Everyone needs someone who will say 'no' to them when they go too far into the realm of stupidity. I think that, in the days of free flowing funds, the only person likely to do such a thing to RTD was, theoretically, Gardner (whose job it was), and she was the other toddler happily playing in the RTD sandbox.

I have to wonder if, having got wind of the massive downsizing coming down the road in BBC world, RTD didn't decide to try to fish in (to his mind) a richer pond.

I will always believe he has no concept of how US television is so fundamentally different in both process and funding - otherwise, no one hoping to present himself as a attractive option could so spectacularly miss the concept that ratings here mean everything, and you don't get to sniff at the little people without dire consequences for your career and your bank accounts.