At the TCM 2014 Classic Film Festival, TCM host and film historian Robert Osborne thought he was onstage to allow the audience to ask him some questions about himself. But then his mic went dead and out came Alex Trebek to notify Robert that this was a special tribute to him. It is amazing that the TCM crew managed to keep this a secret from Robert since he was always in the middle of the preparations for these festivals.
Robert was quite touched as old friends Eva Marie Saint, Robert Wagner and wife Jill St. John, and Diane Baker came by to pay tribute to him. That is what made Robert special - not only was he a charming host and full of knowledge about old Hollywood, he actually knew all of these folks too!
Essentials co-host Alec Baldwin showed up to introduce a blooper reel to the audience that was quite revealing. It showed Robert could be quite the cut up when he wanted to be.
This recently re-ran for the combo of TCM's 25th anniversary and Robert Osborne's birthday, and although I miss his wit and wisdom, seeing him again in this rather informal setting made me realize just how much. Robert died on March 6, 2017, exactly one week after my 90 year old aunt died, and it always bothered me that I mourned the guy more than my aunt, whom I didn't know that well. Rewatching this tribute made me mourn him all over again.
TCM has not been the same without him, and I doubt that the world will ever see such a combination of humanity, film knowledge, and charm again. TCM and the audience were lucky to have him on the air for almost 22 years before he left the channel in early 2016 for health reasons. And this 2014 TCM Film Festival was the last he got to attend, so it was TCM's last chance to honor him at the festival. I'm glad that they did.
Robert was quite touched as old friends Eva Marie Saint, Robert Wagner and wife Jill St. John, and Diane Baker came by to pay tribute to him. That is what made Robert special - not only was he a charming host and full of knowledge about old Hollywood, he actually knew all of these folks too!
Essentials co-host Alec Baldwin showed up to introduce a blooper reel to the audience that was quite revealing. It showed Robert could be quite the cut up when he wanted to be.
This recently re-ran for the combo of TCM's 25th anniversary and Robert Osborne's birthday, and although I miss his wit and wisdom, seeing him again in this rather informal setting made me realize just how much. Robert died on March 6, 2017, exactly one week after my 90 year old aunt died, and it always bothered me that I mourned the guy more than my aunt, whom I didn't know that well. Rewatching this tribute made me mourn him all over again.
TCM has not been the same without him, and I doubt that the world will ever see such a combination of humanity, film knowledge, and charm again. TCM and the audience were lucky to have him on the air for almost 22 years before he left the channel in early 2016 for health reasons. And this 2014 TCM Film Festival was the last he got to attend, so it was TCM's last chance to honor him at the festival. I'm glad that they did.