5/30/03

LC030530

JESS MARLOW>> TONIGHT ON LIFE AND TIMES --

VAL ZAVALA>> IT'S ALL ABOUT JESS. HE'S LEAVING US, RETIRING FROM LOS ANGELES TELEVISION AFTER NEARLY FORTY YEARS, BUT NOT BEFORE WE HAVE A FEW FINAL WORDS.

JOEL TATOR>> THEY SAY THE CAMERA NEVER LIES. AFTER A WHILE, IF YOU'RE A PHONY, THE AUDIENCE FIGURES IT OUT. NOT WITH JESS. JESS IS THE SAME TERRIFIC PERSON OFF-CAMERA AND ON-CAMERA AND I THINK AUDIENCES REALIZE THAT HE'S THE REAL THING.

VAL>> AND THEN WE'LL HEAR FROM THE PEOPLE WHO KNOW JESS BETTER THAN ANYONE AND WE'LL FIND OUT IF HE'S REALLY LIKE THE PERSON YOU SEE ON THE SCREEN. WE'VE GOT SOME SURPRISES FOR YOU AND FOR JESS.

JESS>> IT'S ALL STRAIGHT AHEAD ON TONIGHT'S LIFE AND TIMES.

LIFE AND TIMES IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE FOLLOWING FOUNDATIONS:

THE L.K. WHITTIER FOUNDATION
DEDICATED TO IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF LIFE BY SUPPORTING INNOVATIVE ENDEAVORS IN THE FIELDS OF MEDICINE, HEALTH, SCIENCE AND EDUCATION.

AND THE CALIFORNIA ENDOWMENT
THE STATE'S LARGEST HEALTH FOUNDATION SUPPORTING ORGANIZATIONS THAT DIRECTLY IMPROVE THE HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OF CALIFORNIA'S DIVERSE COMMUNITIES. THE CALIFORNIA ENDOWMENT, A PARTNER FOR HEALTHIER COMMUNITIES.

JESS>> YOU MAY HAVE HEARD AND YOU MAY HAVE CHEERED THAT IT'S MY FINAL BROADCAST AND I HOPE I'M GLAD TO BE HERE.

VAL>> I'M GLAD YOU ARE, AND IT'S OUR SPECIAL SEND-OFF FOR A MAN WHO HAS CHANGED THE FACE OF LOS ANGELES TELEVISION. IN CASE YOU DIDN'T KNOW, JESS AND HIS WIFE, PHYLLIS, ARE LEAVING LOS ANGELES THIS SUMMER AND MOVING TO SANTA FE. IT GOES WITHOUT SAYING HOW MUCH WE'LL MISS HIM, BUT WE CAN'T LET THEM GO WITHOUT RECALLING HOW THE MARLOWS GOT HERE NEARLY FORTY YEARS AGO. TONIGHT PHILIP BRUCE TAKES US BACK TO THE EARLY DAYS OF JESS.

PHILIP BRUCE>> AS A KID, HE HAD WHAT PEOPLE USED TO CALL ALL-AMERICAN GOOD LOOKS, BUT BACK THEN, IF YOU'D GONE IN SEARCH OF JESS MARLOW, FOLKS IN SALEM, ILLINOIS MIGHT HAVE SAID YOU MEAN MIRAM? THAT'S WHAT MOM AND DAD NAMED HIM. HE WAS ONE OF NINE KIDS IN THE MARLOW FAMILY, FOLLOWED IN HIS FATHER'S FOOTSTEPS AND GOT A JOB WITH THE RAILROAD AS A TELEGRAPH OPERATOR. BUT SOON ENOUGH, THE TELEGRAPH GAVE WAY TO TELEVISION AND MIRAM WAS NOW HISTORY. THE FRESH NEW TALENT IN ROCK ISLAND, ILLINOIS WOULD GO BY HIS MIDDLE NAME, JESS. TV WASN'T NECESSARILY THE OBVIOUS CHOICE. JESS TOOK A TEN DOLLAR PAY CUT WHEN HE LEFT THE RAILROAD TO BECOME A BROADCASTER. SOMEHOW, THOUGH, IT ALL WORKED OUT.

BY THE EARLY 1960'S, JESS HAD MADE HIS WAY TO CALIFORNIA AS AN ANCHOR AND NEWS DIRECTOR AT A SAN JOSE TV STATION. THERE HE IS, THE GUY WITH THE FLAT TOP INTERVIEWING PRESIDENT JOHN F. KENNEDY. THEN FINALLY THE BIG BREAK, A CHANCE TO COME TO LOS ANGELES TO WORK FOR NBC NEWS AND CHANNEL FOUR.

JOEL TATOR>> WHEN JESS FIRST STARTED, HE WAS THE ORANGE COUNTY CORRESPONDENT FOR CHANNEL FOUR AND HE ALSO DID THE ELEVEN O'CLOCK NEWS ON SUNDAY NIGHT. BUT IN 1968, CHANNEL FOUR DECIDED THEY WOULD BE THE FIRST PEOPLE IN THE COUNTRY TO DO A TWO-HOUR NEWSCAST. UNHEARD OF THAT YOU WOULD HAVE TWO HOURS OF NEWS. THEY PICKED JESS TO START IT OFF AT FIVE O'CLOCK.

PHILIP BRUCE>> IN THOSE DAYS, THE LEGENDARY RAIFORD JOHNSON, CHANNEL FOUR'S SPORTSCASTER, WAS A BIG STAR. JESS MARLOW WAS JUST STARTING TO MAKE A NAME FOR HIMSELF. BUT JOEL TATOR, CHANNEL FOUR'S SHARP YOUNG DIRECTOR, KNEW JESS WAS SOMETHING SPECIAL, A REAL NEWSMAN.

JOEL TATOR>> JESS, OF COURSE, WAS THE NEWS DIRECTOR OF HIS STATION IN SAN JOSE BEFORE HE CAME TO LOS ANGELES AND HE WAS VERY, VERY AWARE OF THE IMPORTANT STORIES AND WHAT SHOULD LEAD A NEWSCAST, FOR EXAMPLE. HE ALWAYS HUDDLED WITH THE PRODUCER OF THAT BROADCAST TO MAKE SURE THAT THE STORIES WERE THE IMPORTANT ONES THAT GOT TO THE TOP.

