Why does Fred Silverman get so much flack for his NBC tenure?

[Edison]

Thanks to him, there was a wonderful medical documentary series called Lifeline.
Cameras would follow doctors around, talking to their patients, in the operating room, and so on. Wasn't on long (Sept. to Dec. 1978), but at least he gave it a chance.

[WatcherofOldTV]

He really gave Grant Tinker a free pass. Had Silverman stayed, he probably would have had just as much success as Tinker, if not more!! And, he needs to be given credit for resurrecting the peacock. Tinker took the logo and said, "this is great, let's use it." Otherwise, he probably would have kept that ugly "N". It looked much better with the peacock superimposed over it.

[WatcherofOldTV]

Originally Posted by mets82

From the NBC schedules I have seen on Wikipedia, during Silverman tenure, I didn't see too many shows that I would watch except Little House, Facts of Life and Different Strokes.

As he has stated vigorously in the past, he really had to start from the ground up there at NBC. Different Strokes was his creation, as was Facts of Life. That built a ground work for later shows but it took a while for him to be able to get solid writers and producers who would trust working at NBC. During his days at CBS and ABC, there was more in place for him to work with.

Little House on the Prairie and even Quincy was there before him. But, very little to work with and I think he had to spar with Paul Klein who did not share a similar theory of programming. Klein should have probably been removed right away once Silverman came in, and there might have been a quicker turnaround.

[glickmam]

Originally Posted by WatcherofOldTV

As he has stated vigorously in the past, he really had to start from the ground up there at NBC. Different Strokes was his creation, as was Facts of Life. That built a ground work for later shows but it took a while for him to be able to get solid writers and producers who would trust working at NBC. During his days at CBS and ABC, there was more in place for him to work with.

Little House on the Prairie and even Quincy was there before him. But, very little to work with and I think he had to spar with Paul Klein who did not share a similar theory of programming. Klein should have probably been removed right away once Silverman came in, and there might have been a quicker turnaround.

Yeah, a quicker turnaround and probably the mass extinction of daytime game shows as we know it. Honestly, the network ratings struggles were practically the only thing keeping Silverman's anti game show crusade in check.

[glickmam]

Originally Posted by danderson400

he almost canceled Wheel Of Fortune: in fact it was carried through to the point of Wheel taping a series finale for August 1 and Charlie O Donnell leaving the show and them bringing in Jack Clark

Not to mention vetoing Merv Griffin's choice to succeed Chuck Woolery as the host of Wheel of Fortune, Pat Sajak. It was only because of Grant Tinker's arrival that Sajak was permitted to host. Of course, Tinker had been a close ally of the Wheel staff, and Griffin in particular, since his days as an NBC junior assistant in the mid-1960's, when he persuaded Mort Werner, NBC's senior vice president of programming and talent, to green light Griffin's other best known creation, Jeopardy!.

[WatcherofOldTV]

Originally Posted by glickmam

Not to mention vetoing Merv Griffin's choice to succeed Chuck Woolery as the host of Wheel of Fortune, Pat Sajak. It was only because of Grant Tinker's arrival that Sajak was permitted to host. Of course, Tinker had been a close ally of the Wheel staff, and Griffin in particular, since his days as an NBC junior assistant in the mid-1960's, when he persuaded Mort Werner, NBC's senior vice president of programming and talent, to green light Griffin's other best known creation, Jeopardy!.

Tinker had it easy. Silverman set the groundwork by bringing back the Wheel of Fortune I doubt Tinker would have even thought to do that. He got much more credit than he deserved. Took advantage of a good situation. If he had been there during 78-81 (instead of Silverman), I doubt there would have even been as much "success". Probably worse...Tinker had success but he really didn't have much to do with it.

And, as we learned after he left, he didn't have much a philosophy. Bob Wright saved NBC from once again going down. Had Silverman stayed, I bet he would have been even more successful than Tinker. He just needed more time. Imagine taking over a near bankrupt company? You'd be throwing out most of the geriatric game shows too.

[WatcherofOldTV]

Originally Posted by glickmam

Yeah, a quicker turnaround and probably the mass extinction of daytime game shows as we know it. Honestly, the network ratings struggles were practically the only thing keeping Silverman's anti game show crusade in check.

Nonsense. Those shows were horrible and he had to clean house to get fresh shows in place. This whole thing about him being "Anti-game show" is a big conspiracy. NBC was near bankruptcy and he needed to save dough. It wasn't easy like he'd had it at ABC and CBS.

[JSP]

Originally Posted by WatcherofOldTV

Nonsense. Those shows were horrible and he had to clean house to get fresh shows in place. This whole thing about him being "Anti-game show" is a big conspiracy. NBC was near bankruptcy and he needed to save dough. It wasn't easy like he'd had it at ABC and CBS.

Based on his tenures at ABC and NBC I would say the label of Silverman being anti-game show was strongly unwarranted. It should be noted that after the Daytime Letterman show flopped game shows returned to the schedule. If Silverman really hated game shows he wouldn't have brought them back. Plus, it should be noted each network's wiping of game shows stopped while they were under Silverman's tenure.

