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Britney, Brangelina & Peter Boyle
by Billy Bush
It’s hard to weigh what will entice people to watch the show. Every day our executive producer makes the ultimate call on the Lead story, the follow up, the one we will tease throughout the show and unveil towards the end. He has a team of trusted senior people who advise as best they can...I am one of them.
Tonight's show is the right call...new photos of Brad and Angelina is first, Britney's latest escapade (this time bra-less follows shortly after)...at the end of the 1st block we address the passing away of Peter Boyle. In my heart it’s first, but I understand its placement.
We chose to wind down the first block with poignancy and meaning:
Peter Boyle was a great actor...not an Access Hollywood headline, not even in his death, but, a great talent, father, husband and actor. He was brilliantly funny as the paternal curmudgeon in 'Everybody Loves Raymond', as the big guy in Young Frankenstein and so many others...over 50 starring roles in his 40-year career.
He was also my neighbor as a kid growing up in New York. My best friend lived in the same building as Peter Boyle, just down the street from me, and I remember seeing him around and being scared. Not just a famous actor, Frankenstein’s Monster!!!
I paid him a visit to his house on Emmy nomination morning in 2002. He was warm; his wife Loraine was there and I felt a lot of love in that family. He was FAR from Frankenstein. He joked about me being a terror in our neighborhood park. When I told him the story of our neighborhood bully, Ali, who used to mug me and chase me, he laughed and said it was him!!
I admire Mr. Boyle's talent, thank him for making me feel special and feel deeply sad for his wife and best friend Loraine.
He did not trump Brit and Brangelina or Paris in our line up, but his image on all of our TV's, was a contribution to society.
Now I'm off to Chicago to do some taping for what I hope will be an awesome contribution to TV entertainment: "GREASE; You're The One That I Want', which premiers January 7th. Good for the whole family.
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