I, Mudd
PGage
alternative Cronkite Replacement to Rather? I could use without the
word "balanced", but I think he is exactly right that the American
people need (not sure if we deserve) a "thoughtful and balanced
account of what happened" over the last 24 hours. The internet and 24
hour cable news does not change that.
"No matter what, the American people deserve a thoughtful and balanced
account of what has happened in their world during the last 24 hours,"
veteran newsman Roger Mudd tells Philadelphia's The Bulletin. "I
devoutly hope that the evening news will never disappear from our
lives."
Mudd, who recently turned 80, was in the Keystone State to promote his
first book, The Place To Be: Washington, CBS, and the Glory Days of
Television News. Mudd spent more than two decades at CBS News before
moving over to NBC News, and eventually to PBS and The History
Channel.
Mudd tells The Bulletin's Sally Friedman that "quality has dropped
immeasurably" in the television news world of today.
It's in stark contrast, he says, to the era referenced in his book
title, the Glory Days. "Back then," he explains, "we told the story
from the beginning. There was no walking around and talking, no
flapping of hands. There was just strong reporting... and I wish that
era would return."
Kevin Marousek, RPCV
>
> Roger Mudd is 80? Wasn't he one of the young guys who was an
> alternative Cronkite Replacement to Rather?
The conspiracy theorists point to the fact Roger was a direct
descendant to the doctor who set the broken leg of the man who killed
Abraham Lincoln as the reason he was passed up for the anchor chair.
Either that, or it was because he wasn't perky enough.
--
Kevin M.
PGage
I don't think Roger is a direct descendant of Dr. Mudd; the lack of
perkiness is probably the better answer for why he was passed over (or
maybe because he refused to show enough leg on camera).
Paul Murray
doctor.
I seem to recall that Mudd's not getting the anchor chair was sealed
when he was quoted as saying that Cronkite was showing no signs of
stepping in front of a truck.
PGage
>
> Roger Mudd is definitely related (not sure how directly) to Booth's
> doctor.
He is related, but he is not a direct descendant. He is a 5th cousin.
Tom Wolper
>
> Roger Mudd is 80? Wasn't he one of the young guys who was an
> alternative Cronkite Replacement to Rather? I could use without the
> word "balanced", but I think he is exactly right that the American
> people need (not sure if we deserve) a "thoughtful and balanced
> account of what happened" over the last 24 hours. The internet and 24
> hour cable news does not change that.
Here's another interview with Rachel Sklar of The Huffington Post:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/04/26/remember-when-cbs-wasthe_n_98315.html
PGage
> Here's another interview with Rachel Sklar of The Huffington Post:
>
> http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/04/26/remember-when-cbs-wasthe_n_98315.html
That is an interesting piece. I like this part, which I have heard
before, about *Broadcast News":
Q: Is it true that Susan Zarinsky was the model for Holly Hunter in
"Broadcast News"?
A: No, she was - she was a consultant on the movie and I don't know
whether you remember - what was the name of the newscaster in that
movie?
Q: William Hurt's character? [PGAGE: The character's name was "Tom Grunick"]
A: Yeah. He always shook hands in a certain way - with his right hand
he would touch your right hand and with his left hand he would touch
your right elbow and that's EXACTLY the way Dan Rather shakes hands.
Q: Really?
A: She passed that on to the producer/director of the film and he
worked that in every time he shakes hands, you can see that.