Trash-talking Ben Silverman, the 37-year-old entertainment honcho of NBC and co-owner of Manhattan hellspot Socialista, refers to himself as a "kid." Here is his genius explained: "'We were putting together the opening credits and there were all these boring shots of watercoolers and office supplies,' says [B.J.] Novak, also a writer of The Office. 'Ben zipped in and said, "This is a show about people! I want to see people in the credits!" So from the beginning, his instincts defined the direction of the show. And then he left and probably went to some party with a tiger.'" Wow. That is talent. (Also he is the dude that arranged all those insane product placements on "The Office," which were foul.) And! He is bringing back talking car show "Knight Rider"—presumably because his new "Bionic Woman" is doing so incredibly well (as in flailing, being rewritten days before air, costing millions of dollars and circling the drain).
It's Ten O'Clock. Do You Know Where Your Network President Is? [Esquire]
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