Who's Nerdier, Uglier, Meaner--WGA or AMPTP? - Posted January 8, 2008
Who said this? Sadly, it feels like the nerdiest, ugliest, meanest kids in the high school are trying to cancel the prom. But NBC wants to try to keep that prom alive. Ben Silverman, head of NBC said that. And he said it about the WGA's refusal to grant a waiver for the booze-fest... [FishBowlLA]

LAT In 90 Seconds - Posted December 3, 2007
"Dick Cheney Is Still A War Criminal, Hilary Clinton Is Still Satan And I'm Back On the Radio": Shock-Jock Don Imus tried to say little has changed in the time between his firing from CBS eight months ago to his return to the air, on ABC, today. But that would give... [FishBowlLA]

Morning Reading List, 11.09.07 - Posted November 9, 2007
Good morning Washington. Pricey shampoos are your thing. Can you answer this week's CQ Political Trivia? The Associated Press reports, "Newspaper publisher Lee Enterprises Inc. said Thursday its fourth-quarter profit nearly doubled versus a year ago with much of the gain attributed to one-time benefits of tax changes and other issues." We knew we... [FishBowlDC]

W Mag Lassoes NBC's Silverman - Posted September 14, 2007
NBC Universal's TV entertainment chief Ben Silverman has industry insiders divided thanks to his success on the small-screen coupled with an over-the-top attitude. W Magazine's October issue lets readers judge for themselves in a feature - penned by Senior Writer Gabriel Snyder - on NBC's main man and here's a sampling... [FishBowlLA]

W Mag Lassoes NBC's Silverman - Posted September 14, 2007
NBC Universal's TV entertainment chief Ben Silverman has industry insiders divided thanks to his success on the small-screen coupled with an over-the-top attitude. W Magazine's October issue lets readers judge for themselves in a feature - penned by Senior Writer Gabriel Snyder - on NBC's main man and here's a sampling... [FishBowlLA]

LAT in 90 Seconds - Posted July 17, 2007
Sorkin Finds Losing Is A Bitch: In a sit-down with Aaron Sorkin, Patrick Goldstein (an avowed Sorkin fan, like ourselves) writes that Studio 60 failed on the weight of its own bad premise more than anything else. Sorkin, though, seems to blame a number of factors -- not the least of... [FishBowlLA]

Ben Silverman Sick and Nervous In His National Debut - Posted July 16, 2007
FBLA guest blogger Dan Cox mined the cavernous troll-infested passages of TCA this morning, and files this bit of sparkly goodness: Newly named NBC Entertainment co-chairman Ben Silverman looked particularly coiffed in that "I don't give a shit" disheveled kind of way as he was faced for the first time with about... [FishBowlLA]

Peacock Productions Following Proud Tradition - Posted July 12, 2007
Is Ben Silverman influencing NBC News by some insidious mind control? Peacock Productions, which sounds like a soft-porn video company, is a new nonfiction provider for NBC, MSNBC, etc. NBC News president, Steve Capus says: There have been times in the past where the news category was viewed too narrowly. This is... [FishBowlLA]

Morning Reading List, 06.08.07 - Posted June 8, 2007
Good morning Washington. An NBC release announced that "According to Nielsen Media Research data, 'Meet the Press with Tim Russert' topped the Sunday morning public affairs competition, winning the week ending Sunday, June 3, 2007 in total viewers, homes and in the key demographic adults 25-54." On Sunday, "Meet the Press"... [FishBowlDC]

Nazarena Velez--Dancing With the Stars in Argentina /Station Fined for Sexy Strip - Posted June 8, 2007
Down in Argentina, Nazarena Velez put on a show on Dancing with the Stars (Bailando por un sueno) that makes Janet Jackson look like the singing nun. Not only was the presenting station fined by the Argentinian version of the FCC, so were all the gossip shows that ran excerpts. Ben... [FishBowlLA]

Six Degrees: Luke Ford and Ben Silverman - Posted June 6, 2007
Luke Ford once worked for Ben Silverman. Ford was temping, made email pals with Silverman's assistant in London, and Silverman went through her emails and found a chapter of Ford's book on sex in the movies. Somehow, it's not likely that Ford will get a reality show at NBC, unless Silverman... [FishBowlLA]

