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Subscribe to RSSA final farewell to those we lost in 2010. NBC's Brian Williams reports.
As I said on the air last night, the arrival of the holidays and year's end makes us all reflect on those we have lost in our lives -- our private lives. And as I often say in this space, the reason we do an inordinate number of obituaries on Nightly News is to signpost our own lives and times by remembering those who briefly shared this planet with us, in our own times. Last night we aired a beautiful piece of work, 4 minutes long, that reminded several of us of the "remembrance" portion of the Academy Awards broadcast each year, predictably the emotional high-point of the broadcast. It was produced by Megan Marcus of our staff, and edited by Bev Chase. Both women lived with the project, the pictures and the graphic details for weeks, and spent many long days and nights compiling it. We've had a number of very positive posts and emails -- and a number of people have wondered about the music playing over the sports heroes portion: its called "Song for Solstice," and it's by the Philadelphia-based band Hoots and Hellmouth -- you can find them here, and I happen to know they'd be grateful. That something nice can come out of such a somber project would be a wonderful thing.
If you should happen to notice later this week that I've taken a brief break to be with my family over the long weekend, the instructions remain the same! Join Lester Holt and Kate Snow here at Nightly News when I can't be with you -- and in the meantime, we hope you can join us for tonight's broadcast from the still-snowbound City of New York.
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Good Evening Mr.Williams, A fine broadcast this evening always! It was such a moving tribute last evening to all those people we have lost over the year of 2010. So many notable people who have made great contributions in many different things. It was an excellent piece due to the work of Megan Marcus and Bev Chase. Thank you for letting us know who played the music for the sports heroes portion.
Now on to the broadcast. First of all the report by Mr.Rossen from La Guardia about all the cancelled flights and stranded passengers. Certainly a chaotic situation with few flights and hundreds of passengers who might not get a flight out until later in the week or later. One can understand the frustration of people standing in line for hours only to find out their flight has been cancelled. It is staggering to hear how many flights go in and out of the New York area which affect flights all over the world. One can only hope people will be able to make it home soon.
The report by Mr.Bazell about how tough it it for first responders to get to people who need help told of the creative ways many first responders are using to reach people quickly. Frightening for the women going into labor and not being able to get an ambulance. It was good to see and know the babies were delivered and are doing well. New Yorkers are pulling together to help one another in this tough situation.
The "Making A Difference" by Anne Thompson about the organization, "Fairy Dogparents" was so touching and heartwarming. Helping people in tough economic times take care of their beloved dogs showed how many dogs lives were saved. The woman who started the program has helped it grow so much and helping around 71 dogs. Delivering food, medicine and so many other things, it is wonderful.
Very nice piece!
Thank You for the broadcast Mr.Williams. And later in the week, I hope you enjoy your vacation time with your family. Have a Very Happy New Year! To You and Your Whole Family! Stay Warm and Safe! Peace to You and to All!
Be Well Everyone!
Jackie-Thank You for the very nice comments! Very Sweet!
Stay Extra,Extra Safe and Well Richard! You did and Excellent Job hosting MSNBC Andrea Mitchell Reports today! You will be great tomorrow as well!
Take Extra Good Care Richard and Crew!
Lisa
Brian: That piece on those we lost was very well done! Megan Marcus and Bev Chase did a magnificent job of putting the segment together. Tell them Thanks. Yes, we lost some very talented people, but their legacies will always remain. Future generations will produce more great talents to carry on the wonder of talent. Great talent will always be present in our world, and for each farewell, someone will fill the emptiness. Thanks again for that somber but important tribute to all of our departed friends!
I know New York is still snowbound, but Gotham is slowly recovering. The Christmas tree still glows at 30 Rock and Times Square awaits New Year's Eve. The Big Apple is still as vibrant as ever. May you and yours have a happy and prosperous New Year. I'll catch you on tonight's broadcast.
Could someone please list the songs for "Those We Have Loved and Lost?" I know "Stormy Weather", Soloman Burke, the themes from the television shows (Mission Imposible, Golden Girls, Davy Crockett) but I am missing a few.
The peice was very nicely done.
