Welcome Back, Bob!
The Officially Un-Official Robert Osborne Welcome Home Party
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To a true professional who is better at this than anyone else . He’s one of the reasons I watch.
Hope you are well and will continue with us for years to come.
-From Sidney Carton
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as the lovely film blogger The Lady Eve quite rightly calls it:
We’re counting the hours ‘til you’re back on the job, Robert O…it’s been a long (hard) five months and your handsome face and velvet voice have been terribly missed. But soon…
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One of TCM’s most ardent online fans is Kathy (whom you simply must follow on Twitter @girloftheplains) and she has this to say about Bob’s long-awaited return:
After reading the outpouring of love for Robert Osborne over the past few days I know I won’t say anything new about the man. Instead, I’ll just say why I love him.
I discovered classic movies rather late in life. Well, late compared to most classic film fans I know. I was around 30. In those early days of watching TCM (when I didn’t know a thing about the films or the actors in them) it was Robert Osborne who provided my education. While the stories he told before/after the films were educational, it was his obvious passion and love for the movies that made me want to learn more.
It wasn’t long before I was Googling the name of every movie I watched and every classic film actor who caught my eye. This led to more articles (which I obsessively read) and more movies on TCM (which I obsessively recorded). A couple of years ago it led me to Twitter and the amazing classic film community there. I have learned so much from these wonderful people. The library of knowledge there is endless. I am constantly being introduced to new movies and new actors I never would have found on my own.
I have been immersed in classic movies for nearly ten years now but I didn’t realize the extent of it until a few weeks ago. I was talking on the phone with my father and he asked me a simple question: “How old was Debbie Reynolds when she made Singin’ In The Rain?”. Most people would have given the simple answer (19/20). I, however, embarked on a several minute long oration about her age, background, relationship with Gene Kelly, how Fred Astaire helped her, the recent comments she’s made about Kelly and the movie, her recent auction of movie memorabilia, etc. When I finished, my father chuckled softly and said, “Wow, honey. You’re like the Rainman of classic movies.”
I guess that’s true. And I have Robert Osborne to thank for it.
Welcome back, Mr. Osborne. Thank you for enriching my life and leading me to what I know will be a lifelong passion. You’ve been missed more than I can say.
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- From Susan Mazza
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My husband and I are watching TCM most nights and it hasn’t been right without you! Welcome back!
- From Deb McCarver
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Mr. Osborne, I’m not sure my first note reached you. I just want to echo everyone else’s sentiments by saying just how wonderful it is to have you back where you belong!!!! Roll Film!!!!
-Paula Kirsch
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While I always knew you were a great host for TCM, the past few months without you handling the hosting chores proved once and for all how great you are. No one could quite fill your shoes. It’s for that reason I am so very happy you are back!
-From retrophilia (follow retrophilia on Twitter @Mercurie80 and visit his marvelous A Shroud of Thoughts blog for a classic film feast!)
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Although I’ve had TCM as part of my cable package for well over a decade, I was only an intermittent watcher for several of those years…until I found myself between jobs in 2000, and found myself at home all day with, sometimes, not much to do but watch TV and wait for the phone to ring. It was then that I decided I’d help myself to the many classic films that TCM offered, catch up if you will, and that was also when I became well acquainted with Mr. Robert Osborne, whose warm, genial nature and informative introductions helped make each film I watched even more enjoyable.
Welcome back, Mr. Osborne, you have been missed.
-Submitted by jbacardi
