This TV show doesn’t have the panache of “Game of Thrones” and its host has never tended to the emotional needs of rose-deprived, borderline-psycho bachelors and bachelorettes — at least not on camera.
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But “CBS Sunday Morning” operates on such a high level of creatively-infused professionalism that it’s hard to tell whether the show borrowed its name from the day or if the day was so impressed with the show that it worked out a naming-rights deal.
Sure, that might be an over-the-top description of a TV news program, but loyal viewers understand while they still digest the recent retirement announcement by longtime host Charles Osgood.
Yes, that’s the same guy you may have heard on the radio through your car speaker ending his CBS News reports, called “The Osgood File,” by saying, “I’ll see you on the radio.” He’s also the dude in a bow tie and glasses who plays piano.
Osgood, now in his mid 80s, will host his final Sunday Morning show on Sept. 25. Loyal viewers know the show will go on with guest hosts and eventually a permanent greeter.
But there’s just something about waking up early on Sunday and getting the first dose of real news (following “Weekend Update” on NBC’s “Saturday Night Live”) from someone who can gracefully explain what viewers missed overnight and help viewers absorb the bad along with the good news while we’re still waking up.
Where most local and national TV news programs follow a presentation formula of crime, more crime, political mudslinging, over-hyped celebrity scandals and then weird, wild, wacky videos before finishing with animals playing musical instruments, CBS Sunday Morning is the island of serenity in a rolling, broadcasting sea of eye candy.
It’s not over-the-top elitist. It’s not a snooze fest and definitely never about “what everyone is talking about.” It’s just TV news done right.
Even if you’ve never tuned in and opted instead for other Sunday morning programming, such as a monster 4-hour NFL pregame show that can easily be folded into 30 minutes, you know “CBS Sunday Morning” is doing something right when it can lure the likes of Jane Pauley and Ted Koppel out of retirement to join its impressive team of correspondents.
What they and Charles Osgood do best is a lost art that really makes this weekly media oasis standout — they are all great storytellers. They have the luxury of investing time and resources to present segments that stick with you into the following week’s water-cooler and lunch chats.
In defense of local news stations and reporters — many I’ve had the pleasure of working with — the daily pressures to get news on the air quickly just doesn’t afford a lot in the way of expanded storytelling. It’s one thing to have a week to produce a story and another thing to have just three hours to hunt down facts and prepare something to air for the 5, 6 and 10 p.m. newscasts.
So before Charles Osgood hangs up his bow tie and lavalier microphone for the last time, I invite you all to check out CBS Sunday Morning at least once while drinking coffee and clearing cobwebs from Saturday night.
If 8 a.m. is too early to flip on channel 2, treat your DVR to 90 minutes that it will be glad to keep for a while.
In fact, I challenge you to try and not like any of the stories in a given show, even if it’s on a topic you know nothing about and would otherwise have no interest in checking out.
Give it a shot. I can promise at least a few collective “huhs” after taking in a story, interview or in-depth celebrity profile that makes you think rather than hold your attention for less of a hype-induced payoff than you expected.
Eric Scott is a freelance columnist for Pioneer Press.