Tom Snyder: one more appreciation

Great to see so many appreciations of Tom Snyder after the sad news he'd died at 71. His original late-night NBC talk show worked the smart side of 1970s culture, respecting its audience without putting them to sleep (at least prematurely). Working nights, I watched religiously. When Snyder ordered "fade to black" on the final show, I wept. (When Rona Barrett joined the show, I wept.)

John Lennon, Muhammad Ali, the Clash, Charles Manson -- fascinating. I always thought the bookers made "The Tomorrow Show" what it was. The guests often were hipper than Tom, who played the everyman beautifully. Lennon did the show simply because he was a major fan.

A lot of the affectionate chatter about Snyder in the past few days has been about how he bemusedly entertained the angry young stars of punk. His backhand bitch-slap of Johnny Rotten is a stone-cold classic. But usually, Tom ended up praising the musicians such as Elvis Costello and the Clash as "fine young men." Wendy O. Williams blew up a car on the show and he chuckled along.

Shout! Factory bundled up most of the punk interviews last year in the time-capsule "The Tomorrow Show: Punk & New Wave." That's not what I remember Tom for, but those punk segments were a great circus sideshow.

There are many many fine clips of Snyder's work on YouTube. Here's a greatest hit reel. Cynthia Littleton weighs in on her TV blog. Also, check out the L.A. Times' appreciation of Tom Snyder.

Comments

[Howard Burns]

The man was made for his times. He was the perfect complement to Johnny Carson in late-night. His early '80s interview with Ted Turner still ranks among the best one-on-ones in TV lore. Pairing him with Rona Barrett was one of the first signs of the apocalypse. RIP, Tom.

[Glenn A]

Howard -- So true, his success had a lot to do with the times.

Today, his guests would be trotted out in accordance with their movie premieres, book launches, etc. And Tom would be expected to explore those products with his guests.

Having someone on a talk show solely because they are interesting is so not 21st century TV.

Thanks for the comment.