Wunderkind Ben Silverman Out At NBC
Once-celebrated, now-beleaguered NBC co-chairman Ben Silverman is leaving the company, it was announced on Ryan Seacrest’s Twitter this morning. (Yes.) Well, OK, the New York Times has confirmed. So what the heck happened? Is this good news or bad?
Mostly it’s bad, embarrassing news for Silverman, who was heralded back in 2007 as the coming of a new era. And for a time, he delivered. His departure is being spun as a resignation, but it looks a lot like Silverman was pushed. His two-year contract recently expired and the gig that he has lined up — running something for Barry Diller’s IAC — sounds like a deal slapped together in a hurry. As Diller vaguely describes it, Silverman will “create a truly integrated and truly interactive new media production entity, a next generation enterprise that bridges the gap between traditional television and the internet.”
While at NBC, Silverman had a few successes watching The Office (which his old shingle Reveille sold to the network before he joined) developed into a critical and moderate ratings success.
But everything else? Yeck. None of the big hour-long programs that rolled out under Silverman’s watch made much of an impact. Not Heroes (though, admittedly, that was developed before Silverman took over), not Knight Rider, not Southland, not Chuck, not My Own Worst Enemy. Plus the buzzed-about comedy Kath & Kim proved a complete disaster and old warhorses like Law & Order: SVU seemed to be graying around the edges.
Really this is just a story of a daring move—hire the cockeyed optimist kid to shake up creaky network TV—that sadly didn’t pan out. It’s not HBO, guys. It’s TV.
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Comments (AU Comments | US Comments)
Thank God!
This inane fool helped run William Morris into the ground in London, ran the coattails of reality pap, and had not one clue at NBC.
Let's hope it's a long time before we hear about him again.
ConAnt
@XiangShako: The first ep of "Kings" was boring crap!
It was doomed at once.
But I've seen a couple of the recent ones & they're actually pretty good.
So the problem is, who the fuck, fucked up the first ep?
Was it the writing, directing or the editing?
Please note I wrote nothing of the acting since not one of the "actors" & I use that term reluctantly can act other than Ian McShane!
Greasy Thumb Guzik
@Spirit Fingers: There is nothing wrong with being shamelessly addicted to Psych. Shawn and Gus T.T. Showbiz are wonderful.
@DahlELama: Isn't it sad what has become of our standards?
@DeltaGuy: Don't forget that NBC is the flagship, which still means something to a lot of people, and being at the bottom of the network pile still stings upper management (especially after spending the 90's as king of the hill). Also, NBC's biggest programming problem in the last five years has been finding one-hour dramas--Seriously, is anyone going to watch Leno's 10pm show?
Hammer's proven that she can not only find new original programming (like one-hour dramas), but also embrace a channels current ratings leaders (wrestling on USA) and roll that into a new brand identity (Characters Welcome).
As to why she might take it: It's no secret that there's a growing faction within NBCU looking for someone to replace Zucker, and if Hammer want to dethrone him it would be a lot easier if she took over NBC and saved it.
The most important piece of news coming out of this, which few places are reporting on, is what this actually means for NBC's entire broadcast division.
Rather than being replaced, Graboff (Silverman's former Co-Chairman) is becoming the sole Chairman in charge of NBC's broadcast network and studio. The interesting thing, however, is that Graboff will now need to report to Jeff Gaspin, the exec who was previously only in charge of NBCU's cable properties (USA, Bravo, Syfy, etc).
NBCU's broadcast properties have effectively lost their independence, and are now simply a unit operating alongside Laura Ziskin at Bravo and Bonnie Hammer at USA. This has to point to a loss of prestige.
The cable networks now run NBCU. Even in its own company, the NBC Broadcast network is now a second-rate citizen.
DeltaGuy
@Bellyboop: In the age of Arrested Development, I feel I can still muster up some gratitude for simply keeping a great show on the air.
DahlELama
@pmarble: I wasn't a fan of the half-an-episode I managed to get through, but I do like the idea of Ben McKenzie back on TV. And yes, it'll be back in the fall, on Friday nights, so, probably not for long.
DahlELama
@WordyNinja: Bonnie Hammer is fantastic, but really, what motivation would she have for jumping to the horribly troubled cable division? Her division now accounts for 40% (and rising) of NBCU's revenue. The NBC Network accounts for less than 5%. Plus, she just received a promotion to the newly created position of President of NBC Universal Cable. She's smart enough to avoid jumping onto that sinking sink.
DeltaGuy
@Spirit Fingers: Burn Notice is the only thing that keeps from hanging myself on lonely Thursday nights....and thanks to Hulu, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday nights too.
Also, Psych deserves props just for making Corbin Bernsen somewhat relevant again.
Someone's head needed to roll after the canceling of Kings. It was the most imaginative show NBC has had in years and they completely botched the promotion/marketing for it. I'm happy to accept Silverman's ouster as payment for mishandling Kings.
XiangShako
Grrr... Last try, I promise. When one edits a comment, the video-clicky thing doesn't come back, so there's no way to fix video urls and no way to preview whether they work.
...and apparently this one doesn't work. Here's the link now that my lame joke has grown into a totally unfunny one now.
http://www.hulu.com/watch/1942/30-rock-gold-flaw
OK, will this show a Hulu embed? Let's see.
Oh no, not Ben! But I really liked Gold Case!
Before I read the article or do anything else I must express my overwhelming joy at this!!! Yes! Yes! Orgasmically, YES!!!!!!!!
I've been waiting for this day for such a long time.
Now who is the D-Girl, Ben?
@FormerEnglishMajor: I misread that as "cock-addled..." which from what I've heard may well be true...
Scarion
He canceled Life. He is dead to me.
