Hugh Downs, anchor of '20/20' and 'Today,' dead at 99

[babylonsister]

I remember him fondly.


Hugh Downs, anchor of '20/20' and 'Today,' dead at 99
By Brian Lowry, CNN Business
Updated 6:15 PM ET, Thu July 2, 2020


Los Angeles (CNN Business)Hugh Downs, the versatile and Emmy-winning broadcaster whose decades-long TV career ranged from anchoring ABC News' "20/20" to the "Today" show to serving as Jack Paar's sidekick on "The Tonight Show," has died at his home in Scottsdale, Arizona. He was 99.

Local outlet AZFamily was first to report the news of Downs' passing, citing a statement from his great-niece, Molly Shaheen.

Downs -- who retired in 1999 -- was essentially there for the very start of commercial television, serving as the announcer for the children's show "Kukla, Fran and Ollie" and comedy legend Sid Caesar's "Caesar's Hour" in the 1950s.

In 1957, when Paar succeeded Steve Allen as host of "The Tonight Show," Downs became the announcer. The next year, Downs launched his run as the original host of the game show "Concentration."

more...

https://www.cnn.com/2020/07/02/media/hugh-downs-obituary/index.html

[Nevilledog]

1. I always loved him.

He had one of those comforting voices you could just sink into.

[qazplm135]

2. 99 years

is a pretty good run!

[gratuitous]

3. I remember him best as the host of Concentration

But what a career, what a life!

[no_hypocrisy]

4. Jack Paar and Hugh Downs

1. Downs replaced Franklin Pangborn as the announcer of Paar's "Tonight Show."

2. When Paar literally walked off the set during a live broadcast in 1960 as he announced he was quitting, Downs had to carry the show for about an hour on the fly.

[Norbert]

5. We watched Concentration as much as we can