NBC axes America’s Got Talent showrunner Jason Raff over budget cuts
Network television isn’t what it used to be. Even “popular” series on broadcast tv garner a fraction of the ratings that it did even 8-10 years ago. As a result, networks keep cutting budgets. For instance, America’s Got Talent is one of the highest rated summer series for any network, and certainly for NBC. Nevertheless, the network fired long-time showrunner Jason Raff to trim dollars off the budget.
Deadline reports that after 482 original episodes including 140 hours of live episodes, Raff told the outlet that the network informed him the day after the season 19 premiere at the end of September that he was being let go due to budget cuts. Raff has been the showrunner since AGT premiered in June 2006.
Co-showrunner Sam Donnelly will continue as solo showrunner on Season 20 show, which is produced by Fremantle and Syco Entertainment, and will likely begin airing in May 2025.
Notably, NBC has not announced a new mid-season AGT spinoff for 2025
Raff also developed and served as showrunner for all of the show’s spinoffs including America’s Got Talent: The Champions, AGT: Extreme, America’s Got Talent: All-Stars and America’s Got Talent: Fantasy League. Notably, NBC has NOT announced a spinoff to air mid-season. An AGT spinoff has aired on NBC every mid-season (except 2021) beginning in 2019.
Raff, who runs his own Furry Prawn Productions banner, has also worked on shows including The Wall and The Clash of Choirs and is now seeking new projects.
“I never thought I’d get 19 years,” Raff told Deadline. “It’s definitely bittersweet because I love the show and all of the crew that work on it. It came as a surprise to me [when they asked me to leave], they’d have to explain it but I was told it was the budget,” he said.
Fremantle COO Suzanne Lopez said, “Over the last 19 years Jason has been instrumental in growing AGT to become the world’s largest talent showcase. His vision and creativity are top-notch, and we are incredibly grateful for all of his contributions to this franchise.”
