Tom Snyder, 1936-2007

"Fire up a colortini, sit back, relax, and watch the pictures, now, as they fly through the air" - Tom Snyder at the end of the opening segment of each Late Late Show

Great broadcasters can build a very personal connection with their audience. They make the audience part of the conversation, even if they aren't necessarily directly involved. You get the sense that they are genuinely interested, informed, curious, and entertained by their shows as much as the audience is.

Tom Snyder was one such broadcaster. I never saw a single episode of the old Tomorrow show (before my time). I sadly, was barely aware of his old CNBC show, but was a loyal viewer of the Late Late Show on CBS while he was on it. I liked the show, and I liked Tom.

I was saddened by his departure from the show, especially as it then became just another late night show-bizzy talk show; the same fate that befell "Later" over at NBC once Bob Costas left that show.

Today I don't think that there is anyone on TV who approaches anything like what Snyder did on the Late Late Show. Radio and Podcasting are the mediums that seem to be home to these broadcasters now.

Tonight I'll be firing up a colortini in Tom's memory. I'll be sure to use the big ice cubes.

(Thanks to John Gruber's Daring Fireball for alerting me to the news)