Ben Silverman's protest poetry

For all that slick surface demeanor and glad-handing prowess, NBC Entertainment co-chairman Ben Silverman has the soul of a poet.

Herewith, the powerful protest verse from Silverman, as delivered at Wednesday’s press conference announcing NBC’s 2008-09 schedule:

*

Fight the Power

We all deal with
a cacophony
of bad news

We want to give
an opportunity
to our audience
to have some fun

and enjoy their lives

watching our TV
programs

*

A World Without Laughter

I've watched
the other comedies
on the other networks

and

I've never laughed

*

End the Madness

If I had
one
more
person
sitting next to me
on a plane

and tell me
Friday Night Lights
was their favorite show
I
was going
to lose my mind

*

A Prison in My Own Mind

We all go home
at the end
of the day
with an ankle bracelet

For me, it’s a Blackberry.

*

Untitled: The Office Spinoff

We will not go forward
and
put it on the air

if it’s not absolutely
what we want
it to be

and only
if it doesn’t
damage the mothership.

*

Ode to “Chuck”

Zach Levy
is a guy

Who is totally
accessible
to any generation

A ton
of young people
are tuning
into that show

Zach does crazy
stupid stuff

That resonates a with a young audience

*

Surrealism in the 21st Century

What’s wrong
with the car

Saving the day

And the good
guys winning?