NBC: nothing but crap

Recently, I found myself watching the “Knight Rider” remake/TV movie/backdoor pilot on NBC. Though not a fan of the original, I gave the program a chance, mostly because there wasn’t anything else on. Sadly, the only things I remember about the two-hour program were how atrocious the acting was and how the entire thing was nothing more than a blatant ad for Ford.\nActually, let me take that back. I also recall the continuous plugs for the network’s new show, “My Dad Is Better Than Your Dad,” yet another reality program like those NBC has been pumping out for months. At first, I was disgusted with the addition of more reality shows to the NBC slate. But then I realized something.\nThis is NBC, and based on its recent programming decisions, I wasn’t too surprised. \nI see NBC as the laughing stock of the major networks because of wonderful pieces of “entertainment” just like “Dad.” And the primary reason for the network’s demise: co-chairman of entertainment Ben Silverman. \nSince being named to that position in mid-2007 despite little experience — he somewhat had his hands in the Americanizing of “Ugly Betty” and “The Office” — Silverman has destroyed the miniscule amount of momentum the Peacock network drudged up before Kevin Reilly stepped down. Reilly, now the head honcho at FOX, was the primary force behind NBC’s few quality shows — “Friday Night Lights,” “30 Rock” and “My Name Is Earl.”\nThis is a network that used to be home to the likes of “Seinfeld,” “Hill Street Blues,” and “The West Wing.” Now, it is continuously beaten into the fourth position in the ratings. And what has Silverman done to change any of this?\nFirst, he took the network’s two “flagship” shows, “Heroes” and “The Office,” and attempted to milk them to death for the 2007-2008 season. “Heroes” got 30 hours combined with a spin-off called “Origins” while “The Office” got an unprecedented 30 episodes for the 2007-08 season. The move was obviously a bit much considering the first chunk of “Heroes” episodes was a disaster and the special one-hour editions of “The Office” struggled as well. \nSecond, Silverman has been slowly murdering of one of the best shows in the past ten years, “Friday Night Lights,” by moving it to the Friday night timeslot of doom. Just because it goes with the show’s title doesn’t make it a good idea. And now, post-writer’s strike, Silverman has been lobbying for anyone that asks him about “FNL” to “watch ‘30 Rock,’” because it’s “the best show on TV.” \nFinally, he’s allowed NBC’s schedule to be filled with pathetic reality game shows like “Amnesia” and “1 vs. 100.” And even when he and NBC have presented “original” material it’s been product placement-laced reboots like “Knight Rider,” or trash such as “Bionic Woman” and “Lipstick Jungle.” \nNBC and Silverman should be ashamed of themselves. Their programming is clearly the worst on network TV, and yet they continue to sabotage themselves by making bonehead moves that will guarantee they stay at the bottom. Let’s just hope no one gives them the great idea of rebooting other old classics like “Alf” and “The A Team.”