The Late Late Show with Tom Snyder

Back in the mid to late 90's I was just getting out of high school and going into college and watching more late night TV and when I was home sitting up after school "The Late Late Show with Tom Snyder" on "CBS" became a must watch! As Tom a veteran news reporter and journalist always delivered in such a dead on baritone smooth voice it's like as if though each broadcast you were also listening to a radio broadcast! Snyder was always professional and on top of current events, and social times as his commentary was often brash, heavy hitting and touching. His guests were well known people of entertainment, politics, and culture. Plus what made the show a winner was Tom was always serious as no crazy comedy or silly skits took place. I remember even watching the last show with Dennis Miller, overall the broadcasting business and world lost an underrated legend in Tom Snyder who left to soon as his late night show was a nice relaxing gem.

Not until I read these comments/thoughts did it conjure up my memories of this show. I stumbled across his last episode (with Dennis Miller) one night recently, too, while checking out old cassettes. Classy? Urbane? Irreverent in all the right moments? there's no one that can touch this guy! Craig Ferguson can somewhat emulate by having the most unknown or who'd-a-thunk to interview that guest, and do a credible job of being genuinely interested in them, but Tom had an edge that kept you so engaged, and to do that 'til 2a.m. is a rare gift! I can't believe I miss him as much as I do. I have absolutely no regrets of the many nights I 'wasted'(?) staying up way too late but oh-so-enjoying and savouring the seconds spent watching Tom Snyder. If his show was available on DVD it'd be something to treasure. He was truly unique.

I can't believe I'm the first to comment on this show! Anyway, last week we lost one of the greatest broadcasters in the talk-show medium: Tom Snyder. His infectious laugh, his tangents at the beginning and end of his show, and his wonderful rapport with his guests, one-on-one with no audience, made him one of the most unique talents to come on television. I accidentally stumbled upon his last show with Dennis Miller while looking for something else on one of my unlabeled tapes and I sat spellbound just marveling at how classy and boisterous Mr. Snyder was. So, in tribute to the departed man, I'll end with his quote, "Let's fire up a colortini as we watch the pictures fly through the air!"