PHILIP BRUCE>> IT WAS A TIME WHEN CHANNEL FOUR WAS FILLED WITH YOUNG JOURNALISTS DESTINED FOR BIG THINGS. THE FRONT LINE CONSISTED OF TOM BROKAW, TOM SNYDER AND JESS, PLUS A DISTINGUISHED WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENT TURNED ANCHOR NAMED BOB ABERNETHY. JOEL TATOR WAS PART OF THAT CROWD AND WON A SLEW OF EMMIES FOR LOCAL AND NETWORK PRODUCTIONS. NOW NEARLY FORTY YEARS LATER, HE SAYS IT'S NO SURPRISE WHY JESS MARLOW IS STILL SUCH A CLASS ACT.

JOEL TATOR>> WHEN YOU'RE A DIRECTOR, YOU WANT SOMEONE OUT THERE ON CAMERA WHEN SOMETHING GOES WRONG WHO CAN DEAL WITH IT. JESS WAS A-NUMBER ONE AT THAT. WHEN SOMETHING WOULD GO WRONG, AS IT INVARIABLY DID EVERY SHOW, I DON'T THINK I EVER DID A SHOW WITHOUT A MISTAKE IN IT, HE WAS RIGHT THERE. HE WOULD JUST SAY WE'LL HAVE THAT LATER AND HE WOULD MOVE ON.

PHILIP BRUCE>> HE'S SEEN US THROUGH THE BEST OF TIMES AND THE WORST OF TIMES AND, FOR JESS, ONE OF THE ABSOLUTE WORST WAS THE LOSS OF A CLOSE FRIEND, PILOT FRANCIS GARY POWERS, WHO CRASHED IN THE CHANNEL FOUR HELICOPTER.

JESS MARLOW>> "FRANCIS GARY POWERS DIED DOING WHAT HE LIKED TO DO, BUT THAT'S SMALL COMFORT FOR US. WE HAVE NO LESS GRIEF FOR GEORGE SPEARS, THE ENGINEER CAMERAMAN. FRANK WAS OUR FRIEND -- DAMN IT -- HE WAS THE PUBLIC FIGURE."

PHILIP BRUCE>> BUT THERE WERE PLENTY OF LIGHT MOMENTS, ESPECIALLY THE TIMES JESS FILLED IN AS AN ANCHOR ON THE "TODAY SHOW" AND STUMBLED ON A NEW WAY TO DELIVER THE NEWS.

[FILM CLIP]

PHILIP BRUCE>> HE IS UNFLAPPABLE, BUT NOT NECESSARILY GOOF-PROOF.

JESS MARLOW>> "RUNNING A PRIVATE SCHOOL LIKE A PUBLIC ONE -- LET'S REVERSE THAT, PLEASE. RUNNING A PUBLIC SCHOOL LIKE A PRIVATE ONE."

VAL>> "(LAUGHTER) THAT'S RIGHT.

PHILIP BRUCE>> IF YOU WANT THE GOODS ON THE REAL JESS MARLOW, A GOOD PLACE TO START IS WITH ROBERT ANDRADI, OUR STAGE DIRECTOR ON LIFE AND TIMES, AND THE ONE WHO'S SUPPOSED TO KEEP JESS ON THE RIGHT PATH.

ROBERT ANDRADI>> I KNOW SECRETS, SO KEEP THE MONEY COMING. APPRECIATE IT.

PHILIP BRUCE>> OVER HIS LONG CAREER, JESS HAS BEEN A GLOBETROTTER. HE WENT TO CHINA WITH BOB HOPE AND HE WENT TO VIETNAM WHEN FEW OTHER AMERICANS HAD BEEN THERE SINCE THE WAR.

JESS MARLOW>> "THE MEKONG RIVER AND ITS HUNDREDS OF MILES OF TRIBUTARIES MAKE THIS ONE OF THE RICHEST RICE-GROWING REGIONS IN ALL OF INDOCHINA."

PHILIP BRUCE>> JESS WAS ONE OF THE FEW AMERICANS EVER TO PEEK INSIDE THE REMAINS OF RUSSIA'S CHERNOBYL NUCLEAR PLANT AFTER IT MELTED DOWN AND HE APPEARED ON RUSSIAN TELEVISION IN A RARE EXCHANGE OF JOURNALISTS AIMED AT BUILDING BRIDGES BETWEEN TWO OLD ADVERSARIES.

[FILM CLIP]

PHILIP BRUCE>> ANOTHER VETERAN LOS ANGELES BROADCASTER SAYS JESS ALWAYS SET THE PACE FOR THE COMPETITION AND FOR HIS OWN NEWSROOM.

DAVID GARCIA>> VERY NICE MAN, IMPECCABLE INTEGRITY, FIRST-RATE JOURNALIST, NEVER HAD AN EGO THING, IF YOU WILL, WHICH IS SUCH A COMMON PROBLEM IN THIS BUSINESS.

PHILIP BRUCE>> AS TV PEOPLE WILL TELL YOU, NOT ALL OF YOUR FAVORITES ARE AS NICE IN REAL LIFE AS THEY ARE ON THE SCREEN. JESS IS, AND KEN DONNELLY WILL ATTEST TO THAT. THIRTY-TWO YEARS AGO, HE WAS A SEVENTH GRADER FROM LOS ALAMITOS. HIS JOURNALISM CLASS WENT TO NBC ON A FIELD TRIP TO SEE HOW A NEWSCAST WORKED AND THAT'S WHEN HE MET HIS FAVORITE ANCHOR, JESS MARLOW.

KEN DONNELLY>> HE DIDN'T HAVE TO COME OVER THERE AND SAY HELLO TO US AND HE WENT OUT OF HIS WAY TO DO SO. NOBODY ELSE, THE DAYS WE WERE THERE, DID. THAT JUST REALLY STUCK OUT BECAUSE WE WERE VERY INTIMATED, VERY EXCITED, BUT VERY INTIMIDATED AND HE REALLY MADE US FEEL LIKE HE WAS GLAD WE WERE THERE.

