Robert Osborne

I think sometimes we by nature take things for granted. A host is just often there and expected to always be. He or she has that minutes-long intro to a film we anticipate with some fascinating info or bits of history that prepare us for what lies ahead. The outro finishes off what we just watched and sets up something else that might tickle our fancy. Then there comes that day when he or she is no longer there. His or her face that we were so accustomed to isn't there any longer. Then we realize what we are missing, what we have lost. Osborne is at that age in his life that often invites a limited work load, retirement, and combating father time. We are all fated to face that unless life is cut shortly. I reckon, like Mr. Robert Osborne, eventually Turner Classic Movies will suffer a similar fate. Like Osborne, this delight that is unique in that it plays those films and stars from yesteryear will eventually no longer be there. We take the channel for granted as we did Bob. I was watching "The Man Who Came to Dinner" tonight and, while I like Ben a lot, I found myself afterward looking to YouTube to find Bob's intro for it not too long ago. I miss him like that old friend I haven't seen in a little while and hadn't realized how much he meant to me. I am afraid TCM will one day go away (or the current product as I have known it for years) as Osborne has. I have read of changes and a regime change, layoffs and revenue possibilities to bring profit to the channel which often result in a shift from what it has been to something probably like AMC. And that would be a crime to me. It would rob us of something quite special. There are plenty of channels which cater to those who might look at TCM as prehistoric, but I realize that revenue is revenue and a channel, in order to survive, needs to produce financially to sustain itself. What will be sacrificed in order for this to happen? I am afraid to even dote on that much. But back to Osborne, I miss him especially during the holidays. His face just seems particularly desired when introducing the Holiday Affairs and Christmas in Connecticuts of the season. Often we do take for granted those who meant more than we realized at the time. Eventually that warm and welcome presence is gone. And in that a piece of us is lost to time as well...