ToughPigs is saddened to be taught that legendary journalist Robert MacNeil has handed away on the age of 93.

Having began as a correspondent for British community ITV and Reuters, MacNeil made his first huge break into American tv with NBC Information, the place he was one of many first to report of the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. However maybe he’s greatest identified for his work with PBS, the place he hosted Washington Week in Evaluate from 1971-74, serving as a chief reporter in the course of the Watergate hearings. From this, he was capable of anchor his personal present, The Robert MacNeil Report, starting in 1975. Shortly thereafter, Jim Lehrer joined him on the anchor desk to kind The MacNeil/Lehrer Report. MacNeil left the present in 1995, however this system continues to run, now often called the PBS NewsHour.

Being one in every of PBS’s stars would naturally deliver him to a different of their most iconic exhibits, Sesame Avenue, the place he would make a number of appearances over time. He first appeared on the present in 1984, interviewing Oscar the Grouch about his burgeoning ice cream stand and his uniquely grouchy flavors. Later within the yr, additionally from his anchor desk, he’d discuss with Huge Hen and Telly about balloons and the phrase “abierto.” (Spoiler alert: it’s Spanish for “open.”) He’d additionally present up within the celebrity-packed songs “Put Down the Duckie” and “Monster within the Mirror.”

However arguably, his funniest second got here in 1988’s Sesame Avenue, Particular when, in a spoof of the then-ongoing Iran-Contra Affair, he entered right into a tense interview with Cookie Monster about accusations of inappropriately appropriating cookies from Gordon and Susan’s cookie jar to his tummy, dubbed the “Cookiegate” scandal. On this reporters opinion, the bit stands amongst one of many funniest issues Sesame Avenue has ever executed.

MacNeil would come again to the present one final time in 1998 as he scooped Kermit the Frog on breaking the information that Slimey had landed on the moon. Serving to to indicate children what reporters do and unafraid to poke somewhat enjoyable at his personal present, Robert MacNeil was at all times sport when he confirmed up on Sesame Avenue.

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by Matthew Soberman – Matthew@ToughPigs.com