PHILIP BRUCE>> HE OWES SOME OF HIS SUCCESSES TO THE MANY WOMEN IN HIS LIFE. YOU'VE SEEN MOST OF THEM AND KNOW THEIR NAMES. BUT YOU MAY NOT KNOW THE ONE WHO'S HAD THE GREATEST INFLUENCE ON JESS. SHE'S A HIGH SCHOOL SWEETHEART WHO WAS JESS'S DATE AT THE VALENTINE DANCE AND, AS YOU MIGHT HAVE GUESSED, THIS CUTE COUPLE GREW UP, GOT MARRIED AND LIVED HAPPILY EVER AFTER. ALL OF US WHO KNOW AND LOVE JESS FEEL THE SAME ABOUT PHYLLIS AND WE KNOW THAT, WITHOUT HER, ALL THE GREAT THINGS IN HIS LIFE MIGHT HAVE NEVER HAPPENED.

RETIREMENT IS JUST THE LATEST CHAPTER OF THE JESS MARLOW STORY. IT'S ONE THAT'S STILL BEING WRITTEN AND, SO FAR, IT'S A HAPPY STORY THAT WE NEVER GET TIRED OF HEARING.

[FILM CLIP]

JESS>> ALL VERY SWEET, BUT LIKE BEING STRIPPED NAKED (LAUGHTER).

PHILIP BRUCE>> (LAUGHTER) WELL, I'D JUST LIKE TO THANK YOU FOR A CHANCE TO ACTUALLY DRINK DURING THE SHOW. THIS IS A NICE TRADITION WE'LL START AND I'D LIKE TO TOAST TO YOU.

JESS>> THIS APPLE CIDER ALMOST TASTES LIKE THE REAL THING (LAUGHTER).

PHILIP BRUCE>> (LAUGHTER) THAT'S TRUE. I'LL TELL YOU, YOU HAVE CLASSED UP THIS JOINT MORE THAN WE EVER HAD A RIGHT TO EXPECT AND DESERVE AND WE ALL LOVE YOU.

JESS>> IT'S BEEN A WONDERFUL EXPERIENCE. THIS LAST TWO AND A HALF YEARS HAVE BEEN GREAT, MOSTLY BECAUSE OF THE ASSOCIATION. GREAT PEOPLE TO WORK WITH. VAL COULDN'T BE A BETTER CO-ANCHOR, THAT'S FOR SURE, EVEN THOUGH SHE RUNS THE PLACE. SHE'S THE BOSS (LAUGHTER). BUT I'M USED TO THAT AT HOME, SO IT'S OKAY (LAUGHTER).

PHILIP BRUCE>> WELL, WE THANK YOU SO MUCH. WE WISH YOU WELL. IT'S A BITTERSWEET DAY FOR US BECAUSE WE'D LOVE TO HAVE YOU, BUT WE KNOW THAT IT'S GOING TO BE A GREAT FUTURE.

JESS>> AND WE'RE LOOKING FORWARD TO A NEW ADVENTURE AND YOU'VE GIVEN US A TERRIFIC SENDOFF. I APPRECIATE THIS.

PHILIP BRUCE>> THANK YOU, MY FRIEND.

JESS>> YOU BET.

VAL>> WELL, JESS, SOME OF YOUR OLD FRIENDS COULDN'T BE WITH US TODAY, BUT THEY STILL WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW THAT THEY ARE THINKING ABOUT YOU, SO HERE'S SOMEONE WE'LL ALL RECOGNIZE.

TOM BROKAW>> HELLO, I'M TOM BROKAW, NBC NEWS IN NEW YORK, HAPPY TO BE PAYING TRIBUTE TO MY OLD FRIENDS AND COLLEAGUES, JESS AND PHYLLIS MARLOW. WHEN I FIRST MET JESS AND PHYLLIS IN 1966, A LOT OF US LOOKED AT THE TWO OF THEM AND SAID, BOY, THERE'S A YOUNG COUPLE FROM THE MIDWEST REALLY GOING PLACES, BUT WE HAD NO IDEA.

IT TURNS OUT THEY WERE GOING FROM PASADENA, WELL, REALLY FIRST FROM MALIBU TO PASADENA, AND THEN BACK DOWN TO DANA POINT AND NOW TO SANTA FE. JESS AND PHYLLIS, GOING PLACES, AND WHEREVER THEY GO, THEY MAKE NEW FRIENDS AND LEAVE A LOT BEHIND. CONGRATULATIONS, JESS AND PHYLLIS. GREAT CAREER, GREAT LIFE, GREAT MARRIAGE AND A GREAT PRIVILEGE TO KNOW BOTH OF YOU.

VAL>> WELL, JESS IS RETIRING, BUT THIS ISN'T THE FIRST TIME. IN FACT, WE COAXED HIM OUT OF HIS FIRST RETIREMENT ABOUT FIVE YEARS AGO TO COME WORK FOR US. THAT WAS AFTER HE ENDED HIS LONG RUN AT NBC AND CHANNEL FOUR. HIS LAST NEWSCAST THERE WAS A MOMENT TO REMEMBER AND SOME OF THE FRIENDS WHO WERE WITH JESS BACK IN 1997 ARE WITH HIM AGAIN TONIGHT. JOINING US NOW ARE TWO OF THE WOMEN IN JESS'S LIFE, COLLEEN WILLIAMS, ANCHOR AT NBC FOUR, AND KELLY LANGE, ANOTHER VETERAN CHANNEL FOUR ANCHOR, WHO'S NOW A BEST-SELLING AUTHOR. THANK YOU BOTH FOR BEING HERE.

COLLEEN WILLIAMS>> WE WERE JUST TALKING ABOUT THIS. WE'VE BEEN THROUGH THIS.

KELLY LANGE>> THAT'S RIGHT.

COLLEEN WILLIAMS>> SO THE THIRD TIME'S THE CHARM. THIS IS THE SECOND ONE, RIGHT?

