Well Known Network Exec Fred Silverman Dies

Fred Silverman, perhaps the most famous network "suit" of all time died last week at 82.  Silverman was  regularly featured in TV Guide at a time, when the medium was dominated by the big 3, CBS, ABC, and NBC.  

Silverman started with CBS being credited with making it a success.   He then moved on to ABC, again helping to make that network number one in the ratings. He then could not resist the challenge to go to NBC, which at the time, was the struggling network,  his tenure there was not as successful, however, he may have "planted the seeds" that allowed that network to later have a roaring comeback. 

TV writer Lee Goldberg knew Silverman and write this tribute, click here.

Old Walla Walla Radio Remembered 23--Bob Garred

I had written about Bob Garred in a previous article.  He was one of many famous radio people from Walla Walla.  My parents bought there house on Palouse Street from his parents in the mid 1960s.  I  heard that I had his old room, which is quite coincidental because of my interest in radio history.  According to an article in the Walla Walla Union-Bulletin archives,  Garred started at KUJ in Walla Walla, then went on to CBS, he was with ABC when he died at 41 in December of 1956.

CBS War Correspondent Bob Simon

Viewers and colleagues alike are saddened to hear of the passing of veteran CBS war correspondent Bob Simon,  Simon who was most recently with 60 Minutes was killed in an auto accident in Manhattan.  The graduate of Brandeis University was probably best remembered for being captured with his film crew in the first Gulf War.  Bob's daughter Tanya is a producer for 60 Minutes.

Colbert Tapped To Replace Letterman

CBS has announced that Stephen Colbert will replace retiring The Late Show host David Letterman in 2015.   Colbert's show The Colbert Report on Comedy Central has been a hit since it's launch in 2005.  Colbert, in my opinion, seems to have that certain type of subtle  humor (for lack of a better word) that would be a good fit for the network, similar to the style that allow Letterman  a 20 year run.

The Night That Changed America

The two surviving Beatles, Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr, return to the Ed Sullivan Theatre where they made history 50 years ago.   
Dave Letterman joins them on their return, part of a CBS special.

"Dangerously Funny" The Smothers Brothers

If you watch a show on network TV like Modern Family or 2 And A Half Men and wonder how they get away with "saying that", you may want to thank (or maybe blame)"The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour". What began with a clean cut pair of brothers who did folk songs with a little comedy mixed in, ended with two angry brothers (eventually with each other) at all out war with the CBS network censors, the government and the Viet Nam War.
David Bianculli writes the history of the brothers, who start out in clubs and work their way up to a "sure to fail" time slot against TV's gold standard, Bonanza. TV viewer may not have been aware about all the battles going on because every taped show had to be submitted to the network censors. The Smothers did not for the most part use bad language or sexual situations. They mostly poked fun at the U. S. Government in ways that now seem quite tame. The show was eventually cancelled after being renewed, triggering an expensive lawsuit. The ironic thing is that had the network allowed the show to run it's course, the show may have been soon forgotten. By sending the show to an early demise, the brothers became a cause celebre and a symbol of the war on the establishment that so characterized the 1960s.

"And Thats The Way It Is.."

Walter Cronkite, dead at 92.

Football Broadcaster John Madden Retires

Veteran Football commentator and sports personality John Madden announced his retirement today. He started as a linebacker coach for the Oakland Raiders in 1967, the season that the Raiders went to their first Super Bowl. In 1969. he became a head coach for the team. He guided the Raiders to their first Super Bowl win, then retired in 1979. He joined CBS that year. Madden has worked for all 4 majorTV networks at one time or another. He not only belongs in the Sports broadcasting Hall Of Fame, they should name the Hall after him!