* Story Highlights * Tom Snyder hosted "Tomorrow," "Late Late Show" * Interviewed a number of newsmakers, including John Lennon, Charles Manson * Known for clipped speech, ever-present cigarette; parodied by Dan Aykroyd
SAN FRANCISCO, California (AP) -- Talk show host Tom Snyder, whose smoke-filled interviews were a staple of late night television, has died after a struggle with leukemia. He was 71.
Snyder died Sunday in San Francisco from complications associated with leukemia, said his longtime producer and friend Mike Horowicz.
Known for his improvised, casual style and robust laughter, Snyder conducted a number of memorable interviews as host of NBC's "The Tomorrow Show." Among his guests were John Lennon, Charles Manson and Johnny Rotten of the Sex Pistols.
He gained more fame when Dan Aykroyd lampooned him in the early days of "Saturday Night Live."
Snyder began his career as a radio reporter in Milwaukee in the 1960s, then moved into local television news. He anchored newscasts in Philadelphia and Los Angeles before moving to late night.
In 1972, Snyder left news to host "The Tomorrow Show," which followed "The Tonight Show" with Johnny Carson.
His catch phrase for the show was: "Fire up a colortini, sit back, relax, and watch the pictures, now, as they fly through the air." Snyder smoked throughout his show, the cigarette cloud swirling around him during interviews.
In 1995, he returned to late night television as the host of "The Late Late Show with Tom Snyder" on CBS. The program followed David Letterman's "Late Show" until 1998, when Snyder was replaced by Craig Kilborn.
Snyder announced on his Web site in 2005 that he had chronic lymphocytic leukemia.
"When I was a kid leukemia was a death sentence," he wrote then. "Now, my doctors say it's treatable!"
_________________ I remember doing nothing on the night Sinatra died
And the night Jeff Buckley died
And the night Kurt Cobain died
And the night John Lennon died
I remember I stayed up to watch the news with everyone
Joined: Sat Oct 16, 2004 11:26 pm Posts: 14525 Location: Buffalo
This sucks. I loved Late Late Show and sorely miss it. Late night TV is better for having had him on it (not to mention what he did the rest of his career).
_________________ If animal trapped call 410-844-6286, then hit option 1123 6536 5321, then dial 4 8 15 16 23 42
Joined: Sat Oct 16, 2004 11:13 pm Posts: 2948 Location: Caucusland
Funny, I was watching the fat brown-haired late late guy the other night, Jimmy whatever, and lamented about how nothing would ever, ever be like Snyder's show ever again; late night is now forever doomed to sub-comedy circus (Letterman and Conan are sometimes pardoned).
This is one of those personalities that sticks with you forever and that you know you'll never see again, like Harry Caray.
_________________
Bob Knight wrote:
When my time on Earth is gone, and my activities here are passed, I want they bury me upside down so my critics can kiss my ass.
Joined: Sat Oct 16, 2004 11:26 pm Posts: 14525 Location: Buffalo
Merrill wrote:
Funny, I was watching the fat brown-haired late late guy the other night, Jimmy whatever, and lamented about how nothing would ever, ever be like Snyder's show ever again; late night is now forever doomed to sub-comedy circus (Letterman and Conan are sometimes pardoned).
This is one of those personalities that sticks with you forever and that you know you'll never see again, like Harry Caray.
Well-said.
_________________ If animal trapped call 410-844-6286, then hit option 1123 6536 5321, then dial 4 8 15 16 23 42
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