Fred Silverman

Fred Silverman (born September 13, 1937) is an American television executive and producer who has the distinction of working at the top position of all three major networks (CBS, ABC, NBC) and bringing many hit programs to all three. He was also responsible for stopping the hated wiping process and, despite not being a fan of the genre, brought game shows back to CBS' daytime lineup.

While Silverman generally developed hits during his time at CBS (1970-75) and ABC (1975-78), his move to NBC in 1978 would prove near-fatal for the network: While launching various hits for the network, along with revitalizing its news division and bringing back the classic Peacock emblem, Silverman's tenure was generally marked with low ratings and well-known failures Hello, Larry, Pink Lady and Jeff, Supertrain, the 1980 Olympics (NBC had spent many millions of dollars to cover it, only for America to boycott), and the 1980-81 season of Saturday Night Live. The ratings got to a point where the staff parodied him with "Loud as a Peacock", which he ordered to be destroyed after Don Imus played it on his WNBC radio show in early 1981.

After Silverman left NBC in 1981, he began his own production company and developed such hits as Matlock, In the Heat of the Night, and Diagnosis: Murder.

Wheel of Fortune
Silverman nearly cancelled Wheel in 1980. Twice.


 * The first time was around April, when Wheel was considered for cancellation with two other games to debut The David Letterman Show on June 23; this was quickly dismissed, as discussed by Chuck Woolery and Susan Stafford on May 7. The victims were Chain Reaction (which had only debuted six months earlier), High Rollers (debuted in 1978), and The Hollywood Squares (debuted in 1966).
 * The second attempt, around July, was carried through to the point of Wheel taping a series finale for August 1 and several staffers (including Charlie O'Donnell) leaving for elsewhere. The decision was eventually overturned, with Letterman's show cut to 60 minutes instead.