KELLY LANGE>> JESS RETIRES EVERY TWO OR THREE YEARS. WE HAVE THE GREAT PARTIES ALL OVER TOWN. IT'S WONDERFUL. WE HAVE A GOOD TIME.

JESS>> YOU MEAN I HAVE TO DO THIS AGAIN? (LAUGHTER)

KELLY LANGE>> YES, YOU HAVE TO.

JESS>> NOW THIS TIME, WE MEAN IT. PHYLLIS ASSURES ME THAT THIS TIME WE MEAN IT (LAUGHTER).

COLLEEN WILLIAMS>> AND THAT IS BECAUSE YOU'RE MOVING.

JESS>> OH, YEAH, YEAH.

KELLY LANGE>> SEE, HE SAYS HE'S MOVING TO SANTA FE. HE'S REALLY MOVING TO HIS REAL PLANET. HE'S NOT FROM THIS PLANET. JESS MARLOW, IN ALL THE YEARS I'VE BEEN IN THE NEWS BUSINESS -- THREE DECADES, HELLO -- I HAVE NEVER KNOWN ANYBODY WHO HAS NO FAULTS. HE HAS NO FAILINGS. HE'S GOT IT ALL, INTEGRITY, WIT, WISDOM --

COLLEEN WILLIAMS>> -- LET ME CHECK. HANG ON A SECOND. I WANT TO SEE --

VAL>> -- COLLEEN, CAN YOU NAME ONE?

COLLEEN WILLIAMS>> NO, HE HAS NO FAULTS. THERE'S NOTHING THERE (LAUGHTER).

KELLY LANGE>> NAME ONE. YOU CAN'T. HE DOESN'T COME FROM THIS PLANET, DOES HE?

COLLEEN WILLIAMS>> I'VE KNOWN JESS FOR TWENTY YEARS AND HE DOESN'T LOOK A BIT DIFFERENT THAN HE DID IN 1983 WHEN WE FIRST WENT ON THE AIR. I WAS CHECKING TO SEE IF RETIREMENT WAS GOOD FOR YOU, AND YOU KNOW WHAT? IT'S NOT. THERE'S NOTHING THERE (LAUGHTER). HE'S SUCH A HARD BODY.

KELLY LANGE>> YOU SAW HIM ROLLER SKATE. YOU OUGHT TO SEE HIM TAP DANCE (LAUGHTER).

COLLEEN WILLIAMS>> WELL, HE HAS BEEN KNOWN TO DO THAT ON A TABLE OR TWO.

KELLY LANGE>> AND HE WILL TONIGHT. YOU CAN BET ON IT, RIGHT, JESS?

JESS>> I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT THEY'RE SHOWING. I'M FEARFUL (LAUGHTER).

KELLY LANGE>> STRIPPED NAKED, RIGHT?

VAL>> ARE YOU TELLING ME THAT THERE'S NOT ONE LITTLE CORNER OF JESS THAT IS FLAWED?

JESS>> DIDN'T YOU KNOW?

KELLY LANGE>> IN THIRTY YEARS, I COULDN'T FINE ONE. IN TWENTY YEARS, COULD YOU, COLLEEN?

COLLEEN WILLIAMS>> NO, BUT THE BEST PART OF JESS IS THE PART YOU NEVER REALLY SAW ON THE AIR.

VAL>> AND WHAT IS THAT?

COLLEEN WILLIAMS>> I MEAN THAT IN THE BEST KIND OF WAY (LAUGHTER).

KELLY LANGE>> WELL, COLLEEN --

COLLEEN WILLIAMS>> -- HIS SENSE OF HUMOR, HIS SENSE OF HUMOR (LAUGHTER). YOU CAN TALK ABOUT SOME OF THOSE STORIES.

KELLY LANGE>> WELL, CAN I TELL YOU MY FAVORITE JESS ADLIB WAS WHEN HE WAS DOING A STORY ON EVIL KNIEVEL BACK WHEN EVIL HAD MISSED ABOUT THREE BUSES AND HE HAD BROKEN EVERY SINGLE BONE HE HAD. THE LAST SHOT WAS HE'S IN TRACTION WITH SIX OR SEVEN CASTS. JESS IS LOOKING AT THE TAPE AND WE COME OUT OF THE TAPE AND HE LOOKS UP AT THE CAMERA AND HE SAYS, "EVIL KNIEVEL. DRIVES FAST, LEARNS SLOW." (LAUGHTER) HE ALWAYS HAD US ON THE FLOOR. YOU KNOW, HE COULD SAY THINGS THAT YOU AND I COULDN'T SAY BECAUSE HE GOT AWAY WITH IT. YOU KNOW, HE'S GOT THIS STRAIGHT --

COLLEEN WILLIAMS>> -- HE'S JESS MARLOW, THAT'S WHY.

KELLY LANGE>> HE WOULD BOWL US OVER.

COLLEEN WILLIAMS>> YOU KNOW, I'M TRYING TO REMEMBER. THERE WAS ONE ONE DAY AND I'M SURE YOU'LL REMEMBER THIS. WE WERE DOING A STORY ABOUT HOW -- IT'S ONE OF THOSE MEDICAL BREAKTHROUGH STORIES -- COFFEE ENHANCES YOUR SEX DRIVE. YOU REMEMBER THIS STORY, DON'T YOU? (LAUGHTER)

VAL>> (LAUGHTER) DON'T GET HIM INTO THAT TERRITORY.

COLLEEN WILLIAMS>> SO I'M READING THIS STORY AND TRYING TO KEEP A STRAIGHT FACE ALL THE WAY THROUGH. IT CAME OUT TO A TWO-SHOT AND I LOOK OVER AND JESS MARLOW PICKS UP HIS COFFEE MUG AND SAYS, "CHEERS" (LAUGHTER). THAT WAS JESS. SMALL THINGS, BUT BIG.

JESS>> I'VE BEEN TRYING TO LIVE AS A SERIOUS JOURNALIST ALL THESE YEARS AND YOU'RE BLOWING MY COVER (LAUGHTER).

