NBC's Silverman Vows to "Bring Sexy Back" and Hires New Team

I'm not sure exactly sure what to make of NBC's new entertainment co-chair Ben Silverman. While he's been cast as the hero of the fumbled palace coup at the network (or Brandon Tartikoff 2.0), and he's certainly respected for his taste, charisma and enthusiasm, his words often confound me. On Saturday, his pretty mug appeared above the fold on page one of the LAT's Calendar section with the pull quote: "I'm just trying to bring sexy back," which was his response when he was asked what changes the average viewer might expect under his regime.

While I was trying to figure out what kind of grown man liberally quotes Justin Timberlake in a national newspaper (was he being earnest? Ironic? Glib?), Silverman spent the weekend working away, putting his new programming team into place. Katherine Pope will serve as the day-to-day head of NBC Universal Television Studio, replacing the exiting Angela Bromstad, Variety reports. On the network side, Teri Weinberg, who has run scripted programming at Silverman's Reveille banner, is in line to take over Pope's old duties in development. Separately, NBC U TV Studio comedy chief Shelley McCrory confirmed over the weekend she's leaving her post, ending a 15-year career at the company. Her departure had been in the works for months, well before Silverman came onboard.

Meanwhile, today's LAT asks GE's Chairman and Chief Executive Jeffrey Immelt some tough questions about NBC/Universal, which has watched its advertising revenue drop by nearly $1 billion. However, Immelt, for now, seems resolved to hold on to the entertainment asset. Here's part of the wide-ranging Q&A that pertains to the network:

NBC's prime-time problems continue to dog the entire company. What portion of NBC's prime time goes to the bottom line of GE?

I think it's less than 1%. You just never want to rationalize the lack of success.... There are very few things inside the company that are as important to me as making sure NBC restores and returns to its levels of performance, both financially, which we will do quickly, but also in terms of perception, which will take time.

Could you discuss the NBC rebuilding?

On the creative process, you've got to pick people you like and really empower them to do the job. Look at Les Moonves from CBS. Patience was his virtue. His willingness to stick with shows in the early days when he was really on the bottom served him well. When you are in the position that we are in, you're going to have to take the things you are building on and stick with them for a while.

Why change leaders at NBC now? What went wrong?

I would rather not go into that. The timing was awkward but sometimes it works out that way.

You met with Ben Silverman, the newly hired co-chairman of NBC Entertainment. What impressed you?

What I liked about Ben was his breadth and his leadership capabilities. He has a good sense of globalization and the digital world. He has an exceptionally good way about thinking about shows like "The Office" and "Heroes" and how they play on the network and online and how you can go between the two.