The Man, The Legend, The Bowtie – Charles Osgood
By: Hope Wilkos, Writer
Sunday, September 25, 2016 marks a historic day in television broadcasting. After 22 years of being invited into our homes on Sunday morning and sharing an hour and a half of his time, CBS’ Charles Osgood signed off as only the second host of CBS Sunday Morning (www.cbssundaymorning.com) since its inception, having succeeded Charles Kuralt in 1994. With Osgood goes his iconic bowties and his witty poetry. Fellow journalists David Edelstein, Bill Flanagan, Nancy Giles, David Pogue, Faith Salie and Ben Stein bid him a fond farewell. Mo Rocca gave us a closer look at Osgood’s bowtie wardrobe.
Charles Osgood relayed the news for 22 years in his own special way, transported us into beautiful landscapes and gave us serenity with some intriguing scenery across our nation and the world and introduced us to some pretty incredible people over the years. For his final show, Charles was invited to sit back and relax as friends, fellow anchors and respectful co-workers gave us insight into the boy, the teen, the man and the legend, all wrapped into one.
He was born Charles Osgood Woods III, but due to the fact that at his first job at ABC there was already an announcer named Charles Woods, he dropped his last name and became Charles Osgood. He moved from ABC to CBS in 1967 where his career continued on the move up. His talent stretched far beyond what we have come to know on the surface. Playing the piano has been one of his many pastimes as we have witnessed on his Sunday morning show time and time again. Osgood actually began on the radio and transitioned over to television. Although television is where his career has flourished, he still hosts a daily CBS Radio Network program known as The Osgood File (www.theosgoodfile.com), and, plans to continue his reign as host of the show even though he is saying goodbye to television. Each and every Sunday as ‘CBS Sunday Morning’ came to a close, Osgood’s famous quote went like this, “Until then, I’ll see you on the radio.” We are certainly going to miss hearing that.
In addition, Charles has been known for narrating Dr. Suess’s animated film, released in 2008, of the memorable childhood book, ‘Horton Hears A Who’. Osgood is also known for his exceptional journalistic abilities, including having written a memoir of his boyhood in 2004.
In his 45 year broadcast career, this radio and television personality has earned some of the highest honors possible. He has been awarded the Walter Cronkite Excellence in Journalism Award from Arizona State University, the George Foster Peabody Award and the National Association of Broadcasters Distinguished Service Award.
On Sunday, September 25, 2016, for his final show, viewers were introduced to Osgood’s wife of 43 years, Jean Crafton. This is certainly a family man, proud of his five children and three grandsons and sharing memories in one excerpt with his wife by his side, sitting in their second home in the South of France. What was even more impressive on this morning’s program was how many different reporters and anchors so tastefully paid tribute to the man of the hour and a half. From Lester Holt to Tom Brokaw to David Letterman, all had such remarkable compliments for the man and his work over the years. There was no show of competition, only of love and admiration.
As Charles Osgood lets the curtain come down with a satisfying sense of achievement, his predecessor to carry on this legacy of ‘CBS Sunday Morning’ will be another accomplished journalist and reporter, Jane Pauley. Pauley commented as her name was announced by him, “I am honored beyond words to follow in your footsteps.” ‘CBS Sunday Morning’ continues to hold
the highest ratings of any Sunday news program. Its format is enjoyable, entertaining and always thought provoking week after week, month after month. Jane Pauley will begin as host on Sunday, October 9, 2016.
For all you fans of Osgood, never fear because he will continue to host his daily radio program on CBS and make occasional appearances on the Sunday morning program. The man, the legend, the bowtie go down in history as his signature bowtie will be placed in Washington’s Smithsonian Institute, giving Charles Osgood a place in broadcast history.
“Goodbye Charles Osgood, you will truly be missed on the television!”