KELLY LANGE>> BUT THAT YOU HAVE DONE -- AS WE ALL KNOW, HE WAS ALWAYS THE GUY THAT YOU COULD COUNT ON. YOU KNOW, HE WAS ALWAYS THE MAN OUT THERE WITH A STORY. HE'S THE ONE WHO CARED ABOUT THE STORY.

VAL>> BUT I WANT TO SET THE RUMOR STRAIGHT ONE WAY OR THE OTHER. CAN HE OR CAN HE NOT DO A BACKWARDS FLIP?

KELLY LANGE>> OH, YES.

VAL>> HAVE YOU ACTUALLY SEEN THIS DONE?

COLLEEN WILLIAMS>> HE'S PRETTY LEGENDARY IN THE NEWSROOM. YOU HAVEN'T SEEN IT DONE?

VAL>> I HAVE NOT SEEN IT DONE.

COLLEEN WILLIAMS>> OKAY, THIS MAY BE THE NIGHT, JESS (LAUGHTER). THIS MAY BE THE NIGHT.

VAL>> (LAUGHTER) WELL, THANK YOU SO MUCH, COLLEEN AND KELLY, FOR STOPPING BY ON THIS VERY, VERY SPECIAL --

COLLEEN WILLIAMS>> -- CAN I TELL YOU ONE MORE THING? I WAS REACHING FOR THE LOVE HANDLES. HAS FRITZ BEEN IN?

JESS>> YEAH.

COLLEEN WILLIAMS>> OKAY, SO HAS HE TOLD YOU THE STORY ABOUT KOREA AND MISTER ATLAS HERE?

VAL>> OH, YES, IT'S COMING.

COLLEEN WILLIAMS>> AS LONG AS IT'S COMING, THIS WILL BE THE TEASE FOR IT. MR. ATLAS.

VAL>> THAT'S RIGHT.

JESS>> THAT'S WHEN THEY ACCUSED ME OF WEARING AN ORTHOPEDIC SPEEDO (LAUGHTER).

COLLEEN WILLIAMS>> NOTHING ORTHOPEDIC ABOUT THAT (LAUGHTER). IT LOOKED GOOD.

VAL>> (LAUGHTER) WELL, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE. WE REALLY APPRECIATE IT.

COLLEEN WILLIAMS>> CAN WE KISS HIM NOW?

JESS>> OH, ABSOLUTELY.

VAL>> AND HERE NOW IS A SPECIAL GREETING FROM ANOTHER OF JESS'S CLOSE FRIENDS ALL THE WAY FROM THE BAY AREA.

WENDY TOKUDA>> JESS MARLOW, THIS IS YOUR OLD FRIEND, WENDY TOKUDA, REPORTING FROM SAN FRANCISCO FOR KRON FOUR NEWS. HAVEN'T WE GONE THROUGH THIS BEFORE? HEARING ABOUT A SECOND RETIREMENT AND THAT PHYLLIS IS BUSY BUILDING A NEW HOME FOR YOU IN THAT BEAUTIFUL CITY IN NEW MEXICO, SANTA FE? WE WISH YOU ALL THE BEST AND HOPE YOU GET SOME REST THERE. I KNOW PROBABLY IN A LITTLE WHILE, WE'LL BE HEARING ABOUT YOU STIRRING THINGS UP THERE AND TAKING SOME POLITICIAN TO TASK OR ARGUING ABOUT SOME SORT OF POLITICAL MATTER, AND WE HOPE THAT GOES WELL TOO. I'M SURE ALL THE TV STATIONS TRACK YOU DOWN THERE. HAVE A GREAT TIME IN SANTA FE, NEW MEXICO, AND ALL THE BEST.

VAL>> ANOTHER FAMILIAR FACE DROPPED BY A LITTLE EARLIER TODAY TO TAKE PART IN THIS SPECIAL SHOW. HERE'S JESS'S OLD PAL, FRITZ COLEMAN. NICE TO SEE YOU.

FRITZ COLEMAN>> NICE TO SEE YOU. I REPRESENT ALL OF THE PEACOCK NETWORK (LAUGHTER). I'VE BEEN SENT OVER HERE ON A MISSION OF DIPLOMACY AS COLIN POWELL JUST TO WISH JESS THE BEST FROM ALL THOSE PEOPLE THAT LOVE HIM SO MUCH AND ASK ABOUT HIM ALL THE TIME OVER THERE. WE'RE EXTREMELY SAD TO SEE HIM LEAVE THE MARKETPLACE, BUT HAVE SO MANY WONDERFUL MEMORIES OF HIM BEING A BEACON OF MORALITY AND PROFESSIONALISM AT CHANNEL FOUR (LAUGHTER).

JESS>> BOY, WHAT A BURDEN THAT WAS (LAUGHTER).

FRITZ COLEMAN>> HE'S A WONDERFUL FRIEND TO EVERYBODY WHO IS FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO BE HIS FRIEND AND WE'RE GOING TO MISS HIM VERY, VERY MUCH.

JESS>> AH, THANK YOU, FRITZ.

VAL>> SO, ARE THERE ANY GREAT JESS STORIES THAT CAN NOW FINALLY BE TOLD?

JESS>> CAREFUL, CAREFUL.

FRITZ COLEMAN>> I'LL TELL YOU ONE JESS STORY. WE WERE AT THE SEOUL OLYMPICS BACK IN THE DAYS WHEN THEY WOULD SPEND WHO KNEW HOW MUCH MONEY TO SEND THE WHOLE NEWS TEAM OVER THERE TO DO ALL THE NEWSCASTS.

JESS>> THOSE WERE THE GOOD OLD DAYS (LAUGHTER).

FRITZ COLEMAN>> WE WERE STAYING AT A HOTEL AND ON THE ROOF OF THE HOTEL WAS A SWIMMING POOL. JOHN BEARD AND I, WHO IS NOW AT FOX, WERE UP JUST TAKING A DIP IN OUR BIG OLD BAGGY SHORTS AND THERE WAS A GUY SWIMMING LAPS OF THIS POOL FOR WHAT MUST HAVE BEEN NINETY MINUTES. HE HAD A SWIMMING CAP ON AND HIS GOGGLES AND WE DIDN'T KNOW, BUT HE HAD THIS BEAUTIFUL SCULPTED BODY OF A SWIMMER AND NEVER GOT OUT OF THE POOL ONCE. BACK AND FORTH AND BACK AND FORTH.

