Posted by chicagomedia.org on November 12, 2009 at 11:31:36:
In Reply to: CBS2 reunites Jacobson and Kurtis for one night only posted by chicagomedia.org on November 12, 2009 at 11:30:22:
Nov 12, 2009 9:37 am US/Central Press Release
Kurtis, Jacobson To Anchor CBS 2 News On Friday
CHICAGO (CBS) -- For one night only, the legendary CBS 2 news team of Bill Kurtis and Walter Jacobson will anchor the news this Friday at 10 p.m.
It will be the first time in decades that the duo has anchored a newscast together.
News Director Jeff Kiernan made the decision to reunite the pair for the show because anchor Rob Johnson is taking the day off to attend the wedding of a longtime friend.
"There's no trickery involved," said Johnson. "We certainly want people to watch our news and hope Bill and Walter's presence encourages lots of people to watch.
"When the idea of Bill and Walter anchoring for me came up, frankly it felt right to me and news management."
"We began our careers here, and we are flattered to be asked to help out," Kurtis said.
Jacobson said he has been working on a book lately.
"I haven't been in front of a teleprompter in 3 1/2 years," Jacobson said. "I'm a little nervous."
Both Kurtis and Jacobson said they have no plans to take on the role permanently.
Kurtis and Jacobson both began their Chicago broadcast careers at CBS 2 in the 1960s. Both left after a few years, but returned in 1973 to anchor a revamped 10 p.m. newscast broadcast directly from the newsroom of CBS 2's old headquarters at 630 N. McClurg Ct.
Kurtis and Jacobson's The 10 O'clock News went on to become one of the most celebrated and emulated local newscasts in the country.
Their run lasted until 1989, except for three years when Kurtis went to New York to work as a network anchor.