Ever hear the expression, "We can't go on meeting like this?"
That's exactly how I feel about taking notebook in hand to write this Special Blog.
Back in October 2016 (It was a different time. Not that very different, but different nonetheless.) I used this blog to tell the known universe that I had been a huge fan of the Cable News Network, which had agreed to be acquired by AT&T, and that it was my pleasure and privilege to know many of the figures who have either been interviewed by CNN, such as Scott Shannon, Jodi Benson "The Little Mermaid",Stan Lee, Hillary Clinton, or either reported (Mary Alice Williams, Bill Tush, Ross Brittain, Lou Dobbs, Keith Olbermann,Dan Patrick, Liz Wickersham, Bella Shaw,Mark Scheerer) or commented on the news over its air (Dan Dorfman,Myron "Mike" Kandel, Bella Abzug). I also used this blog as a platform to address the 45th President of these United States (You Know Who.) and his reference to the World's Most Important Network as "Fake News CNN."
Today, on the sad occasion of his passing at the age of 87, I would like to say a final goodbye to another one of those friends who played a part in the history of CNN, the Man who made it all happen, Robert Edward "Ted" Turner. He was one of those rare people who had friends on both sides of the political aisle,who shook up the worlds of professional sports, electronic journalism,diplomacy,and broadcast entertainment, who took the free Enterprise system an made it work,who followed in the enormous footsteps of Samuel Goldwyn and Louis Mayer, the original Warner Brothers ,(whose Studios and film libraries he would inherit) Walt Disney,( and Walt's rivals, Bill Hanna and Joe Barbera, whose studio he also inherit) and the BBC to create entertainment that truly United the world.
The old joke is, the three most important words in real estate are, "Location, location,location." When Ted was still at the helm of CNN before selling to Time Warner, which would later become part of AOL (But that's a tale for another time.), he applied that philosophy to CNN, especially in New York City. When CNN signed on the air on June 1,1980,it did so from One World Trade Center,in the heart of the Big Apple's Financial District. (Ironically, when that very building was tragically,cowardly,and brutally destroyed on September 11,2001,CNN was the primary source for information.) A few years later, CNN moved uptown to Five Pennsylvania Plaza,across the street from Madison Square Garden, the World's Most Famous Arena,and the Empire State Building, and a short walk away from Macy*s. Ted understood that those famous neighborhoods made news and gave CNN the access to entertainment, business, and sports stories the Original Three (NBC at 30 Rock, CBS at 51 West 52nd and 524 West 57, and ABC at 1330 6th and Lincoln Center) could only dream of. I had the pleasure to shake Ted's hand, the hand that shook the hand of Jimmy Carter, and countless others, such as Yoko Ono and John Denver, both of whom I saw at the launch dinner for Ted's Better World Society,dedicated to investment in programming that addressed the most critical issues of our time.
To be honest, compared to Ted, Lawrence of Arabia was an easy guy to figure out,but for all his idiosyncrasies, Ted was one of the nicest and most interesting people I had the pleasure to meet His legacy of unbiased,impartial news,and movies that have become not only a part of American culture but also recognized around the world, should,and must, be allowed to continue for years to come.
May the memory of the reluctant maverick,Ted Turner, remain a blessing.
Steve
