Robbin Bain, who was the fashion and beauty expert on NBC‘s Today during the early 1960s, died in Southampton, NY, on October 21. She was 87. Her daughter Lara McLanahan told Deadline that she had been battling breast cancer. Known to viewers as “Today Girl,” she joined the NBC show in 1961 to discuss fashion, cosmetics and other female-led topics. She worked alongside the host John Chancellor and news anchor Frank Blair. However, she only stayed in the role for two months, leaving the show after she became pregnant with daughter Dina. “I was the only woman, with the exception of the makeup woman, on the set,” she recalled during a 2012 TV reunion of “Today Girls.” Deborah Norville and Robbin Bain during the “Today” show’s 60th anniversary episode TV icon Barbara Walters, who died last year, was also a “Today Girl” early in her career after joining the show in 1961 as a writer and researcher.
- 11/6/2023
- TV Insider
Robbin Bain, who was known as the “Today Girl” handling fashion and beauty segments on the NBC-TV morning show, died Oct. 21 in Southampton, N.Y., on Long Island. She was 87 and had breast cancer, according to her daughter.
Her public career began in 1959, when she was named as Miss Rheingold, then the most popular beer in the New York region. For her win, she received $50,000 and spent the next year making appearances in the United States and Europe.
She turned to modeling, appearing in ads for Helena Rubinstein and Revlon. She was also one of four women, called “Portrettes,” who introduced Jackie Gleason on his television variety show, The Jackie Gleason Show, in 1956 and 1957.
Early in her career, she changed her first name to Robbin to avoid confusion with the actress Barbara Bain.
In late August 1961, Bain joined NBC as the “Today Girl,” working alongside the host John Chancellor...
Her public career began in 1959, when she was named as Miss Rheingold, then the most popular beer in the New York region. For her win, she received $50,000 and spent the next year making appearances in the United States and Europe.
She turned to modeling, appearing in ads for Helena Rubinstein and Revlon. She was also one of four women, called “Portrettes,” who introduced Jackie Gleason on his television variety show, The Jackie Gleason Show, in 1956 and 1957.
Early in her career, she changed her first name to Robbin to avoid confusion with the actress Barbara Bain.
In late August 1961, Bain joined NBC as the “Today Girl,” working alongside the host John Chancellor...
- 11/5/2023
- by Bruce Haring
- Deadline Film + TV
Peter Billingsley, the blond moppet from “A Christmas Story,” was 11 years old when he starred in that 1983 holiday-sleeper-that-became-a-classic (though it depends who you ask — I’ve always been something of a Scrooge about it). The image of Billingsley from “A Christmas Story” — goggle-ish glasses, beaming gopher grin — became, in its way, as iconic a movie signifier of raucous kiddie-culture spirits as Macaulay Culkin’s cheeky gaze of frozen horror in “Home Alone.” But that was 40 years ago. Billingsley is now 51, and he’s the dad in “A Christmas Story Christmas,” a latter-day sequel to the movie that a lot of people (maybe too many) think of as their all-time favorite Yuletide TV bliss-out.
In “A Christmas Story Christmas,” Billingsley, as the grown-up version of Ralphie Parker, is still a likable actor, but he’s lost any trace of that rascally Bb-gun exuberance. He now resembles the former NBC News anchor...
In “A Christmas Story Christmas,” Billingsley, as the grown-up version of Ralphie Parker, is still a likable actor, but he’s lost any trace of that rascally Bb-gun exuberance. He now resembles the former NBC News anchor...
- 11/15/2022
- by Owen Gleiberman
- Variety Film + TV
SAG-AFTRA’s unclaimed residuals fund has grown to roughly $76 million – up 60% from $48 million six years ago. According to the union, the fund now contains 124,000 separate accounts for members and others, living and dead, that it can’t locate. That’s up from 96,000 accounts in 2016.
“The funds may be unclaimed for a variety of reasons including a bad address or as a result of mail returned for other reasons; unresolved estate issues, or the funds may be in trust for an inactive or dissolved loan out corporation,” a spokesperson for the union said. “Most often, residuals may be waiting for a recipient or their agent to formalize a change of address or submit the appropriate paperwork to claim the funds. The union uses a number of tools to locate and get money to those individuals due unclaimed residuals including mail, email and telephone outreach to last known address and telephone number,...