This segment was a tremendous waste of the viewers' time. First of all, when you include Brian's long-winded comments (pre and post), the segment was more like 4:50. And every one of these people already had an obit on Nightly News during the past year (except for Teena Marie, who had just died the day before). So this was basically a rerun and a time-filler. Isn't there any real news going on? If Brian wants to host the Oscars, let him submit an audition tape like everybody else. This segment was ridiculous. Leave the "people we lost" stories to the New York Times Magazine--they know how to do it right. At the very least, the producers could have made this a little bit interesting by playing Jim Carroll's "People Who Died" as the soundtrack.
Shameful self promotion for NBC's football game tonight on the nightly news. Isn't it unseemly to have Ed Rendell as an elected official wearing a jacket with a Comcast logo -- the same company that is about to buy NBC and become Rendell's new employer. Not one of NBC's best moments tonight....Brian you can do better than that.
Mother Nature has not been kind to us which begs/prompts the question: Will she weather a
conversion soon? Pun Intended. Bundle up, Brian, and have a nice evening. Phyllis
Good Evening Mr.Williams, a fine broadcast this evening as always. A moving tribute last evening to all those who were lost over 2010. So many people who have made great contributions in many different things. Notable people who of many facets of our nation and world. They will be greatly missed. Excellent piece by Megan Marcus and Bev Chase.
Also, thank you for letting us know of who played to music for the sports heroes section.
Now on to the broadcast. First of all the report by Mr.Rossen from La Guardia told of many flights cancelled and hundreds of stranded passengers. With such a backlog of flights many people might not be able to leave until later in the week. It it truly a chaotic situation along with knowing how New York is the hub of flights all over the world. Hearing it is 1/3rd of flights is staggering and just incredible.
The piece by Mr.Bazell about first responders told of how much difficulty they have been having to reach people who need help. Clogged streets make it nearly impossible, although they have been creative in some ways. Good to know the babies were born and are doing well.
The "Making A Difference" segement by Anne Thompson about the organization, FairyDogparents" was very heartwarming. The woman who started the program certainly has helped so many people in these tough economic times care for their beloved dogs. She has saved many of these dogs lives with her organization. Wonderful work!
Thank You for the broadcast Mr.Wiliams. I hope you enjoy your vacation time with your family! Have A Very Happy New Year! Peace to You and to All!
Be Well Everyone!
Jackie-Thank you for the nice comments! Very Sweet!
Stay Extra,Extra Safe and Well Richard! Excellent Job hosting Andrea Mitchell Reports on MSNBC today! You will be great tomorrow too!
Take Extra Good Care Richard and Crew!
Lisa
Hey Bri - Just a few comments on the broadcast, first and foremost Gov. Rendell, I so want to use a certain verbage that I'm sure would guarantee my being banished from the blog, so I'll just say, he speaks as if he's not dealing with a "full deck".
Once again, the Making A Difference report this evening was one of the best you've done regarding our four legged best friends !
After seeing the conditions of the weather we would have seen many many people lost by accident all because of a football game. The players would have never even seen the ball or each other. But most people see no problem with others doing something stupid. NBC is a business and Bratt/Michael bring viewers.
Brian all I have to say is eye eye Captain enjoy the time with your familly.
Lisa thanks but it's just the facts nothing added but everyone did love how your review of the news got right to the point.
have a great evening all, now to the game
hola, brian, this is carved on the top of the bench by my parents' graves at the cemetery. 'if ever there is tomorrow when we're not together . . . there is something you must always remember, you are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think, but the most important thing is, even if we're apart, i'll always be with you.' i am sure the families of the departed are really missing them this holiday season. megan and bev did a great job with that 4 minutes. enjoy bringing in the new year with your family, best, anna martina
I was so bored by all the football coverage I left the room a FEW times. I only watch NBC news, Brian Williams usually does not waste our time with foolishness. But really... the Governor of PA made a fool of himself, and you looked a little silly, too, Brian, treating his rant as if it were.. well, news. It's a great game, but it's a GAME. It's not 'who we are' as Americans. A game. And the commentator you interviewed got his schedule messed up - as did so many of us with the weather. The WEATHER was news! And having been away from Nightly News for a few days due to the holidays, I started thinking maybe I'm not missing anything....