Fred Silverman Interview - Part 12 of 13

Fred Silverman attests to the quirks of inspiration in developing television programs: I had always thought that kids in a haunted house would be a big hit, played for laughs, in animation.  And [I] developed a show with Hanna-Barbera. And there was a dog in there, but the dog was in the background; it was much more serious.  And [CBS President] Frank Stanton says, we cant put that on the air, thats just too frightening. I booked a red-eye and I couldnt sleep.  Im listening to music, and as were landing, Frank Sinatra comes on, and I hear him say Scooby-do-be-do. Its at that point I said thats it, well take the dog— well call it Scooby-Doo.  Fred Silverman served as the programming head at all three major broadcast networks— ABC, CBS, and NBC.  In his two-part Archive interview, Silverman talks about his first job in television, at WGN in Chicago, where he repackaged existing programming and created originals, including Zim-Bombaand Bozos Circus. He tells of his move to CBS in New York, where he quickly worked his way up the corporate ladder, first as head of daytime programming (where he made his mark revitalizing the Saturday morning lineup), and later as the Vice President of Programming. He enumerates and comments on the programs he oversaw during this time including: A ll in the Family, Kojak, M*A*S*H, The Sonny and Cher Comedy Hourand The Waltons. On The Waltons, Silverman recounts its amazing success: Flip Wilson was hot as a pistol, and we were putting in The Waltons[against it].  When we had the affiliates meeting we got to this time period, they actually laughed out loud-- this sweet little show, about a bunch of destitute people in Appalachia.  We destroyed Flip Wilson and it was the number one show in the country.  He describes the corporate culture at CBS, and how he came to leave CBS to join ABC, where he was appointed President of ABC Entertainment, overseeing such programs as Donny and Marie, Eight is Enough, The Love Boatand Threes Company. He also touches on the development and scheduling of the miniseries Rich Man, Poor Man and Roots. In part two of his interview, Silverman talks about his next move, to NBC, as President and CEO, overseeing the development of Diffrent Strokes, The Facts of Lifeand Hill Street Blues. He explains the basic tenets of working as a network executive, and discusses his methods for development, scheduling and promotions. Finally, he talks about his work as an independent producer for such programs as the Perry Mason television movies, Matlock, In the Heat of the Night and Diagnosis Murder. Fred Silverman was interviewed in two sessions in Westwood, CA on March 16, 2001 and May 29, 2001; Dan Pasternack conducted the combined six-hour interview.. To see the entire interview collection, visit http://emmytvlegends.org

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