NBC's Silverman wooing Fox reality exec

By JOSEF ADALIAN


Fox's dark prince of reality TV could be bolting to another company, possibly NBC Universal.

Mike Darnell, the net's longtime head of alternative programming, has been talking to Ben Silverman about coming to the Peacock in order to launch his own company, three people familiar with the situation said. The conversations come as Darnell and his reps are also talking to Fox about renewing his deal at the network, which expires shortly.

Darnell has become closely associated with the Fox brand, thanks to a string of audacious audience grabbers from "When Animals Attack" and "Temptation Island" to more recent hits such as "Hell's Kitchen" and "Are You Smarter than a Fifth Grader?" He's also overseen the development of TV's biggest overall smash, "American Idol."

With that track record, Darnell has developed a particularly close relationship with News Corp. prexy-COO Peter Chernin. That's why it's hard to imagine Chernin letting Darnell walk away from Fox and why some industry insiders believe Darnell will ultimately make a deal with Fox, perhaps getting a prexy title in the process.

But Darnell might not be interested in keeping a network gig. Despite having pride of ownership in the hits he's developed, he's had no financial stake in them. By luring him to NBC U as a producer, Silverman is offering Darnell the chance to start his own company -- and make a whole lot of money.

Of course, Silverman would also be bringing in some competition for another company with a deep NBC U relationship: Reveille, the banner he launched five years ago.

A window in Darnell's contract has allowed other companies to approach Darnell, and it's believed that, in addition to NBC, Darnell has other offers on his plate.

NBC and Fox declined comment.