Too bad he couldn't have gotten canned before that upcoming 5 nights a week Jay Leno tragedy made it past the planning stages.
@SteveManiac: Yeah -- I liked Southland. Is it coming back?
pmarble
@naugahydeinplainsight: Excellent point. NBC seems like it's trying to be CBS, which hasn't really been so good for CBS. I mean, isn't the Leno demographic old people and idiots who don't know who's on the 5 dollar bill?
pmarble
@pmarble: I don't he did. that was the problem. the outside the box thinking was hiring Silverman in the first place.
jbwan
Southland wasn't that bad. A Shield-knockoff sure beats all that indistinguishable reality crap.
SteveManiac
I don't know if he deserves credit for Kings, but if he does I've got to say the guy isn't all bad. I know Kings is a flop, whatever, but I'd also say its some of the most courageous TV since the West Wing. If only he would have said, damn the ratings, let's let this thing playout past just a mid-season replacement.
I do love Sherry
I'm still laughing at the fact that, while on Charlie Rose, he took credit for bringing 30 Rock to NBC. Wrong. He may have kept it on, but he did not green light that show.
This changes nothing.
Zucker is still there!
The man has the reverse Midas touch.
Everything he touches turns to shit!
Greasy Thumb Guzik
@naugahydeinplainsight: I don't watch In Plain Sight but I've heard good things, and well, if it's on USA than it's a pretty good bet that it's a more than decent show.
See how that works NBC? Shows on USA are assumed to be good just because of the company they keep. That hasn't happened in your world since the late 1990's.
Spirit Fingers
Diller picks up more entertainment detritus.
@Spirit Fingers:
Why would we shut up about Psych?
Psych is awesome.
@Spirit Fingers: They could sure to worse (and have). Burn Notice is must-see TV, and we like In Plain Sight -- the women of TNT have nothing on Mary McCormack. And don't forget an earlier Hammer credit: Battlestar Galactica.
@WordyNinja: Dear Bonnie, Don't even think of fucking with Tina Fey. She will cut you.
Good luck in your new endeavors!
Smooches,
RMHMH
If he's the guy who was behind them dropping Medium, then good riddance.
BoonsFarmersDaughter
I wonder if Conan's drop in ratings was the final nail in his coffin.
rhys1882
@WordyNinja: Good point! I'm shamelessly addicted to Burn Notice, Psych (shut up, everyone) and even the new show, Royal Pains. The latter two aren't strokes of genius, but they're at least entertaining. I think NBC suffers from performance anxiety. And, well, all that they're afraid of, and the reasons why they don't take risks, has become paralyzing and is actually becoming a self-fulfilling prophecy.
Smaller less lauded channels like a USA, AMC, and Bravo don't have the same all consuming pressures, so they "let it ride" to great success. It also helps that they stick with their programming choices for longer than five episodes. (Please note this only works with shows with obvious potential. You dipwads knew Knight Rider was total nostalgia-ruination that never should have seen the light of day outside of a Youtube video.)
Spirit Fingers
@WordyNinja: Dang! You're like some sort of verbal martial artist. Good work.
Ryan Seacrest, cub reporter! (I notice the Times story doesn't credit anyone with the scoop.)
@pmarble: Or in at least one case, he managed both at once: Leno at 10. Will it redeem his rep or close the book? All I know is, 5 hours less time for scripted shows means that much less chance for something worth watching.
He just wanted to be effluent.
He and Janice Min are starting something. Betcha.
kidnextdoor
@Jeangenie: Selma Blair :(.
This guy was an epic fail for NBC because he came on board and didn't do anything his old production company did- create new and interesting programming.
Endless remakes of American Gladiators, Knight Rider, and The Bionic Woman? They could hire my grandma to come up with that programming genius.
He lasted six months more than Variety predicted a year ago.
Swordfish
@FormerEnglishMajor: Exactly. Coke-addled ADHD party boy.
Swordfish
@jbwan: But what "outside the box" moves did Silverman make? My sense is he just made the box smaller.
pmarble
Let's not forget "I'm a Celebrity...." I can never forgive him for the Speidi shitstorm that took over all media when that dreck was on.
pmarble
I'm calling it. They're going to bring over Bonnie Hammer from USA. In five-years, she's turned it into the number one channel on cable and NBC/Universal's biggest earner.
She also got a feature-length write up in Newsweek ( which is a content partner with MSNBC) this month. Mmmm...anyone think that was just a coincidence?
"cockeyed optimist" or "coke-addled party boy" - tough to tell the difference.
@NigelAstydameia: Completely agree. I heard he was given a timeframe to leave (why he deserved to leave "with dignity" after his lack of results...?) and this Diller IAC gig - a pitiful kinda "save face" job - is what he was able to scramble and get.
Was he also responsible for The Bionic Woman? Because the whole remaking great teevee of the past and doing it with so much asshatery has really just been horrific. (I am fearful for the V remake, but at least it's on ABC) Everyone should be fired for not trying new things and making every old thing imaginable, suck horrendously. Knight Rider was a true and pure travesty. Good God it was bad.
Spirit Fingers
@gabrielsong: Who is the Biggest Loser in all of this?
It's about time somebody called out this naked Emperor dufus. Now if they would just get rid of Zucker they might still have a chance at survival.
NigelAstydameia
You have to give Jeff Zucker credit for trying something new. Unfortunately, it looks like Silverman was a bad choice, and now this might kill any future "outside the box" moves by network TV. I guess we're stuck with years and years of CBS style comedies and formulaic crap on network TV. Hooray.
jbwan
"It's not HBO, guys. It's TV."
You mean Showtime, right?
FaceMelter
Don't buck Chuck. The show is (Subway) marketing genius and was made betetr with Scott Bakula.
gabrielsong