Bob and Ray Tonight: Act II of "The Two and Only, " Part 4 -- More "News in Depth," including the return of Gabe Preston

At 84, Gabe Pressman reports on Roosevelt Island (June 20, 2008). In tonight's installment of "Bob and Ray Tonight," reporter "Gabe Preston" makes one last effort to get his breaking news story on the air. Gabe bears a certain resemblance to a New York City legend, WNBC-TV newsman Gabe Pressman -- that is, if Gabe Pressman had had to contend with the Finley Quality News bunch.

CORRUPTION: "IT'S A RICH, FERTILE FIELD"

INTERVIEWER: Would you say it's easier to be corrupt today than it was , oh, 10, 15 years ago?
RALPH MOODY THAYER, CORRUPT MAYOR OF SKUNK HAVEN, NJ: Oh my, yes. Here, 10 or 15 years ago it was a disgrace to be corrupt. No, no, it's a rich, fertile field. I would recommend it to anybody with a devious mind, who is willing to put in long, long hours -- without working hard -- that he will find it terribly enriching, fully rewarding.

-- from tonight's installment

In Act I we heard Finley Quality Network newsman Gabe Preston make repeated efforts to phone in a breaking news story, about edible food packaging, only to be thwarted by the studio personnel. Tonight he attempts to report the story live.

By the way, Wikipedia says of Gabe Pressman: "Gabe Pressman (born February 14, 1924) is the senior correspondent for WNBC-TV. Pressman has been a journalist in the New York City area for over 60 years. He is considered one of the pioneers of United States television news." -- Ken


BOB AND RAY: THE TWO AND ONLY:
Act II, Part 4

More News in Depth:

* Money announcement on behalf of the Treasury Dept.
* The corrupt mayor of Skunk Haven, NJ
* The return of Gabe Preston with his breaking news story

From the Original Broadway Cast recording of Bob and Ray: The Two and Only (Columbia Records, 1970)


THE COMPLETE BOB AND RAY TONIGHT

Act II of BOB AND RAY: THE TWO AND ONLY

Part 1: The Larry Lovebreath Show: Dog trainer; Grand Canyon public service announcement; Truffle hunter
Part 2: Classic sports interview -- Biff Burns and Stuffy
Part 3: News in Depth: Gov't bureaucrat Hap Whatney; Unusual political concession speech; David Chetley analyzes the speech (plus video clip of Chet Huntley's Huntley-Brinkley Report signoff)

Act I of BOB AND RAY: THE TWO AND ONLY
(PLUS ASSORTED OTHER BOB AND RAY GOODIES)

Sunday, 4/3/11: The Two and Only: Overture; Wally Ballou (Bob) and Hector Lassie (Ray); Introductory remarks; Wally covers a fast-breaking cranberry story in Times Square -- meet Floyd Smith the cranberry man (Ray)
Video clip: Bob and Ray appear with a young David Letterman, part 1
Monday, 4/4/11: World's largest living lizard . . . some kind of lizard? (Komodo dragon expert, plus Gabe Preston calls in from Washington with breaking news)
Video clip: Part 2 of the Letterman appearance
Tuesday, 4/5/11: "Most Beautiful Face" (plus Gabe Preston tries again)
Video clip: First half of a 1952 outing of the 15-minute NBC TV Bob and Ray Show
Wednesday, 4/6/11: Barry Campbell talks about his Broadway opening (and closing) night
Video clip: Part 2 of that TV Bob and Ray Show: an episode of Mary Backstayge, Noble Wife, with Audrey Meadows as Mary B and actress Jessica Culpepper
Thursday, 4/7/11: STOA (Slow Talkers of America)
Video clip (audio only): No Dragnet Here -- The men of Squad Car 119 are just a locked door away from being on the Case of the Ruffled Shirt Bandit

THURBER TONIGHT (including BENCHLEY, WILL CUPPY, WOLCOTT GIBBS, RING LARDNER, BOB AND RAY, E. B. WHITE, JEAN SHEPHERD, and PERELMAN TONIGHT): Check out the series to date

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