“The funds may be unclaimed for a variety of reasons including a bad address or as a result of mail returned for other reasons; unresolved estate issues, or the funds may be in trust for an inactive or dissolved loan out corporation,” a spokesperson for the union said. “Most often, residuals may be waiting for a recipient or their agent to formalize a change of address or submit the appropriate paperwork to claim the funds. The union uses a number of tools to locate and get money to those individuals due unclaimed residuals including mail, email and telephone outreach to last known address and telephone number,...
- 1/10/2022
- by David Robb
- Deadline Film + TV
Tom Brokaw, the anchor who rose from an early stint at a station in Sioux City, Iowa to anchor three of the nation’s best-known TV-news programs – “Today,” “NBC Nightly News” and, for a short time, “Meet the Press,” is set to step down formally from NBC News, where he has worked since 1966.
Brokaw’s time on air has dwindled in recent years, while he has served as a special correspondent for the NBCUniversal-owned outlet, and also battled with cancer. He turned 80 in February.
“During one of the most complex and consequential eras in American history, a new generation of NBC News journalists, producers and technicians is providing America with timely, insightful and critically important information, 24/7. I could not be more proud of them,” said Brokaw, in a prepared statement. His longest tenure was at “NBC Nightly News,” which he led between 1982 and 2004.
He is attached to an era...
Brokaw’s time on air has dwindled in recent years, while he has served as a special correspondent for the NBCUniversal-owned outlet, and also battled with cancer. He turned 80 in February.
“During one of the most complex and consequential eras in American history, a new generation of NBC News journalists, producers and technicians is providing America with timely, insightful and critically important information, 24/7. I could not be more proud of them,” said Brokaw, in a prepared statement. His longest tenure was at “NBC Nightly News,” which he led between 1982 and 2004.
He is attached to an era...
- 1/22/2021
- by Brian Steinberg
- Variety Film + TV
Tom Brokaw will retire from NBC News after 55 years with the network.
He made the announcement in a statement on Friday.
“During one of the most complex and consequential eras in American history, a new generation of NBC News journalists, producers and technicians is providing America with timely, insightful and critically important information, 24/7. I could not be more proud of them,” he said in a statement.
Brokaw, 80, was the anchor of NBC Nightly News from 1982-2004. Since then, he has been a part of NBC News’ special event coverage, serving a special correspondent and often providing commentary and analysis from an historic perspective. His 2001 book The Greatest Generation put the spotlight on the sacrifice of a generation of Americans through the Great Depression and World War II. The book’s title is now commonly used to refer to WWII veterans and their families.
Brokaw will continue to be active in print journalism and write books,...
He made the announcement in a statement on Friday.
“During one of the most complex and consequential eras in American history, a new generation of NBC News journalists, producers and technicians is providing America with timely, insightful and critically important information, 24/7. I could not be more proud of them,” he said in a statement.
Brokaw, 80, was the anchor of NBC Nightly News from 1982-2004. Since then, he has been a part of NBC News’ special event coverage, serving a special correspondent and often providing commentary and analysis from an historic perspective. His 2001 book The Greatest Generation put the spotlight on the sacrifice of a generation of Americans through the Great Depression and World War II. The book’s title is now commonly used to refer to WWII veterans and their families.
Brokaw will continue to be active in print journalism and write books,...
- 1/22/2021
- by Ted Johnson
- Deadline Film + TV
Hugh Downs, anchorman for the ABC news program “20/20” and, before that, NBC’s “The Today Show,” died Wednesday in Scottsdale, Ariz. He was 99.
Downs’ career in broadcasting spanned more than half a century. And despite his assertion “I am not a talent, I am a personality,” Downs proved a first-rate interviewer and journalist time and again. His personality was ingratiating and low-key; well into his 70s, his pleasant demeanor made him a welcome guest in the nation’s living rooms. With Barbara Walters, his co-host on both “Today” and “20/20,” he formed one of the most complementary partnerships in television news programming.
