The Today Show by Londino Cathleen M.;

Author:Londino, Cathleen M.; [Londino, Cathleen M.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield Unlimited Model
Published: 2016-08-15T00:00:00+00:00

Barbara Walters and Hugh Downs.

Downs had gone to college in Bluffton, Ohio, and Wayne State University in Michigan. He was considered to be an intelligent man, although some of his critics maintained that his intelligence was exaggerated. Producer Al Morgan, who did not like Downs, was the most uncharitable in his comments. “Not long after Downs joined Today someone remarked that Downs had been the intellectual of the Jack Paar Show and Al Morgan quipped, ‘J. Fred Muggs could be that.’” Another critic said, “Downs is a mile wide and an inch deep.”17

Generally, he was criticized by an envious staff but loved by the Today audience:

To the nation’s mothers, Hugh was the ideal young man, a marvelous, well-informed peach of a guy who would make daughter a perfect husband. To some associates—including Al Morgan—Downs was an advertiser’s dream, supersalesman viewers trusted implicitly. At best, though, he was a barely adequate interviewer. He was a “six foot toe in the sand,” a “race track in Ohio,” or a “mashed potato sandwich” to Today writers who envied his $500,000 network salary and his easy schedule.18

Al Morgan resented that Downs rarely prepared for an interview or for anything else on the show. It was on this particular lack that Barbara Walters capitalized when she became a regular panel member. On a typical day, after serving as host for Today, Downs would rush to another studio to host NBC’s game show Concentration, and then he would go home. It was not necessary for him to prepare for The Today Show since the program was completely scripted for Downs, including the interview questions.

Downs made many demands on NBC while he was host, and nearly every demand was granted. He wanted a bathroom in his office. “Success on Today goes to the bladder as well as the head,” said Al Morgan.19 He also demanded that his wife, Ruth, be allowed to accompany him on remotes despite rules that did not allow spouses to go on remote locations. In addition, he was consulted on personnel decisions and demanded an unprecedented salary. Finally, he managed to remove Morgan, the most valuable Today producer the show ever had. But Downs was worth it. By his consistent presence, he created stability for the program that made it possible for viewers and advertisers to rely on the show. He was well liked by his audience, and during his nine years as host, The Today Show consistently received the highest ratings in its history. The station lineup also increased during his reign. When Downs took over as host in 1962, Today was broadcast to 160 stations. When he left the show in 1971, it was seen on 211 stations.20

Downs left the show voluntarily in 1971:

“I wish now to become actively involved in several other pursuits and interests,” Mr. Downs said. He added that his parting with the program is an entirely amicable one and that he expects his long relationship with the NBC family will “continue happily and successfully for a long time to come.

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