WE SAID, GEEZ, I WONDER WHO THAT IS? MAYBE HE'S AN OLYMPIC SWIMMING COACH. MAYBE IT'S SOMEBODY THAT HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH SWIMMING OVER HERE AT THE OLYMPICS. NINETY MINUTES INTO THIS THING, WE WERE EXHAUSTED WATCHING HIM. OUT FROM THE OTHER SIDE OF THE POOL EMERGES JESS MARLOW. HE HAS THE HEAD OF A DISTINGUISHED GENTLEMAN WHO'S BEEN AROUND FOR A FEW DECADES, HOWEVER, THE BODY OF A TRAINED SWIMMER AND HE SWIMS EVERY DAY FOR EXERCISE. JOHN AND I HAD NO IDEA IT WAS HIM AND IT WAS JUST AMAZING. WE RIBBED YOU ABOUT THAT FOR MANY YEARS AFTERWARD.

VAL>> (LAUGHTER) SO THAT'S THE SECRET TO THE ETERNALLY YOUTHFUL JESS MARLOW.

FRITZ COLEMAN>> HOW LONG DO YOU SWIM A DAY? SERIOUSLY. THAT'S YOUR MAIN --

JESS>> -- AN HOUR. AN HOUR A DAY.

VAL>> STILL TODAY?

JESS>> YEAH.

VAL>> MY GOSH.

JESS>> IT'S THE LIFEBLOOD. IT'S AN EXERCISE YOU DON'T HURT YOURSELF. THOSE OTHER THINGS HURT. LIKE ROLLERBLADING, AS YOU KNOW. YOU CAN GET HURT DOING THAT.

FRITZ COLEMAN>> OH, YES. JESS AND I USED TO, ONCE OR TWICE A WEEK, GO ROLLERBLADING AROUND THE ROSE BOWL JUST FOR EXERCISE. WE'D HAVE A PLATOON OF WOULD-BE ROLLERBLADERS AND THE WATER WOULD PART WHEN WE SKATED BY (LAUGHTER).

JESS>> (LAUGHTER) THEY WERE TERRIFIED WHEN THEY SAW US COMING.

FRITZ COLEMAN>> THE BEAUTIFUL THING IS THAT JESS HAS THE DISTINGUISHED PROFESSIONALISM OF WALTER CRONKITE, WHO IS HIS CLOSE FRIEND, SO WHEN HE SNAPS THESE GREAT UNDER-HIS-BREATH SNAPPERS DURING COMMERCIAL BREAKS, THEY JUST LAY YOU OUT ON THE FLOOR BECAUSE YOU DON'T EXPECT IT COMING FROM HIM (LAUGHTER).

VAL>> WELL, FRITZ, WE CAN'T THANK YOU ENOUGH FOR TAKING TIME OUT OF A VERY BUSY DAY TO COME AND SAY GOODBYE.

FRITZ COLEMAN>> WE LOVE THIS MAN AND WE WISH HIM AND PHYLLIS JUST GREAT HAPPINESS OVER THERE.

JESS>> THANK YOU, FRITZ. IT'S A REAL PLEASURE TO BE WITH YOU AGAIN TOO.

FRITZ COLEMAN>> GOOD TO SEE YOU, JESS.

VAL>> JESS, WE'D LIKE TO TAKE A MOMENT. WE HAVE A FRIEND HERE WHO'D LIKE TO SPEAK WITH YOU. WHY DON'T YOU GO AHEAD? JESS IS LISTENING.

CONNIE CHUNG>> HI, JESS. THIS IS SOMEONE WHO USED TO WORK WITH YOU AND WISH SHE COULD ANCHOR AS WELL AS YOU COULD AND TAP DANCE AS WELL AS YOU COULD (LAUGHTER). JESS, THIS IS CONNIE.

JESS>> IT SURE IS CONNIE CHUNG. HOW ARE YOU?

CONNIE CHUNG>> HEY, HOW ARE YOU?

JESS>> WHAT A TREAT TO HEAR FROM YOU. WE HAVEN'T DANCED ON A DESKTOP FOR SOME YEARS (LAUGHTER).

CONNIE CHUNG>> THAT'S RIGHT. CAN YOU STILL DO IT?

JESS>> YEAH, AND I CAN DANCE TOO (LAUGHTER).

CONNIE CHUNG>> (LAUGHTER) WELL, HOW'S PHYLLIS?

JESS>> PHYLLIS IS DOING VERY WELL. SHE'S LOOKING FORWARD TO MOVING TO SANTA FE. YOU KNOW, WE'VE HAD THAT ON AGAIN-OFF AGAIN LOVE AFFAIR WITH THAT CITY FOR A LONG TIME AND SHE WANTS TO TRY LIFE THERE, SO WE'RE LOOKING FOR NEW ADVENTURES.

CONNIE CHUNG>> WELL, YOU KNOW WHAT? I CAME UP WITH A NEW ADVENTURE FOR YOU.

JESS>> OKAY.

CONNIE CHUNG>> BECAUSE YOU ARE ONE OF THE FEW ANCHORS WHO COULD WRITE (LAUGHTER).

JESS>> I'VE PRINTED, BUT --

CONNIE CHUNG>> -- YOU KNOW WHAT? I WAS AT A RETIREMENT PARTY AND BEN BRADLEY MENTIONED -- YOU KNOW, HE WAS THE WASHINGTON POST EDITOR -- AND HE SAID THAT SOMEONE USED TO WRITE A COLUMN CALLED "THOUGHTS WHILE SHAVING". HOW'S THAT?

JESS>> THAT'S GOOD.

CONNIE CHUNG>> BECAUSE YOU COULD WRITE A COLUMN LIKE ANYWHERE, RIGHT, JUST ABOUT YOUR THOUGHTS BECAUSE I'D LOVE TO HEAR YOUR THOUGHTS.

