NBC Entertainment Chairman Bob Greenblatt spoke with candor at the semiannual Television Critics Association press tour about the network’s season so far, noting, "We had a really bad fall," reports Joe Adalian in New York Magazine’s Vulture blog.

Greenblatt spoke "calmly, honestly, and sometimes humorously assessing the state of NBC," Adalian writes. The executive told reporters that the network’s performance was "worse than I hoped for and about what I had expected. … We have a long road ahead of us. So bear with us."

Asked about fan favorite "Community," Greenblatt said the show will return in the spring, but didn’t indicate whether he’s leaning toward ordering a fourth season.

"We’ll look at the success of [the new pilots NBC has in development], what our schedule needs are, and make those decisions closer to the upfronts," he said, according to the story.

Greenblatt noted that another season of "Law & Order: SVU" is likely, but downplayed speculation that Ryan Seacrest would replace Matt Lauer on "Today."

"All of that is premature. It’s our hope … that he’ll stay with the show beyond his contract," Greenblatt said, speaking about Lauer, according to the story.