Nikki Finke Rankles Ben Silverman - Posted June 4, 2007
James Hibbard, at TV Week.com, reports that Nikki Finke got under the skin of NBC's newly anointed Ben Silverman with all that private plane stuff. Has he read what she wrote about Teri Weinberg? Weinberg allegedly takes credit for the sucess of The Office, which must be news to Greg Daniels. FBLA... [FishBowlLA]

Nikki Finke on Ben Silverman's Sweet Deal with NBC and All That Have Gone Before - Posted May 30, 2007
While we've not always agreed with Nikki Finke, her latest post is a work of genius, if only for her skill with Google Images. Never have so many people looked so dreadful--and with good reason. Writing about NBC's cozy deal with Ben Silverman, Finke pins Jeff Zucker to the wall, writing:... [FishBowlLA]

Morning Reading List, 05.30.07 - Posted May 30, 2007
Good morning Washington. You would rather have 15 hour work days and a three day weekend. An ABC release announced, "According to Nielsen Media Research for May Sweeps, ABC News 'This Week with George Stephanopoulos' averaged 2.55 million Total Viewers, marking the program's best May sweep among Total Viewers since 2002. In addition,... [FishBowlDC]

Barnum Awards Move back to LA/Silverman, Tisch, Blackley Honored , - Posted May 29, 2007
The annual P.T. Barnum Awards, which honor Tufts University alumni in the arts & entertainment industries, are going to producer Steve Tisch, CAA's video game guru Seamus Blackley and man of the hour, Ben Silverman. At next week's ceremony at CAA, they'll receive bronze statues of P.T. Barnum's famous Jumbo the Elephant.... [FishBowlLA]

NBC Snags Reveille's Silverman, Blows Taps for Reilly - Posted May 29, 2007
FBLA's anonymous tip turned out to be true: NBC is trying to ditch Kevin Reilly, and right before prom, too. News of Reilly's replacement by Ben Silverman of Reveille Entertainment was emailed around town. Reilly himself found out via email. According to Nikki Finke, she knew before he did. (Think he's not... [FishBowlLA]

Changes At WSJ, NBC - Posted May 28, 2007
Some Memorial Day weekend job shuffling of note. First, from our own Revolving Door: Brian Steinberg, Wall Street Journal ad columnist, is headed to AdAge where he'll be the TV editor. And some big holiday weekend hustling at NBC, where Jeff Zucker has tapped reality mogul Ben Silverman to replace NBC Entertainment president... [FishBowlNY]

NBC Trying to Dump Kevin Reilly: A Completely Unsubstantiated Rumor - Posted May 25, 2007
Our tipsters tell us reality mogul Ben Silverman has been offered NBC Entertainment president Kevin Reilly's job. Is it true? We don't know. But we'll find out and get back to you. Is it grotesquely irresponsible to publish these kinds of rumors on a news site: Absolutely. Welcome to New Journalism. [Update: 11:20... [FishBowlLA]

Lunch at Michael's: Tina Brown's Bathroom Promise - Posted May 16, 2007
We were expecting a celeb sighting or two since it's Upfront time — the week the networks trot out their overpaid and underfed stars to shill for their supper — but alas, there were no signs of McDreamy or Matthew Fox anywhere. (Thankfully, we didn't see any cavemen either.) Disappointed, we... [FishBowlNY]

Lunch at Michael's: Brokaw & Burns Break Bread - Posted March 28, 2007
The scene at 55th & Fifth was bustling as always thanks to one iconic newsman (we always sit up a little straighter when Tom Brokaw is in the room), a mix of movie moguls and the usual roundup of public relations pitchmen and women. Peggy Siegal did her usual flitting from... [FishBowlNY]

Details Picks 26 Mavericks and 1 Ryan Seacrest - Posted March 22, 2007
Details magazine, where the devil must be, lists the 2007 Mavericks--27 thinkers behind this year's most exciting innovations. From the press release: DETAILS' 2007 Mavericks lists current revolutionary leaders current revolutionary leaders--from media and entertainment to politics and technology--who are improving our lives in areas we didn't even know needed improving. Among those... [FishBowlLA]