You Don't Have Ben Silverman to Kick Around Anymore, SUNY Bing Grad Gaspin Promoted

Was it something I said?

THR reports this morning that Silverman's out and Jeff Gaspin is promoted to the title of Chairman, NBC Universal Television Entertainment, and Marc Graboff, who was co-chair with Silverman will report to Gaspin, whose role will be expanded to include oversight of Bonnie Hammer's cable entertainment division.

And I can't imagine that Bonnie Hammer, who makes money there with Bravo, USA, Syfy, Oxygen and the other Universal cable channels is so thrilled today, either, with someone vaulting over her after she's turned in such a great few years of growth.

I would have given her the job. At least you can count on the fact that she has good taste. Gaspin comes from the finance side per his NBC Uni bio and his past with the network and outside it at a shopping channel doesn't give any indication that he can find that next big NBC hit:

During his first five years at NBC, as vice president of Programming and Development, Gaspin helped develop and launch “Dateline NBC.” Prior to that, he was responsible for the expansion of the “Today” franchise to seven days. Gaspin also previously served as director of Financial Planning for NBC News, overseeing production finance for “Late Night with David Letterman” and “Saturday Night Live,” as well as for NBC’s TV stations division.

When they say helped develop and launch, I'd like to know exactly what he did to "develop" Dateline. Develop Dateline? What, he invented the newsmagazine format? I don't think so.

His educational background is an interesting one for a network exec, a Masters in strategic planning from NYU's Graduate School of Business and an undergrad from SUNY Binghamton.

Yea SUNY, though! Maybe his parents weren't filthy rich and he has some understanding of regular people and what they want to see on TV.

I'm also a SUNY alum who grew up during the same time in almost the same place (about 25 minutes away) and I have great taste in TV.

I said, "I have great taste in TV."

"Yes, Joe. Yes, you do. We love all the shows you love. You speak for us with your one voice!"

And I do like that I found this image of him on the web accepting an honor from PowerUp, the lesbian entertainment industry insiders group. If a straight guy is comfortable in a ballroom with the PowerUp crowd I'm good with him, too.

NY Times from Jan. 2008:

My first job, in 1984, was as manager of ad sales pricing for NBC’s local stations. I thought, “At least I’m not working in a bank.” Then I moved to the entertainment division and did the budgeting for programs that included David Letterman’s show and “Days of Our Lives.”

Next I did budgeting in the news division. The company held a writing contest every year, and the winner got to have lunch with Brandon Tartikoff, the president of NBC Entertainment. To anyone who wanted to be in the business in a creative way, he was a god.

I submitted a script for the sitcom “Family Ties” and came in third.

That's a promising piece of news. He worshipped Tartikoff and wrote a Family Ties spec script.

More of this post after the jump.

(BTW, so did I, on both counts. The Family Ties script, written with Michael Berick, was fine, didn't get either of us anywhere.)

Click the NYT link and read the whole thing. Besides a quick exit from NBC after the Dateline/GM controversy he's been with them most of his professional life, is approaching 50 (not a crime in my book certainly), has a family, comes from Queens, claims that Larry David is his favorite TV character (though he should change that to Chuck Bartkowski now that he has the big gig) and has nine TVs in his home.

Ironically, that time away from NBC was with Barry Diller at QVC. Ironic because Silverman is heading for a post with Diller's IAC in some newly created role where they plan on getting into programming, first for the web with threats to go to your TV dial.

From what it sounds like in the THR story today, maybe he can grab the Seacrest away from E! and sign him to an exclusive deal with IAC.

And Seacrest is tweeting away in support of his pal Ben, who as you'll remember called his show from the Beijing Olympics with some curious West Hollywood references or when he was cruising on NBC program provider Reveille/Shine's owner Elisabeth Murdoch's yacht.

Considering Seacrest's producing output, including the Kardashians show, Denise Richards' Colon It's Complicated and Momma's Boys, the NBC showcase for hate speech from an Iraqi-American mom, maybe it should be really exclusive.

Like exclusively for Ryan Seacrest, at home, on a DVD that they burn and give to him to take home.

That would be appreciated.

Comments

[Wolferiver]

1.

Well, whatever Gaspin turns out to be, can we all at least do a little happy dance now that Silverman is OUTTA THERE??!?