Prior to “Today,” Downs made a name for himself as emcee of the quizshow “Concentration” and as sage in residence on the Jack Paar “Tonight Show.”
After early work in radio and TV, Downs moved to New York in 1954 to join Arlene Francis on NBC’s “Home” show,...
Downs’ career in broadcasting spanned more than half a century. And despite his assertion “I am not a talent, I am a personality,” Downs proved a first-rate interviewer and journalist time and again. His personality was ingratiating and low-key; well into his 70s, his pleasant demeanor made him a welcome guest in the nation’s living rooms. With Barbara Walters, his co-host on both “Today” and “20/20,” he formed one of the most complementary partnerships in television news programming.
Prior to “Today,” Downs made a name for himself as emcee of the quizshow “Concentration” and as sage in residence on the Jack Paar “Tonight Show.”
After early work in radio and TV, Downs moved to New York in 1954 to join Arlene Francis on NBC’s “Home” show,...
- 7/2/2020
- by Carmel Dagan
- Variety Film + TV
Veteran news executive Bill Small passed away on Sunday after a brief illness unrelated to the coronavirus. The former CBS News Washington Bureau Chief, NBC News President, United Press International President and Chairman of the News & Documentary Emmy Awards, was 93.
Small served as CBS’ Washington Bureau Chief from 1962 to 1974 and formed a team of journalists that would go on to dominate political coverage throughout the era of the Vietnam War and Watergate. The roster he recruited from within CBS included Marvin Kalb, Dan Rather, Harry Reasoner, Dan Schorr and Eric Sevareid. New hires at the time, CBS said, included Bob Schieffer, Ed Bradley, Bernard Shaw, Bernard Kalb and Bill Moyers. CBS also noted Small championed the hiring of women including Lesley Stahl, Diane Sawyer, Connie Chung, Susan Zirinsky, Martha Teichner, Rita Braver and Susan Spencer.
“Bill Small was a hero to journalism,” said CBS News president Zirinsky in a statement.
Small served as CBS’ Washington Bureau Chief from 1962 to 1974 and formed a team of journalists that would go on to dominate political coverage throughout the era of the Vietnam War and Watergate. The roster he recruited from within CBS included Marvin Kalb, Dan Rather, Harry Reasoner, Dan Schorr and Eric Sevareid. New hires at the time, CBS said, included Bob Schieffer, Ed Bradley, Bernard Shaw, Bernard Kalb and Bill Moyers. CBS also noted Small championed the hiring of women including Lesley Stahl, Diane Sawyer, Connie Chung, Susan Zirinsky, Martha Teichner, Rita Braver and Susan Spencer.
“Bill Small was a hero to journalism,” said CBS News president Zirinsky in a statement.
- 5/25/2020
- by Nancy Tartaglione
- Deadline Film + TV
On July 16, 1969, Variety ran a package of stories under the headline “Greatest Show Off Earth,” detailing the three TV networks’ fever over the July 19 moon landing. CBS exec producer Robert Wussler predicted “the world’s greatest single broadcast.” Variety called it a “31-hour TV super-special,” running all day Sunday through midday Monday. The networks and four radio companies pooled resources and spent a then-huge $13 million collectively. NBC was handling the action at Kennedy Space Center, CBS at Mission Control in Houston, with ABC assigned “downrange pickups.”
But each network also wanted to plant its own distinct footprint on the moon landing. CBS offered Arthur C. Clarke, Walter Cronkite and Orson Welles (think “War of the Worlds”). ABC had Rod Serling, Isaac Asimov and Marshall McLuhan; ABC also commissioned Duke Ellington to compose a piece of music. NBC had a special hosted by John Chancellor and Danny Kaye, which Variety described...
But each network also wanted to plant its own distinct footprint on the moon landing. CBS offered Arthur C. Clarke, Walter Cronkite and Orson Welles (think “War of the Worlds”). ABC had Rod Serling, Isaac Asimov and Marshall McLuhan; ABC also commissioned Duke Ellington to compose a piece of music. NBC had a special hosted by John Chancellor and Danny Kaye, which Variety described...
