Tom Snyder RIP

“SAN FRANCISCO -- Tom Snyder, who pioneered the late-late television talk show with a personal yet abrasive style and his robust, trademark laugh, died in San Francisco Sunday from complications of leukemia. He was 71.

Mr. Snyder conducted numeros memorable interviews as host of NBC's "Tomorrow," which followed Johnny Carson's "Tonight" show from 1973 to 1982. A signature was the constant billowing of cigarette smoke around his head.

http://www.boston.com/ae/tv/articles/2007/07/31/tv_talk_host_tom_snyder_71_irreverence_stoked_lively_shows/”

“

Two interviews are prominent in my memory.

The first was with Julia Child.  They made grilled ham & cheese sandwiches and drank at least two bottles of white wine --- they were smashed by the end of the show!   LOL

(if I typed "COL" for 'chuckling out loud' nobody would known WTF I was talking about)


The second was one I never saw, but heard about two or three times as being "the most requested show ever": the interview with Sterling Hayden.  You may remember him as 'General Jack D. Ripper' from Dr. Strangelove, among many other roles going back to the 50s.

He was into Liberal politics, but completely missed all the #&%!$ with McCarthy because he had taken off with the money he made from his previous film and sailed his own yacht around the world for three or so years. That's what he would always do.... make a movie and go raise hell for a couple of years.

He also had his own railroad car to travel in.  One night, someone gave him a joint. He wanted to try it but he'd heard the stories that it would drive you Completely Insane... so he removed all the sharp objects from the railroad car and locked himself in for the night.... with strict orders that they not let him out 'til morning, No Matter What.

Snyder said, "So what happened??"

Hayden replied, "I played some Beatles on the stereo and had a really good time!"

”

“RIP, Tom.

Yeah, I really enjoyed Tom's interviews.
How many of you remember the one, I think it was, with Elton John?

Goodnight Tom.”

“I saw this yesterday on cnn.com and got sad. My wife and I loved staying up to watch him.”

“Gretest hits:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EiSEbyhAR0k”

“Kiss interview part 1

Kiss interview part 2

I don't think he quite knew what the hell to do with Johnny Rotten.”

“"excuse me for talking while you were interrupting" great stuff”