RIP Fred Silverman

1937-2020

Fred Silverman was an American television executive and producer. Like Lucille Ball, he worked at all of the Big Three television networks. He was responsible for bringing to television such programs as the series All in the Family (1971–79), The Waltons (1972–81), and Charlie’s Angels (1976–81), among others. In 1977, Time Magazine declared him “The Man with the Golden Gut”. 

At CBS in 1970, he led the charge to bring on new audiences with more cutting edge television programs, which spelled the end of Lucille Ball’s family-friendly style shows, then considered old fashioned. He also was responsible for the cancellation of their ‘rural sitcoms’: “The Beverly Hillbillies,” “Green Acres,” and “Petticoat Junction.” Ironically, when Lucille Ball wanted to end “Here’s Lucy” after five seasons, it was Silverman who convinced her to stay for a sixth and final season. She was too valuable to the network.

Silverman left CBS for ABC in 1975. He was criticized during this period for relying heavily on escapist fare and for bringing T&A or “jiggle TV” to the small screen with numerous ABC shows featuring buxom, attractive, and often scantily-clad young women. It is no surprise, therefore, that when Lucille Ball joined the Network in 1986, long after Silverman’s departure, her series “Life With Lucy” was a terrible failure.

He left to become President and CEO of NBC in 1978. In stark contrast with his tenures at CBS and ABC, his three-year stint at the network proved to be a difficult period, marked by several high-profile failures. Silverman and NBC succeeded in luring Lucille Ball away from CBS, and rolled out a star-studded primetime special to announce her arrival at the peacock network titled “Lucy Moves to NBC.” It turned out to be virtually the only thing Ball did on NBC. Her short stay there was mostly marked by appearances on Bob Hope specials and one failed pilot titled “Bungle Abbey.”  

Fred Silverman: “I’m sorry, I can’t give the Oval Office an hour of prime time. After all, that’s only the White House, not the ‘Little House on the Prairie.’ No, no, don’t put Rosalynn on. I’m in a very important meeting with the first lady of television. That’s right, Lucy.”

Fred Silverman was a character in Lucy’s special, but did not play himself. The role was taken by a youthful Gary Imhoff (above left).  Imhoff was just 28 years old (but looked far younger) when the special was taped, while the real Fred Silverman was 42. The gag was that the man running NBC was a mere child.

Lucy: “Mr. Silverman, may I get you something? Scotch and soda?  Bourbon and water?  Milk and cookies?”
Fred Silverman: “I’ve been a fan of yours since you started, Miss Ball.”
Lucy: “Oh? You had a TV set in your nursery.”

It is unclear why Silverman did not play himself in this special. Something similar happened when a role was was written for real-life MGM producer Dore Schary on “I Love Lucy.” Schary withdrew at the last minute, claiming illness, although others later said that he got cold feet. The part was filled by Vivian Vance’s husband, Phil Ober. In 1981, Silverman left NBC and formed The Fred Silverman Company (formerly Intermedia Entertainment) to produce shows to sell to television.

In 1995, he was awarded the Women in Film Lucy Award (named after Lucille Ball) in recognition of excellence and innovation in creative works that have enhanced the perception of women through the medium of television. In 1999, Silverman was inducted into the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences Hall of Fame, of which Lucille Ball was in the first group of nominees.