Larry has been a news anchor on Channel 4 since the early 80′s in Saint Louis, Missouri where I’ve lived most of my life.  Larry wouldn’t remember this – but, as a young kid, probably 12 or 13,  I was fascinated with television and news.  On several occasions – I wrote Larry a piece of “fan mail”.  Larry not only wrote me back, but picked up the phone to call and answer my questions.   I was just a kid, he didn’t need to bother with me.  But, he did.

My first real “media” job came when I was about 20 at the very station that fired Larry this afternoon.  Night after night, I ran the teleprompter for both he and now retired newscaster, Julius Hunter.  While the pay was next to nothing, I loved doing it.  I learned a lot about the business, made great connections and had a lot of fun.

Again, still just a “kid” at age 20, Larry Conners was always incredibly respectful, treated me like I was an equal and was always willing to lend an ear or provide help anytime I asked.  He’d introduce station guests that walked into the studio as though I was his co-anchor while I was just a glorified intern.  Those moments made an impression on me about the kind of person he is.

Back in those days I used to do a variety show on public access television.  It was a mock Letterman/Leno type show where I interviewed guests and did comedy routines.  On one show I wanted to do a segment where the KMOV news personalities recorded birthday greetings for my 21st birthday with funny lines.  Larry didn’t hesitate to say “yes” when I asked him to read the line:  “Bill, you make even MY hair look good.”    Here I am, a dumb 20-something punk, insulting the hair of the most respected news anchor in town and the guy laughed and read the line several times on camera to make sure I got what I needed for my show.

Or there was the time that I asked him to critique some of my stories and give me his honest opinion.  I’ll  never forget walking into the elevator several days later and there was Larry.  He said “Bill, I had a chance to read your writing.  It sucked.”   For the next few months, I took his advice, wrote other stories and gave them to him to read.  His brutal honesty helped me become a better writer.

Early Conners: On top of the Gateway Arch in downtown Saint Louis.

The recent debacle with Larry’s Facebook posting about the IRS has caused a lot of people to “hammer” him, a lot of it incredibly hateful.  Reading the comments from the Saint Louis Post Dispatch website  would make even the toughest soul cringe.  People, perhaps by nature, can be brutal, hateful and quick to judge.   I remember when I was just starting out in radio, I had tons of hate mail from people that were upset that I had replaced a longtime entertainment reporter.  Thankfully, the letters taught me to have a thick skin – but no 21 year old should ever have to read some of the things people sent me at the time.    It’s tough to be in the spotlight sometimes but, this is the path that we chose.  People are mean and cruel.  Especially hiding in their living room, posting online.   After all, online you’re perfect and know everything.  Right?

Larry, I want you to know that you’re one of the best this town has ever seen and it literally makes me want to scream the way KMOV kicked you to the curb.    My hope is that the last decent TV station in town, KTVI Channel 2 will hire you for at least one newscast to give you a proper farewell.   If not, let this be public record that Larry Conners is a decent human being that made a mistake and had one hell of a great career.  There will never be another person, at least in this town, that comes close.

Lastly – to the haters — my hope is you enjoy the same brutal and unfair reaction when you find yourself in a similar situation where nobody knows the real story but you.

*Update:  Larry did an interview today on KMOX and explained that he was on a tax payment plan prior to his Obama interview (that he referenced in his Facebook posting) and had no serious issues with the IRS before that time.  After the Obama interview, that many seem to forget went viral at the time, his payment plan was canceled and a lien placed on his property by an IRS office out of Chicago.  Further, Larry says that station management forced him to read a statement backing down from  his Facebook claim.  He says that KMOV would not let him edit the copy and forced him to read a misleading “apology” on the air.

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FUN FACT:  In 1980, Willie played a concert at the White House for President Jimmy Carter and performed a duet with First Lady Rosalynn Carter. The song they performed: “Up Against the Wall, Redneck Mother.”

You can listen using the audio player below:

Listen to this week’s edition of “Who Knew? Or Who Cares?” and decide for yourself which of this week’s random facts fall under the category of “Who Knew?”  Or, “Who Cares?”

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Fast forward to the musical “Million Dollar Quartet” which tells the story of an evening in December of 1956 where four music legends are all together for the very last time.   Carl Perkins, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis and Elvis Presley – all  in one room.

If you’ve been fortunate enough to tour Sun Studios – the performance will be especially enjoyable.   Especially considering the entire performance is set inside the old studio itself.   The only critique I had about the entire performance was that the set made the real studio seem far nicer than it actually is.  It’s a hole in the wall.   But, it’s a magical hole in the wall.

Here are some photos of my visit to Sun Studios while in Memphis last year.   The window in the background looks out to the front of the building, where Sam Phillips office was.  During the show, the window is visible, but it’s never explained what is actually back there.

The gentleman that portrayed the legends in Million Dollar Quartet do an incredible job.  In particular, —– who played Johnny Cash not only could sing like “the man in black” but he also spoke just like him.

The end of the show features all four singers on stage in a mini concert, each performing one of their well known tunes.

I realize why I couldn’t find a negative review of the show, even though I honestly did search earlier in the day for one.  It was just the right length,  they stayed away from boring scenes like many musicals do, and kept the music coming often, and loud.

Million Dollar Quartet will be playing at the Fox Theater through May 2nd in Saint Louis.  You can visit their website for addition tour information HERE.