Ben Silverman Can Kiss My FRIDAY NIGHT Loving Ass
February 1, 2008 by Kath Skerry
Last year I got to spend a few minutes with NBC head honcho, Ben Silverman, at the ABC Upfronts after party. Back then the NBC job still belonged to Kevin Reilly, and Ben was the guy behind Reveille. After exchanging pleasantries about Ben’s other show, UGLY BETTY, I took a moment to thank Ben for bringing the THE OFFICE to the US. Ben became damn near giddy when he found out I was a fan, and thanked me effusively for supporting the show he loved so dearly. That night I was loving Ben Silverman…now, not so much.
In a recent candid interview with Radar, Silverman pretty much hand delivered grim news for fans of FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS. Almost evading the question, Ben alluded to FNL’s future, or lack thereof while extolling his love for the also underwatched, 30 ROCK. Silverman was borderline obnoxious while promoting 30 ROCK, calling it the best show on TV (not that it isn’t great, but the BEST show on TV…sorry). Read on and prepare to be saddened and disgusted.
Radar: Quick question! A lot of us are happy that you’ve kept Friday Night Lights on the air despite lousy ratings. It’s totally the best show on TV. But is there going to be another season?
Silverman: Do you watch 30 Rock? That’s the best show on TV.Not regularly. But what about FNL?
Start watching 30 Rock. It’s the best show on TV.I don’t want to watch 30 Rock. I want to watch FNL. I love it.
I love it. You love it. Unfortunately, no one watches it. That’s the thing with shows. People have to watch them. We’re NBC, we have a reputation to uphold. And, man, with this writers’ strike … well, we’ll see what we can do. But start watching 30 Rock.
‘We’re NBC, we have a reputation to uphold’? Um, what reputation is that, Ben? NBC – the network that wasted millions of dollars to bring us BIONIC WOMAN? Let’s not get all high and mighty – you were the guy that single handedly brought back “The Apprentice” and made the show ever worse (although I didn’t know it was possible) by getting a bunch of D list celebs (no offense Kathy Griffin) involved. Way to reinforced the “reputation” of NBC. And don’t go throw the WGA under the bus for this one. Last time I checked the FNL writers were on the same picket lines as the writer for 30 ROCK. Kevin Reilly wasn’t perfect but he seemed way more concerned with the true reputation of NBC. Ass.
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What the hell??? I thought we were doing better. This is awful!
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I liked Ben, but since this strike started, damn, he just pisses me off more and more
jackass. way to alienate the very, very loyal FNL fans. I love 30 Rock as much as the next person, but it’s clearly not a substitute for FNL (compleeetely different shows, for one thing.) FNL is one of the most original and unique shows on television and NOTHING will ever replace it. I’ll probably never forgive NBC if they don’t renew it! (although, let’s be honest, it’s been lucky to come this far. sigh.)
Listen. Ben Silverman sucks. Always has, always will. He’s not a creative guy, he’s a salesman. That’s what he got famous for, taking shows that someone else created and figuring out how to package them for the U.S. (And get product placement! Don’t forget product placement!) He did NOTHING to make The Office or Ugly Betty what they are, he just sold the networks on the idea of them and let someone else do all the work.
He’s a privileged, Hollywood, frat-boy douche, and NBC should be ashamed to have gotten rid of a true TV man in Kevin Reilly (who championed and nurtured the development of some of the groundbreaking shows on FX like The Shield) for the lowly cro magnon that is Benny S.
Sorry. I just really, really hate that guy, and reading this quote sure didn’t help me change my mind.
If 30 Rock hadn’t won awards recently, he wouldn’t be promoting THAT low-rated show. (I adore 30 Rock, by the way.) NBC’s ratings have tanked over the years, so he has to grab onto success where he can. And, unfortunately, FNL has been over-looked in the awards categories. So, even though 30 Rock also has “dozens of viewers” (as Tina Fey said at the Emmys), it at least has awards…and so Silverman gloms onto that. Tool.
He’s a mystery, surrounded by an enigma, wrapped in a douchebag.
This is completely outrageous. How the hell does this guy still have his job? I cannot believe he’s pushing 30 Rock (which I do like) so much but isn’t doing anything to boost FNL? I hate that he was ever in any way associated with The Office. And I agree – does NBC want to be associated with a second season of American Gladiators while it (might) cancel one of the best dramas on TV in recent years? I hope Jeff Zucker gets a grip and stops (i.e., gets rid of) this man who obviously lost his sense of good TV when he took the NBC job.
I am seeing red! What a complete douche and jackass. I think I might write a strongly worded note to that fool and let him know what I think about his recent comments.
What an asshole… I understand the money issue but there was no need to act like that and answer the questions in such a rude way. He doesn’t seem to “love” FNL, if he did he could have come up with at least one genuine thought about why it’s a great show and why it should be kept around. I’m not going to watch 30 Rock just to spite him – I had plans to get into it but eh.. he changed my mind.
