” “Treasure Hunters,” “Studio 60,” “Twenty Good Years,” “Kidnapped,” “1 Vs. 100,” “Journeyman,” “The Singing Bee,” “Phenomenon,” “Bionic Woman,” “Life,” “American Gladiators,” “My Dad is Better Than Your Dad,” “Lipstick Jungle,” “Amne$ia,” “Nashville Star,” “The Baby Borrowers,” “Celebrity Circus,” “Fear Itself,” “America’s Toughest Jobs,” “My Own Worst Enemy,” “Knight Rider,” “Kath & Kim,” “Crusoe,” “Kings,” “Community,” “Parks and Recreation,” “Trauma,” “Mercy,” “The Jay Leno Show,” “Parenthood,” “Who Do You Think You Are,” “Minute To Win It” and “The Marriage Ref.” Longer-lived series introduced under Zucker’s regime include “Crossing Jordan,” “Scrubs,” “Ed,” “Law & Order: Criminal Intent,” “Fear Factor,” “The Apprentice,” “Las Vegas,” “Last Comic Standing,” “The Biggest Loser,” “The Office,” “My Name Is Earl,” “Deal or No Deal,” “America’s Got Talent,” “Heroes,” “Friday Night Lights,” “30 Rock,” “Chuck,” and “Sunday Night Football.” Find all of the Post’s story on the matter here. Follow Herc on Twitter!! Follow Evil Herc on Twitter!!

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