NBC Nightly News 'Commercial Machine' Breaks

Brian Williams started his final segment by saying I'm told the machine that plays our commercial just broke, 'so you'll see a little more of us." The show then went to a Westmisnter Nats.vo.. and series of closing shots to close the show.. .lots of music and lots of cover shots. It was about a minute of music over a studio shot and sky shots of New York. We've all had this happen to us in local news. Your anchors are left to adlib. As I watched, I didn't get a sense that Williams realized how much time he had to kill. I would think such an experienced anchor could have summarized the top story quickly (Clemens and steriods.. and the presidential race). It didn't happen here. You would alsio think a network would have a backup or a tape to through in to close the show. How about an emergency exit plan to go to a separate source for commercials or content.

Of course you won't find that nasty final segment online. NBC posted a re-cut (or a West Coast) final segment for the close of the show.