So Long, Tom

One of television’s pioneers has died.

When I was an RTV student during my sophomore (or maybe junior) year at Ohio University in Athens, Ohio, I had the opportunity of my life. Being the exuberant, budding broadcaster, I called NBC, New York and asked if I could “drop by” and watch the production of my favorite late night program, “Tomorrow.”

After a number of letters and calls, an associate producer, Lattice Richards, finally worked it out for me to visit. You have to understand… my first job (after mowing lawns) was working at the local radio station. And at Ohio University, I was on the fast-track toward being a student staff member at their PBS station, WOUB. I loved broadcasting and the notion of this small-town Ohio boy going to the big Apple and participating in a network television program was way too cool!

Somehow, I managed to get to New York and was headed to mid-town Manhattan. I was told to come to 30 Rockefeller Plaza, enter the main door and check in with the security guard.

So, at 7pm (I think) I proudly walked into 30 Rock, waltzed up to the security officer and said: “Hello, I’m Jon Simpson and I’m scheduled to observe the Tomorrow show.”

There was an eternal pause as the officer s-l-o-w-l-y looked over the log book.

“Ok,” he said gesturing to one of the group of elevators, “Take one of those up to the 8th floor and follow the signs.”

“Thank you!” I squeaked.

There I was… pressing the “UP” button on a real network television elevator and about to go into a real network television studio to watch the production of a real network television show!

The doors opened. I glided in and calmly pressed the “8” button, all the while working to not flop-sweat through my shirt as the doors closed and the elevator began to move. In a few moments, the elevator stopped on the 7th floor and a very tall man with tissues tucked in the neck of his shirt got on board. I looked up and was immediately gobsmacked (although, at that time, I didn’t really have that British word in my vocabulary). It was Tom.

Tom Snyder was standing beside me! Where was his bodyguard? Where was the script girl? Why would they expose this legend to potential harm from a small-town Ohio college boy?

After trading cordial greetings we rode up one floor and exited the network television elevator.

“Are you here to see the show?” the legend asked?

“Yes.” I squeaked.

“Great. Enjoy the show,” and off he went.

About that time, whilst standing transfixed, Ms. Richards walked up, introduced herself and escorted me into studio 8H (which is, of course, the legendary studio that Saturday Night Live now occupies and has for most of its 32 years.) I was about to cling to the studio's back when Ms. Richards pointed to the door to the control room and we entered.

Dude... the control room.

I took my seat at the producer’s desk (oh man, the NBC TV Producer’s Desk in Studio 8H) and stared at the wonderful wall of glass monitors. Lots of people were doing lots of things, but it wasn’t the “madhouse” I expected.

Before long, the calm chaos converted into quiet focus and the show started. They taped at 9:00 pm for playback at 1:00 am Eastern. Soon, the tape was rolling and the show was on.

Let’s just say I wasn’t there for one of Tom’s most engaging programs. It wasn’t Kiss, nor John Lennon, nor Charles Manson or anyone that you’d recognize. In fact… I can’t even remember. What I do recall was watching a masterful broadcaster comfortably and confidently work his craft and loving it all the way.

When the show ended, there were no "high-fives" or shouts. The wall of glass went dark and the control room crew took off their headsets. Ms. Richards asked me what I thought of the program.

"It was great!" I squeaked.

As I left the control room I saw the legend getting on the elevator. As he got in, he looked my way and gave a quick nod of the head.

"Dang," I thought, "Tom said goodbye to me."

Tom Snyder was the kind of guy that did anything he could to get into a TV or Radio station as a boy. I think that’s why he took a moment to make the little geek visitor feel at home. Perhaps he saw a future broadcaster. All I know is that it was one of the most memorable experiences I’ve had.

His network of so many years, NBC, bade him a fond farewell (though you'll have to suffer through an ad first to watch it).

So, thank you Tom. Godspeed and I sincerely pray I get a moment to interview you one day in Heaven.

Posted by Jon at August 1, 2007 12:01 AM