[WatcherofOldTV]

Originally Posted by JSP

Based on his tenures at ABC and NBC I would say the label of Silverman being anti-game show was strongly unwarranted. It should be noted that after the Daytime Letterman show flopped game shows returned to the schedule. If Silverman really hated game shows he wouldn't have brought them back. Plus, it should be noted each network's wiping of game shows stopped while they were under Silverman's tenure.

Exactly, and I agree wholeheartedly. (As seen in my reply above).
Finally! Someone with some common sense and reason!!

He did a lot for NBC in terms of laying the groundwork. If he'd been there another 2 years or so, he would have been miles ahead of Tinker's "success" from 1985..much sooner than that.

Silverman's biggest contribution was probably bringing back the peacock.
He laid the foundation for:
-Hill Street Blues
-Cheers
-Got Different Strokes and Facts of Life on the air
-Real People (number 1 show in the country)
-Barbara Mandrell and her Sisters...was a big hit
-Gimme a Break..got the deal for it before Tinker came in...
-Wanted to bring General Hospital over to NBC but couldn't get it done. Imagine what that would have done?
-Laid the foundation for Family Ties

Clearly, Tinker came in and figured he had connections with all these shows and could simply just deal with it from and MTM standpoint. Tartikoff (Silverman's protege) is the one who really deserves the credit. Warren Littlefield as well..

[glickmam]

Originally Posted by WatcherofOldTV

Tinker had it easy. Silverman set the groundwork by bringing back the Wheel of Fortune I doubt Tinker would have even thought to do that. He got much more credit than he deserved. Took advantage of a good situation. If he had been there during 78-81 (instead of Silverman), I doubt there would have even been as much "success". Probably worse...Tinker had success but he really didn't have much to do with it.

And, as we learned after he left, he didn't have much a philosophy. Bob Wright saved NBC from once again going down. Had Silverman stayed, I bet he would have been even more successful than Tinker. He just needed more time. Imagine taking over a near bankrupt company? You'd be throwing out most of the geriatric game shows too.

Uh, I don't understand what you mean by geriatric game shows. Can you please explain what you mean by that?

[glickmam]

Originally Posted by WatcherofOldTV

Tinker had it easy. Silverman set the groundwork by bringing back the Wheel of Fortune I doubt Tinker would have even thought to do that. He got much more credit than he deserved. Took advantage of a good situation. If he had been there during 78-81 (instead of Silverman), I doubt there would have even been as much "success". Probably worse...Tinker had success but he really didn't have much to do with it.

And, as we learned after he left, he didn't have much a philosophy. Bob Wright saved NBC from once again going down. Had Silverman stayed, I bet he would have been even more successful than Tinker. He just needed more time. Imagine taking over a near bankrupt company? You'd be throwing out most of the geriatric game shows too.

He should have just left Wheel alone in the first place.

[WatcherofOldTV]

Originally Posted by glickmam

He should have just left Wheel alone in the first place.

Right...tell that to Pat Sajak and Vanna White.

But, seriously folks...

Silverman should have been given a 10 year contract for NBC.
How can you fix (not only the television) but the radio affiliates of NBC in 2 or 3 years?

Just the fact that he had to resurrect the peacock says a lot, and took a lot of heat from the old timers at NBC.

Tinker would have never done that..he would have been gone faster than Silverman. Tinker was like a baseball manager with great players. They go into a situation knowing who they have, and that they won't have to do much to make it great. That's why he left later on when he did. NBC hit a low point again, and he knew it wouldn't make him look good. Oh well...

So much for Silverman having set the table for him....
Had Silverman gotten rid of Paul Klein earlier, then NBC would have made quicker strides.

[WatcherofOldTV]

Originally Posted by glickmam

Uh, I don't understand what you mean by geriatric game shows. Can you please explain what you mean by that?

Old and out dated games...I agree with his move and sometimes, as a leader, you have to make unpopular moves in order to get ahead. Had the game shows remained, NBC would have gone bankrupt.

[glickmam]

Originally Posted by WatcherofOldTV

Old and out dated games...I agree with his move and sometimes, as a leader, you have to make unpopular moves in order to get ahead. Had the game shows remained, NBC would have gone bankrupt.

I'd hardly call the three game shows Silverman removed for The David Letterman Show to be old and out dated. The Hollywood Squares was still getting good ratings, and High Rollers and Chain Reaction were still relatively new.

[WatcherofOldTV]

Originally Posted by glickmam

I'd hardly call the three game shows Silverman removed for The David Letterman Show to be old and out dated. The Hollywood Squares was still getting good ratings, and High Rollers and Chain Reaction were still relatively new.

Not in the slightest..those were shows with potential that needed a LOT of improvement. You can't blame him for adding the comedy side of things. NBC needed to tape back into their comedy side of things such as what they had in the 50's. It hadn't been there in years, and he was right for making the move.

Most importantly, had NBC kept those shows, it would have gone bankrupt thanks to Supertrain. They needed to go el cheapo and take several years to build up their bankroll again. It wasn't until Family Ties and the A-Team came on that it began to improve. Had Silverman been there at the time, he would have probably doubled that improvement. He had much to do for setting the table for Tinker. Including hiring Brandon Tartikoff and various other people who made NBC great in the 80's, and later the 90's.