JESS>> YOU'VE HEARD A NUMBER OF THEM AND SEVERAL OF THEM WE CAN'T USE ON THIS AIR (LAUGHTER)

CONNIE CHUNG>> YOU GOT THAT RIGHT. I JUST WANT EVERYBODY TO KNOW, JESS, THAT YOU WERE THE VERY BEST ANCHOR I EVER, EVER WORKED WITH. OF COURSE, THAT WASN'T HARD AFTER WORKING WITH DAN RATHER (LAUGHTER). JUST KIDDING. NO, I'M SERIOUS. JESS, YOU WERE THE BEST, THE BEST, THE BEST I EVER, EVER WORKED WITH AND I ALWAYS SEARCHED FOR YOU AGAIN AND I COULD NEVER FIND ANYONE LIKE YOU.

JESS>> OH, THAT'S VERY SWEET OF YOU, CONNIE. WE HAD A WONDERFUL TIME TOGETHER AND I'VE MISSED SEEING YOU OF LATE.

CONNIE CHUNG>> WELL, JESS, YOU TAKE CARE. JUST KEEP IN TOUCH. WOULD YOU DO THAT FOR ME?

JESS>> YOU BET. LOOK FORWARD TO IT.

CONNIE CHUNG>> ALL RIGHT. TAKE CARE.

JESS>> THANKS, CONNIE.

CONNIE CHUNG>> OKAY. BYE.

JESS>> BYE-BYE.

BOB ABERNETHY>> I'M BOB ABERNETHY IN WASHINGTON. JESS AND I WORKED TOGETHER AT KNBC IN THE 1960'S AND I LEARNED THEN WHAT'S BECOME MORE AND MORE TRUE EACH YEAR SINCE. WHAT A GOOD REPORTER AND STEADY ANCHOR JESS IS. ONE OF JESS'S MANY DISTINCTIONS, ALONG WITH CARTWHEELS, IS THAT BEFORE HE BUILT SUCH A GREAT CAREER IN LOS ANGELES, HE SURVIVED THE DESTRUCTION NOT JUST OF HIS JOB, BUT OF HIS ENTIRE PROFESSION. JESS WAS A RAILROAD TELEGRAPHER IN THE MIDWEST, MAYBE THE LAST ONE, AND WHEN HIS JOB AND TRADE BECAME OBSOLETE, HE LOOKED AROUND FOR SOME MORE PERMANENT LINE OF WORK. IMAGINE FINDING YOUR WAY INTO TELEVISION NEWS IN LOS ANGELES IN SEARCH OF STABILITY.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU AND PHYLLIS HAVE IN MIND TO DO NOW, JESS, BUT I HOPE VERY MUCH YOU WON'T LET A COUPLE OF RETIREMENTS INTERFERE WITH YOUR WORK. YOU DO IT MUCH TOO WELL TO LEAVE FOR GOOD AND, SHOULD YOU EVER WANT TO KEEP YOUR HAND IN WITH A STORY OR TWO FOR RELIGION AND ETHICS NEWS WEEKLY, IT WOULD BE REALLY GREAT TO WORK AGAIN ON THE SAME PROGRAM WITH AS GOOD A MAN AND FRIEND AS YOU. ALL THE BEST.

VAL>> NOW, JESS, WE HAVE A COUPLE MORE SURPRISES FOR YOU, BUT FIRST WE WANT TO LET EVERYBODY KNOW THAT BEHIND EVERY SMART MAN IS A SMARTER WOMAN AND THAT WOMAN IS PHYLLIS, YOUR WIFE, WHO JOINS US NOW. SO NICE TO SEE YOU.

JESS>> SMART WOMAN WITH A VERY SHARP STICK (LAUGHTER).

VAL>> AND ALSO WITH US IS AN OFFICIAL EMISSARY FROM SACRAMENTO, BYRON TUCKER, REPRESENTING GOVERNOR GRAY DAVIS. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING.

BYRON TUCKER>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WE'RE SO GLAD TO BE HERE.

JESS>> THANK YOU, BYRON.

BYRON TUCKER>> LOS ANGELES IS GOING TO MISS AN ICON IN TELEVISION. YOUR PROFESSIONALISM HAS SET THE BAR SO HIGH FOR SO MANY OTHER REPORTERS TO FOLLOW AND WE'RE REALLY GOING TO MISS YOU, ESPECIALLY TOGETHER.

JESS>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

BYRON TUCKER>> ON BEHALF OF THE GOVERNOR, I HAVE ACTUALLY BROUGHT A COMMENDATION WELCOMING YOU ON YOUR RETIREMENT. WHEN I LEFT THE GOVERNOR TODAY, I WAS BRINGING THIS COMMENDATION OVER HERE AND I HAD A CHANCE TO BRIEFLY DISCUSS IT WITH HIM. HE LOOKED AT IT AND SAID, NO, NO. HE SAT DOWN AND HE ACTUALLY PENNED A PERSONAL NOTE TO YOU AS WELL, SO I HAVE BROUGHT THESE FOR YOU.

VAL>> IN FACT, WE HAVE THE GOVERNOR ON THE LINE. THE GOVERNOR IS CALLING TO WISH YOU BEST IN YOUR RETIREMENT EVEN THOUGH YOU'RE MOVING OUT OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA. GOVERNOR DAVIS, YOU'RE HERE WITH US NOW, IS THAT RIGHT?

GRAY DAVIS>> HI, JESS, THIS IS GOVERNOR --

JESS>> -- GOVERNOR, I'M MOVING TO NEW MEXICO BECAUSE IT'S ONE STATE THAT HAS A BUDGET SURPLUS (LAUGHTER).

