A few things stand out:

• How did Ted Koppel ever become a network news anchor? He has the charisma of a dead goat.
• There were about 8 media-types at the scene of his death. How many would there be if it had happened in LA today?
• That hotel clerk they interview sure acts pretty guilty, doesn’t he?
• The shot of the cops looks like it could itself be the start of an SNL sketch.
• I can’t believe how much time they spent on this piece. Didn’t anything else happen that day? Ted?

Pretty interesting to revisit history this way. I watched his King Bee video on Youtube, and I’m not sure why people connected with him the way they did, but I guess he spoke to that generation. I think part of it was their style, which doesn’t surprise us now, but was a breath of fresh air in the 70s and 80s – especially on live television.

Related posts:
I want to be on the news.
Dear John trailer
Onion News Network brings the goods.
Simmons on the death of the Seven Seconds or Less era
John Krolik: Sebastian Telfair is basketball’s Sonny Corleone?