“Forgotten Hollywood”- Three Times a Charm…

Posted on January 30, 2020 by raideoman1 | No Comments

Manny P. here…

“`Fred Silverman was a television executive and producer. He worked as an executive at all three television networks. Small screens were filled with iconic programming throughout the 1970s and 1980s developed and brought along by Fred Silverman (below right).

“`His first job at CBS was to oversee the network’s daytime programming. In 1970, Silverman was promoted from Vice-President of Program Planning and Development to Vice President of Programs; heading the department at CBS. Fred orchestrated the rural purge of 1971, which eventually eliminated many popular country-oriented shows, such as  Green Acres, Mayberry R. F. D., Hee Haw, and The Beverly Hillbillies from the network’s schedule.

“`What emerged, adult-themed comedies, such as All in the Family, The Mary Tyler Moore Show, and their spin-offs.  Plus, M*A*S*H*, The Waltons, Barnaby Jones, and Kojak. He developed Good Times to directly take on Happy Days.  He also revived The Price is Right and Match Game.

“`When he moved to ABC, he brought back Happy Days from the brink of cancellation, and created Laverne and Shirley. Fred green-lit  The Love Boat, Fantasy Island, The Bionic Woman, Charlie’s Angels, Three’s Company, Eight is Enough and Soap. The respected mini-series Rich Man Poor Man and Roots were developed during Fred Silverman’s watch. Family Feud was created by his team, as well.

“`His tenure at NBC was problematic, but he did offer Diff’rent Strokes, and The Facts of Life; and was instrumental in a future airing of Cheers and St. Elsewhere. Fred also hired host Pat Sajak to oversee Wheel of Fortune.

“`His production company revived a number of classic television programs with actors, who spent most of their time on CBS Perry Mason, Matlock, Diagnosis: Murder and In the Heat of the Night (Raymond Burr, Andy Griffith, Dick Van Dyke, and Carroll O’Connor).

“`In 1999, Fred Silverman was inducted into the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences Hall of Fame. He was eighty-two when he passed.

Until next time>                               “never forget”

This entry was posted on Thursday, January 30th, 2020 at 9:10 pm and is filed under Blog by Manny Pacheco. You can follow any comments to this post through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.


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