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Bill Kurtis 're-invents' himself

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Posted by chicagomedia.org on June 20, 2008 at 09:27:47:

Broadcast legend Bill Kurtis, who spoofed his hard-boiled image in the Will Farrell comedy "Anchorman," is at it again.

This time, Kurtis appears in a commercial for AT&T in which he parodies his role as host of such long-running series as "Cold Case Files" and "Investigative Reports."

Delivered in his most mockingly authoritative voice, Kurtis plugs AT&T's Laptop Connect Card, which allows users wi-fi access by cell phone anywhere in the world.

"When I first heard about it, I thought: 'Wow, I can do my scripts in the jungle,' " he said.

In agreeing to his first product-endorsement deal, Kurtis said he received permission from A&E, to which he is still under contract.

"Frankly, in the ever-changing world of today's media, one has to be flexible and re-invent," he said.

Kurtis' role is not likely to raise many eyebrows since he hasn't worked as a news anchor since 1995 when he left CBS-owned WBBM-Channel 2 to focus on his cable hosting duties and his Chicago-based production business.

He's far from the first. Older viewers might recall that the late Chet Huntley, who retired in 1970 as one-half of the NBC News anchor team of Huntley & Brinkley, later became a commercial spokesman for American Airlines.

(Feder)

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: Broadcast legend Bill Kurtis, who spoofed his hard-boiled image in the Will Farrell comedy "Anchorman," is at it again. : This time, Kurtis appears in a commercial for AT&T in which he parodies his role as host of such long-running series as "Cold Case Files" and "Investigative Reports." : Delivered in his most mockingly authoritative voice, Kurtis plugs AT&T's Laptop Connect Card, which allows users wi-fi access by cell phone anywhere in the world. : "When I first heard about it, I thought: 'Wow, I can do my scripts in the jungle,' " he said. : In agreeing to his first product-endorsement deal, Kurtis said he received permission from A&E, to which he is still under contract. : "Frankly, in the ever-changing world of today's media, one has to be flexible and re-invent," he said. : Kurtis' role is not likely to raise many eyebrows since he hasn't worked as a news anchor since 1995 when he left CBS-owned WBBM-Channel 2 to focus on his cable hosting duties and his Chicago-based production business. : He's far from the first. Older viewers might recall that the late Chet Huntley, who retired in 1970 as one-half of the NBC News anchor team of Huntley & Brinkley, later became a commercial spokesman for American Airlines. : (Feder)

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