- 7/12/2019
- by Tim Gray
- Variety Film + TV
Bob Newhart has been selected by Gold Derby editors to receive a special Career Achievement Award at our Emmy season kickoff party on June 5 in Hollywood.
Newhart is not only an Emmy Award winner and frequent nominee, but the Emmys once played a lucky, key role in launching his early TV success.
Back in 1960, Newhart was known chiefly as the first artist ever to reach number 1 on the Billboard sales charts with a hit comedy album – “The Button-Down Mind of Bob Newhart.” He was not yet a TV star, but he was invited to perform a solo skit at the next Emmys telecast. At the last minute, Newhart was suddenly given lots of extra airtime when an “inappropriate” comedy skit planned by Mike Nichols and Elaine May got nixed (it had the nerve to mock an advertiser) and TV producers had to fill the time.
“The show managed to usher...
Newhart is not only an Emmy Award winner and frequent nominee, but the Emmys once played a lucky, key role in launching his early TV success.
Back in 1960, Newhart was known chiefly as the first artist ever to reach number 1 on the Billboard sales charts with a hit comedy album – “The Button-Down Mind of Bob Newhart.” He was not yet a TV star, but he was invited to perform a solo skit at the next Emmys telecast. At the last minute, Newhart was suddenly given lots of extra airtime when an “inappropriate” comedy skit planned by Mike Nichols and Elaine May got nixed (it had the nerve to mock an advertiser) and TV producers had to fill the time.
“The show managed to usher...
- 5/8/2019
- by Chris Beachum and Tom O'Neil
- Gold Derby
There’s enough Watergate addenda out in the general American consciousness to flood entire D.C. libraries, so there was an extra challenge for the creators of the Slate podcast “Slow Burn” to not only find underappreciated stories from the era, but enlist some previously overlooked participants in the proceedings. Often, that meant going a layer deeper than they expected.
When asked if there was a particular interview that best exemplified that approach, host Leon Neyfakh told IndieWire about discovering brand new angles to the saga that led to the end of Richard Nixon’s presidency.
“One example that was really exciting was when I called Curtis Prins for Episode 2, the Wright Patman episode. Prins worked for Patman and he was really, depending on how you define it, the first person to look into Watergate,” Neyfakh said. “He actually told me that he had never gotten a phone call about...
When asked if there was a particular interview that best exemplified that approach, host Leon Neyfakh told IndieWire about discovering brand new angles to the saga that led to the end of Richard Nixon’s presidency.
“One example that was really exciting was when I called Curtis Prins for Episode 2, the Wright Patman episode. Prins worked for Patman and he was really, depending on how you define it, the first person to look into Watergate,” Neyfakh said. “He actually told me that he had never gotten a phone call about...
- 1/30/2018
- by Steve Greene
- Indiewire
Incoming "Late Show" host Stephen Colbert was on "Howard Stern" this morning to discuss his new late-night gig, his career trajectory, his tragic family history, his infamous White House Correspondents stint and even Donald Trump, among numerous other things. Typical of a "Stern" sit-down, the interview was long and most importantly revealing, providing listeners a window into what makes the former "Colbert Report" host tick. Below I've rounded up the 19 most essential moments from the interview, from a discussion of his brief stint as a cast member on the doomed "Dana Carvey Show" in the mid '90s to what effect the tragic death of his father and two of his brothers had on his life and career. Check out the full roundup below. (Relevant clips included where available.) 1. Jim Carrey was supposed to play Ace in an "Ambiguously Gay Duo" live-action movie. Photo Credit: NBC Colbert voiced the role...
- 8/18/2015
- by Chris Eggertsen
- Hitfix
IMDb.com, Inc. takes no responsibility for the content or accuracy of the above news articles, Tweets, or blog posts. This content is published for the entertainment of our users only. The news articles, Tweets, and blog posts do not represent IMDb's opinions nor can we guarantee that the reporting therein is completely factual. Please visit the source responsible for the item in question to report any concerns you may have regarding content or accuracy.