Especially after tonights episode… it just pisses me off that the crap like Celebrity Apprentice and whatever other lame reality shows NBC has can stay on the air and FNL can’t.
What an @sswhipe. Say what you will about Kevin Reilly but he would never have done that.
This is the same guy that renewed Celebrity Apprentice….I’m not surprised.
He’ll cut off a lot of fans if he axes the show…and since when has 30 Rock had that great of ratings?
All I can say is that I think I just might cry if I lose “Friday Night Lights”…it really is the greatest show on television right now. Maybe another network will wise up and save it!
My Ben Silverman hatred started with the now infamous and super douchey prom remarks.
This is the most depressing news I’ve heard in awhile!
My dislike of Ben Silverman goes back to this Esquire intervew: http://www.esquire.com/features/silverman1207
Could he come off as even more of frat boy jerk? One of the funniest parts of The Strike Show benefit a little while back was a skit about Silverman at the 2008 Upfronts presenting “Death of a Salesman: The Sitcom” with, um, some white stuff on his nose. 😉
I generally don’t contribute to the comments but I am breaking out of my introvert shell in this case. If I continue to keep my opinion to myself I will be partly responsible for the demise of yet another great television show. To say I love this show is an understatement. I feel sick about the lack of support that FNL is getting by the “deciders” at NBC. Shame on you Ben Silverman. Not to take anything away from 30 Rock which is the best comedy on TV, but it is apples and oranges.
i already have a bilnd hatred for that guy. nbc has a reputation to upload HA excuse me while i laugh the apprentice, American gladiator, Nashville and bionic woman. I mean God bless nbc cause they do have some good shows but right now they are hold off on scrubs for some reality crap. right now NBC schedule stands for Nothing But Crap
Do you think BJ channels Ben Silverman for the Ryan the Corp Exec? I don’t get why he would trash a show on his own network?
BrokenBrain – yep, I think BJ has said as much in interviews.
This quip broke my heart. I adore 30 Rock and have just started loving FNL. Why pit the 2 shows against each other? it’s not like they a) are competing in the ratings, b) offer the same type of programming .
I have seen less than a handful of 30 Rock episodes, and while I laughed some, it NEVER grabbed me in the way so many other shows like The Office have. 30 Rock and Friday Night Lights can’t be compared because they are two completely different types of shows. I will say this though, I would take the worst episode of FNL (is there actually such a thing?) on a continuous 24/7 loop over any episode of 30 Rock!
Tina Fey is great at what she does, but in my opinion, it holds no candle to the actors that bring to life the Taylors, Saracens, Smash and Mama Smash, Tyra and Landry, Street, Riggins, the Garritys, and the rest of Dillon, Texas.
FNL is such a good show. I don’t understand why people don’t watch it! I don’t keep up with the ratings but NBC has kept Las Vegas on forever! Does that get better ratings then FNL? Is there any chance that another network could pick up FNL after NBC gives it the ax — a cable network or the CW?
Since NBC abruptly deleted Surface without ANY closure at all, I’ve tried to avoid watching any new NBC shows — except Heroes, which my family insisted on, and I do enjoy it.
But because of expecting NBC to cut and run on any show with a regular following, I don’t even know what FNL is. But it apparently has a strong following, and I support followers versus stupid moron butt-head networks deleting supported shows.
I refused to watch new ABC shows after they played musical chairs with Lost, Boston Legal, and Desperate Housewives.
At least CBS finally went back on their stupid Jerico decisions.
So you big money corporations out there, LISTEN TO THIS:
Your expensive ads are not reaching everyday people because the networks are jerking us around, canceling our favorite shows, not giving us closure, and playing shows out of order. With how easy it is to find entertainment online, you’d think a network topdog would attempt to keep viewers, especially for their ads revenues.
Keep FNL because it has regular viewers (and bring back Surface!)
While I do heart FNL, he does have a point about 30 Rock. I’m not saying he isn’t the biggest douche in the universe, but we all have our opinions. It’s also, I would assume, easier to sell a 30 minute comedy than a 1 hour drama.
30 Rock is MY favorite show on TV. That’s not to say last week’s FNL didn’t have me weeping. Captian Douche however I guess should learn to keep his “opinions” to himself. Never scorn fans in a fandom, Benny!
Go jump off a cliff Ben Silverman. Maybe the low rating for FNL is because NBC does such a shitty job of promoting the show. Ben you are a complete asshole and you better not TOUCH FNL!
I never reply on posts or give my opinion to things that go on. But FNL is by far the most complete show I have seen in a long time. Friday nights are the nights i look forward to seeing my favorite show on TV. To cancel this show is to cancel TV NBC. So for the love of God, rethink what you’re about to do (that means you Mr. Silverman)
Ben Silverman sucks balls for cancelling Las Vegas. He is a class-A asshole. Fuck NBC.
Unless you work at Rockefeller Center, who cares about “30 Rock?” Best show on TV my ass. Just goes to show you how inbred his thinking is. Is that the makings of a good studio exec?