GRAY DAVIS>> IS IT SOMETHING WE DID WRONG, JESS? (LAUGHTER) YOU'RE SUCH A WONDERFUL REPORTER AND THOSE OF US WHO'VE BEEN AROUND FOR A WHILE HAVE TREMENDOUS ADMIRATION FOR YOUR REPORTORIAL PROFESSIONALISM AND JUST THE WAY YOU CONDUCT YOURSELF IN GOOD TIMES AND BAD. YOU'RE REALLY A REMARKABLE ROLE MODEL NOT JUST FOR JOURNALISTS, BUT FOR ALL ADULTS. WE REALLY ARE GOING TO MISS YOU AND MAYBE I CAN WORK OUT WITH BILL RICHARDSON WHERE WE ANNEX THAT PART OF NEW MEXICO WHERE YOU LAND IN (LAUGHTER).

JESS>> (LAUGHTER) GOVERNOR, I DO APPRECIATE THE KIND WORDS AND I'VE ENJOYED THE YEARS OF KNOWING YOU AND WISH YOU THE BEST OF LUCK.

GRAY DAVIS>> THANK YOU, JESS. WE REALLY WILL MISS YOU ENORMOUSLY, BUT THERE ARE AIRPLANE FLIGHTS AND THERE'S VIDEO CONFERENCING AND, HOPEFULLY, WE CAN STAY IN TOUCH. IF I CAN WORK IT OUT WITH GOVERNOR RICHARDSON, WE'LL MAKE YOUR PART OF NEW MEXICO CALIFORNIA TAX FREE (LAUGHTER), YOU KNOW, AS CONSULTING OR ADVISING US FROM TIME TO TIME. BUT YOU'VE BEEN A REMARKABLE NEWSMAN AND THE ENTIRE PROFESSION, I KNOW, IS SADDENED BY YOUR DEPARTURE. MAYBE AFTER A YEAR OR SO, YOU'LL DECIDE YOU WANT TO GET YOUR HAND BACK IN AND WE'LL ALL WELCOME THAT DAY.

JESS>> THANK YOU, GOVERNOR. I APPRECIATE THAT AND I APPRECIATE YOUR KIND WORDS.

GRAY DAVIS>> HAVE A WONDERFUL RETIREMENT AND WE HOPE TO SEE YOU SOON.

JESS>> THANK YOU.

VAL>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, GOVERNOR, AND THANK YOU, BYRON TUCKER, FOR BEING WITH US ON BEHALF OF THE GOVERNOR.

BYRON TUCKER>> THANK YOU.

VAL>> HOW DID YOU KEEP THIS MAN ON TRACK?

PHYLLIS MARLOW>> I WOULD LIKE TO ARGUE WITH COLLEEN. HE DOES HAVE A FEW FAULTS (LAUGHTER) --

JESS>> -- (LAUGHTER) DON'T ENUMERATE THEM.

PHYLLIS MARLOW>> WE WON'T GO INTO THAT, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO GUARANTEE ALL OF OUR FRIENDS THAT THIS WILL BE HIS LAST RETIREMENT, SO THEY CAN RELAX. THEY DON'T HAVE TO DO THIS ANYMORE (LAUGHTER). BUT HE'S ENJOYED EVERY MINUTE OF IT HERE AND I CAN SEE WHY.

VAL>> I KNOW THAT YOU HAVE MADE SUCH A DIFFERENCE IN YOUR LIFE. YOU GIVE WONDERFUL DINNER PARTIES, YOU HAVE A BEAUTIFUL HOME AND I KNOW THAT YOU WILL SET UP A BEAUTIFUL LIFE FOR THE BOTH OF YOU IN SANTA FE. YOU'RE VERY LUCKY.

PHYLLIS MARLOW>> WE HOPE YOU'LL COME SEE US.

VAL>> YOU'VE GOT IT. I HEAR YOU HAVE A HUGE GUEST ROOM, SO I WILL BE THERE.

PHYLLIS>> WELL, YOU'RE WELCOME. WE WOULD LOVE TO SEE YOU. WE'LL SEE ALL OF YOU, OKAY?

VAL>> AND, JESS, I FEEL VERY HONORED THAT I HAVE THE DISTINCTION OF BEING THE LAST CO-ANCHOR THAT YOU WILL WORK WITH. I DON'T KNOW IF THAT MEANS THAT I'VE DRIVEN YOU INTO RETIREMENT --

JESS>> -- (LAUGHTER) NO, NO.

VAL>> -- FOR SOME REASON, BUT I CAN'T SAY ENOUGH ABOUT WHAT YOU'VE TAUGHT ME. NOT JUST PROFESSIONALLY, BUT YOU'VE TAUGHT ME A LOT OF PERSONAL THINGS TOO. HOW TO FLOW BEAUTIFULLY FROM ONE STAGE IN LIFE TO THE NEXT, HOW TO STAY CALM, HOW TO BE MELLOW AND UNFLAPPABLE AND THINGS LIKE THAT ARE JUST VERY RARE.

JESS>> WELL, YOU WON'T DO IT WITH THIS CARBONATED APPLE JUICE (LAUGHTER), BUT THAT'S A START ANYWAY. IT'S BEEN A DELIGHT WORKING WITH YOU AND WITH EVERYBODY HERE AT KCET. THIS IS AN EXTRAORDINARY GROUP. YOU'LL NEVER HAVE A BETTER OPPORTUNITY AND WORKING WITH YOU HAS BEEN A DELIGHT.

VAL>> AND CONTRARY -- IT JUST AMAZES ME THAT A PERSON CAN BE FORTY YEARS IN TELEVISION NEWS AND STILL HAVE THEIR EGO INTACT SO BEAUTIFULLY. YOU'RE A TREASURE TO LOS ANGELES. LOS ANGELES TELEVISION IS BETTER FOR HAVING KNOWN YOU AND, MOST OF ALL, EVERYONE WHO KNOWS YOU IS A LITTLE BIT BETTER PERSON FOR KNOWING YOU. WE'VE REALLY ENJOYED YOUR BEING HERE.

JESS>> THANK YOU. THAT'S VERY KIND.

VAL>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

JESS>> AND, AS THEY SAY, THAT'S OUR PROGRAM FOR TONIGHT. NOW ONE LAST TIME, FOR ALL OF US HERE AT LIFE AND TIMES, THANK YOU AND GOOD NIGHT.

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