'SUNDAY MORNING': 15 Years Of Civility, And Kuralt
When Charles Kuralt began anchoring "CBS News' Sunday MorningÛ on Jan. 28,1979, Jimmy Carter was in the White House, inflation was raging, and many of his most loyal viewers were still in grammar school.</br></br>This morning af 9, fhe CBS show marks its 15th anniversary. With its trademark solar graphics and easy pace, ÛÏSunday Morning" has built up a devoted following of all ages who wake up to features on music, the arts, news, sports, weather, and a ÛÏPostcard From Nebraska.Û Each week ends with a scene from natureÛÓmigrating birds, Alaskan whales, roaming wolvesÛÓreminding viewers that the best part of this country may be the scenes we rarely see.</br></br>ÛÏ1 know in television terms we donÛªt have an awful lot of viewers, but those we do have seem to be loyal. They look forward to itÛ said Kuralt With the show earning 25 Emmy nominations and eight wins, networks should bottle the chemistry that makes ÛÏSunday MorningÛ so watchable. Kuralt who will turn 60 in September, offered some thoughts: ÛÏPart of it of course, is the length. An hour and a half is a lovely amount of time to have,Û he said. And the time of day: ÛÏI picture them with a cup of coffee and the Sunday paper in their laps, and watching Û÷Sunday MorningÛª that way. It is a leisurely time of morning for a lot of people and I think they are able to sit still for our somewhat leisurely program at that time on Sunday morning.Û</br></br>But the showÛªs success is more about its variety of news and feature stories, especially on artists and musicians, that attract viewers who span generations and backgrounds. ÛÏVery rarely on television do you see a good 10- or 12-minute story about Leonard Bernstein or Pavarotti or Leontyne Price,Û or so many of the artists and musicians who are profiled on the show. ÛÏIt fills a little blank spot in television, I think.Û And itÛªs the art and music features that ÛÏstick in your mind,Û he added.</br></br>The showÛªs features can have a haunting effect, lingering in oneÛªs memory for days. Credit is due to past and current producers (Missie Rennie is currently in charge) and the diverse contributors and their array of topics: pianist and composer Billy Taylor (on jazz), EugeniaZukerman (classical music), author and critic John Leonard (television and films), Nebraska folklorist Roger Welsch, humorist Bill Geist, and recent additions Tim Sample (a Maine humorist) and reporter Martha Teichner.