As a dedicated fan who has witnessed countless seasons of America’s Got Talent, I must admit that the recent announcement about Jeff Raff’s departure as showrunner has left me with a mix of emotions. On one hand, I can’t help but feel a sense of nostalgia for the 19 seasons we shared together – from the very first DVD he received to the heart-warming victory of Richard Goodall this year. But on the other hand, I’m curious about what changes this move might bring to my beloved show.
As a devoted fan, I can’t imagine my summer without the fresh season of America’s Got Talent gracing our screens. Last year, Season 19 in the 2024 lineup culminated with Richard Goodall, a singer whose heartwarming vocals and stunning covers earned him the title of AGT champion. Now, barely a month after his victory, a significant shift has been unveiled for this beloved show. Due to financial constraints, the long-standing showrunner Jeff Raff is stepping down after 19 seasons.
In terms of America’s Got Talent, it translates to approximately 500 episodes and close to 150 hours of live broadcast television. As reported by Deadline, Jeff Raff found out he was being let go from AGT only a day after the Season 19 finale, with budget constraints being the explanation. Recalling the day he was given a DVD containing a preview of what would eventually become AGT, Raff shared with the outlet:
From the moment I received that DVD, I never imagined it would lead to spending 19 years with the show. The news is both joyful and sad because I’m a huge fan of the series and the team who work on it. It caught me off guard when they asked me to part ways; they needed to provide an explanation, and they mentioned budget constraints as the reason.
As a dedicated gamer, I can tell you that just like a game’s creator or lead developer leaving, it makes a significant impact when a showrunner departs from a long-running series. I’ve been part of this AGT family since 2006, starting as a co-executive producer, then stepping up to the executive producer role after our original showrunner moved on. So, Raff’s departure is a pretty big deal for us all.
Raff has contributed significantly to all the spinoffs of America’s Got Talent (AGT) so far, even serving as a showrunner. These spinoffs include America’s Got Talent: The Champions, AGT: Extreme, America’s Got Talent: All-Stars, and Fantasy League. However, the core team behind the original show remains somewhat unaltered, with Sam Donnelly, who has worked alongside Raff as a co-showrunner, coming back to take on the role of sole showrunner for Season 25, slated for May in the 2025 TV lineup.
It’s significant that America’s Got Talent has replaced its showrunner after almost two decades, but it’s important to note that NBC isn’t unique in facing budget cuts. Before the Writers Guild of America (WGA) and Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) strikes started in 2023, it was announced that several of the One Chicago shows and three Law & Order series would reduce episode counts for main cast members. This was before the announcement that Law & Order: Organized Crime Season 5 would stream on Peacock.
Regarding live broadcasts, NBC is reducing the number of new episodes for “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” from five to four nights a week, with repeats scheduled for Fridays. Despite this change, Jimmy Fallon has agreed to stay with NBCUniversal until 2028. Similarly, Seth Meyers’ “Late Night” has experienced budget cuts and lost its house band, in addition to airing only four nights per week.
Overall, it appears that no production escapes alterations due to budget restrictions, and I’m quite intrigued about whether we’ll notice any changes in America’s Got Talent (AGT) when the show comes back next year. Although the franchise has managed to maintain a successful formula without undergoing significant transformations annually, I wouldn’t object to trimming some filler during the season finale each year. If you’d like to rewatch the latest season while waiting for Season 20, you can now stream it with a Peacock subscription. Additionally, the complete run of America’s Got Talent: Fantasy League is accessible on the platform as well.
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2024-10-29 01:07