The Daily OrangeTV executive reminisces about industry's golden days
By Ben Tepfer
Posted: 4/9/09, 2:24 AM EST Section: News
When 70-year-old Fred Silverman, producer of television hits ranging from "All in the Family" to "Three's Company" to "Cheers," was asked if he would consider running a network again, he didn't miss a beat.
"No," he said. "I'm too old and too wise."
Silverman was the focus of Wednesday's symposium, "From Test Patterns to Pixels: Envisioning the Future of Television," held in the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications. The daylong event included panels and speakers from the television field, many of whom, including Silverman, are Newhouse alumni.
The audience for the conversation between Silverman and "60 Minutes" correspondent Steve Kroft filled the Joyce Hergenhan Auditorium. Their conversation began as a discussion about the different aspects of Silverman's career.
"Are you proudest of your success in the numbers business, because you were able to take these networks to No. 1?" Kroft asked. "Or more proud of the programs and the legacy you have left behind?"
Silverman didn't need to stop and think before answering.
"I'm more proud of the programs. No matter what it is, 'The Mary Tyler Moore Show,' or 'Roots,' the thing that is gratifying is that they are on DVDs and they are still available," Silverman said. "There are scores of people looking at them at this moment, some for the first time. This is something I never expected. In commercial television, being successful means reaching a large audience and being number one."
Their conversation progressed to a look at current network television, primarily at CBS, ABC and NBC - all of which he worked for, in that order. Kroft asked Silverman what obstacles network television faces today and about a recent lack of breakaway hits.
"The broadcasting networks are struggling just to stay alive, not just from cable but from the Internet," Silverman said. "Everything they do is quite deliberate, and they have to be very conscious."
Silverman said that today's networks can't take the same risks now, because too much money is at stake. In the 1980s, owners controlled networks, often personalizing content and management. But today, large conglomerates run the networks. Silverman said that change poses a problem.
"No," he said. "I'm too old and too wise."
Silverman was the focus of Wednesday's symposium, "From Test Patterns to Pixels: Envisioning the Future of Television," held in the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications. The daylong event included panels and speakers from the television field, many of whom, including Silverman, are Newhouse alumni.
The audience for the conversation between Silverman and "60 Minutes" correspondent Steve Kroft filled the Joyce Hergenhan Auditorium. Their conversation began as a discussion about the different aspects of Silverman's career.
"Are you proudest of your success in the numbers business, because you were able to take these networks to No. 1?" Kroft asked. "Or more proud of the programs and the legacy you have left behind?"
Silverman didn't need to stop and think before answering.
"I'm more proud of the programs. No matter what it is, 'The Mary Tyler Moore Show,' or 'Roots,' the thing that is gratifying is that they are on DVDs and they are still available," Silverman said. "There are scores of people looking at them at this moment, some for the first time. This is something I never expected. In commercial television, being successful means reaching a large audience and being number one."
Their conversation progressed to a look at current network television, primarily at CBS, ABC and NBC - all of which he worked for, in that order. Kroft asked Silverman what obstacles network television faces today and about a recent lack of breakaway hits.
"The broadcasting networks are struggling just to stay alive, not just from cable but from the Internet," Silverman said. "Everything they do is quite deliberate, and they have to be very conscious."
Silverman said that today's networks can't take the same risks now, because too much money is at stake. In the 1980s, owners controlled networks, often personalizing content and management. But today, large conglomerates run the networks. Silverman said that change poses a problem.
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