CITY-TV dumps Peter Silverman
The television legend who fought 20 years for the little guy now suddenly needs a little help of his own

By JOE WARMINGTON
The Toronto Sun
June 12  
                                                          
CARRYING PLACE -- Who does Peter Silverman call for help when he's the one who feels he has gotten the short end of the stick?

Last Wednesday, the longtime consumer advocate and ombudsman for CITY-TV found out how some of the thousands who have called him felt when he was unceremoniously booted off the station with which he had a love affair since he began as a business reporter in 1981.

It's a strange twist of fate for the two-time Gemini nominee and 2005 winner of the Edward R. Murrow Award for broadcast excellence, since on his twice-weekly Silverman Helps segment he's the one who normally takes on the woes of those with such problems.

And the irony is not lost on him that there really is no other Peter Silverman out there to be the equalizer. So who does he complain to?

"My wife," he laughs. "She is my rock."

Silverman's wife of 37 years, Frances Burton, sits by his side, clearly feeling the same sting of what she thinks is an unjust way to send her husband into retirement.

"Kicked in the teeth," she called it, adding someone who had the kind of "distinguished career" deserves better.

"It did hurt," the 76-year-old Silverman, who has a PhD in history and a law background, said at his cottage on Lake Ontario, south of Trenton. "I have been out here at the cottage ever since it happened and this is a pretty good place to lick your wounds."

ONE-YEAR EXTENSION

Prior to last Wednesday, Silverman was easing into retirement with his contract ending Aug. 31 -- one year shy of his 20th year doing Silverman Helps.

"In my mind I was hoping to get a one-year extension from Rogers so I could make it 20 years. But even if it was to end Aug. 31, that would have been okay with me too. But to be called in and have our segment pulled as of that second was not pleasant."

He said his producer of 19 years, Terry O'Keefe, and research assistant, Christina Tenaglia, were also let go. "When I asked for a reason I was told they were not required to give me one," he said.

Silverman worked in the era of CITY when Moses Znaimer was king and news director Stephen Hurlbut "protected me" from all of those who tried to shut him down.

And there were plenty. Those who were trying to cheat people never like it when a guy has the power to expose them and force them to pay back the people who were cheated.

Silverman did this thousands of times. "We had a 95% success rate," he said proudly. "That is a legacy."

PART OF A BRAND

But things change in the media and CITY-TV is now owned by Rogers and new ideas abound. Silverman understands this. He has a lot of respect for Ted Rogers and his people and realizes everything changes.

"But they spent a heck of a lot of money for a brand," he said, adding he always was proud to be part of that CITY brand.

Calls to CITY and Rogers brass were not returned yesterday but their point of view is certainly welcome in a future column.

There is no mention of his dismissal on citytv.com, which also still lists Silverman as a "personality."

He can now be reached at petergsilverman@gmail.com.

Of course, it's always a media company's prerogative to air or run who or what they choose, but letting him finish up on his own terms would have been classier and not hurt anyone.

I always loved the way he approached his gig -- in kind of a Mike Wallace and Columbo way, where the so-called bad guy understood they had better do the right thing or this was going on air.

I also always loved it when they decided to get tough with him.

Last year, he was assaulted by the owner of an eye glasses shop while he was working on a story about counterfeit sunglasses. The guy was 30 years younger and Silverman didn't flinch once. He is one tough customer. You have to be to try to right society's wrongs each day -- like the time he asked Health Minister George Smitherman if he was okay with people in need of a specific medication not funded by the province dying.

Because of Silverman it is now.

"We solved many things for people just by making one phone call," Silverman said.

That speaks for the kind of power Silverman Helps had. "There was no consideration to the 10,000 letters we have received in the last year," Silverman said.

He was actually working on two stories that he doubts will now ever see the light of day. Who will those people go to now to get results?

I was teasing Peter yesterday that maybe we can get a reprieve from the Rogers folks, like the re-hiring of sports babe Kathryn Humphries or even Erin Davis smartly being brought back in at CHFI after a ridiculous dismissal.

Or how about finding another home, like the Hockey Night in Canada theme song did this week by going to CTV?

"I am all ears," said Silverman, who says that, as an old boxer, he still has some fight in him.

For now, though, he'll sit back, look out at that beautiful lake and savour the moments of a career of advocacy for the person without power. "It always felt good to help people," he said.

Perhaps someone will step up for the guy who did for others for so many years. Who would you call about that?

Anybody know Ted's number?  

You know, all the self-agrandizing publicity CTV has been giving itself by hiring talent and theme songs away from CBC aside, perhaps CTV Toronto could reach out and hire him.  

76!!! Time to wrap it up and take some R & R dude!  There's a beach in Miami with your name on it... embrace the freedom.

Yes, certainly shows the commitment Rogers has to their people.  I just read the CRTC transcripts from Edmonton!  What a load of promises, the one to help the city by increasing radio revenue was especially heartwarming.  As was Byron Christopher's thinly masked vitriol against Corus.  At least he also told off the CRTC for being ineffectual - that should warm them to the Rogers cause.  I bet they were cringing while he was spouting his self-defined ethical standards.  

I think if enough people complain or stop watching CITY they'll have to bring him back...atleast for 1 more year.  Worked for Erin Davis right?

Persistence, loyalty, quality work and... a buck, ninety-five will still only get you a medium coffee.

Do managers still even use the "L" word.... with a straight face?

Quoted from Kahuna

76!!! Time to wrap it up and take some R & R dude!  There's a beach in Miami with your name on it... embrace the freedom.

So, because he's 76, that means he doen't have the right to be treated with respect and dignity? His contract was almost up...why not let it run out?

Oh, thats right, he's an old codger and he won't notice the kick in the balls after all those years.

No wonder the upcoming generation has no respect for...anything.

Guys like Tim Russert who have class and honour are literally a dying breed. Sad.