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At 67, TV newsman Richard Sher is still irrepressible. And it is all but impossible not to get caught up in his enthusiasm.
The 49-year broadcast veteran came to an interview last week to talk about his reinvention of a one-time Baltimore TV landmark, the long-running public affairs show "Square Off," and he was going to hit a talking point that he wanted to emphasize - over and over, so help him God.
Near the end of the conversation, after he had sounded the talking point about a half-dozen times in 30 minutes, I asked him about his goals for the new show that debuts at 9:30 a.m. today on WMAR (Channel 2).
"Our goal for this show is to take the remnants of the success of the program that ran for 19 years and ended in 1996 and make it so much better, so much more controversial and so much more worth watching," he said, racing through the answer.
And then, he took a long pause like a TV news correspondent setting up a dramatic closing to a stand-up report. And leaning within about an inch of the tiny microcassette recorder on the table between us, he said, "And remember, David, this week, before you meet the press or face the nation, it's time to square off."
That's the catchphrase Sher has come up with to promote the show, and I have to admit, it is a clever one. It names the three network Sunday morning public-affairs shows that "Square Off" comes on ahead of each week: ABC's "This Week," NBC's "Meet the Press" and the CBS News production "Face the Nation."
Clever yes, but by the seventh time it's been sounded, well, let's just say that only someone as likable as Sher could pull it off.
It also helps that Sher has a likable product to sell: a Sunday morning public affairs show with some of the most vocal and widely known personalities in Baltimore and Maryland public life. They include: former Rep. Kweisi Mfume; attorney Billy Murphy; and former Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. and Kendel Ehrlich, former state Sen. Larry Young and one-time police commissioner Ed Norris, all of whom are now radio show hosts.
The program that ran on Baltimore TV for 19 years from 1977 to 1996 has become a touchstone for discussions among longtime Baltimore residents about the way in which TV has changed for the worse in the past 15 years. One of those ways involves locally produced public-affairs shows all but disappearing from the airwaves as government regulations on public service were relaxed and stations dropped the shows in favor of selling the time for infomercials or programs that might attract younger viewers and, thus, more advertising dollars.
In that sense, "Square Off" defines the days when local TV listened to its better angels in the matter of providing time for on-air debate of public issues.
I wrote the article for what then was called the "Morning Sun" in 1994 when WJZ ended its run as a weekly Saturday show and announced it would run on a limited basis (which became only four times a year in its final days in 1996).
Even though it was the highest-rated public-affairs show on Baltimore TV in 1994, station management axed "Square Off" because the audience was deemed too old.
"While the household numbers continue to be good, the demographic appeal of the show is not what it once enjoyed. And you know what that means," Marcellus Alexander, then the general manager of WJZ, told me.
What it meant is that the station could make more money with a show with a younger audience than the one for "Square Off."
Say good night, Richard.
But like I said, Sher, who retired last year from a memorable career at WJZ-TV that involved co-hosting a daily talk show with Oprah Winfrey, is irrepressible, and he held on to the belief the past 12 years that he could bring "Square Off" back to life.
This year, he found two more believers who could help him make it happen: Bill Hooper, the general manager of WMAR, and Murphy, whose law firm, Murphy PA, sponsors the show.
"First and foremost, when we saw the chance to partner with Richard Sher, we knew that was a no-brainer - he is a legend in Baltimore and brings us instant publicity, credibility and valuable experience in our newsroom," says Hooper. "We also want to continue to provide quality local programming, and 'Square Off' is a perfect opportunity to explore the issues that affect our local community. I feel very confident that 'Square Off' will be a success and have another long run on the air."
Murphy, who was a regular on the original program, says, "The show means a lot to me historically, because it was the first local show of this kind, and it was so amazingly popular and effective at the same time in stimulating public debate on very important local issues of the day."
The widely known attorney believes the program helped teach viewers to think politically and debate issues rationally - in direct opposition to the current cable TV climate of insults, anger and personal attacks.
"It gave people a chance to think and rethink their position on a lot of the polarizing issues of that time. You know, gay rights, civil rights, the [ Vietnam] war, whatever was the hot topic of the moment," Murphy says. "So, people got a chance to learn how to in more effective ways express their points of view and listen to the points of views of others. It played a major civic role in raising the level of political and social debate. It did a lot of good, and I believe it can do more of that now when we need it again."
Sher is focused on that public service mission of the show.
"Look, there is simply no place else on local TV where Baltimore issues are debated and discussed," he says. "You might have a show with a host interviewing somebody, but that's not debate like we have on 'Square Off.' The people on 'Square Off' are not just talking heads. They are part of the community and care about it. They bring a passion and commitment to the community that you won't find anywhere else any more on local TV. So, remember, David, this week, before you meet ..."
Got it, Richard: 9:30 a.m. Sundays, WMAR. Back to the future of public-affairs TV.
The 49-year broadcast veteran came to an interview last week to talk about his reinvention of a one-time Baltimore TV landmark, the long-running public affairs show "Square Off," and he was going to hit a talking point that he wanted to emphasize - over and over, so help him God.
Near the end of the conversation, after he had sounded the talking point about a half-dozen times in 30 minutes, I asked him about his goals for the new show that debuts at 9:30 a.m. today on WMAR (Channel 2).
"Our goal for this show is to take the remnants of the success of the program that ran for 19 years and ended in 1996 and make it so much better, so much more controversial and so much more worth watching," he said, racing through the answer.
And then, he took a long pause like a TV news correspondent setting up a dramatic closing to a stand-up report. And leaning within about an inch of the tiny microcassette recorder on the table between us, he said, "And remember, David, this week, before you meet the press or face the nation, it's time to square off."
That's the catchphrase Sher has come up with to promote the show, and I have to admit, it is a clever one. It names the three network Sunday morning public-affairs shows that "Square Off" comes on ahead of each week: ABC's "This Week," NBC's "Meet the Press" and the CBS News production "Face the Nation."
Clever yes, but by the seventh time it's been sounded, well, let's just say that only someone as likable as Sher could pull it off.
It also helps that Sher has a likable product to sell: a Sunday morning public affairs show with some of the most vocal and widely known personalities in Baltimore and Maryland public life. They include: former Rep. Kweisi Mfume; attorney Billy Murphy; and former Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. and Kendel Ehrlich, former state Sen. Larry Young and one-time police commissioner Ed Norris, all of whom are now radio show hosts.
The program that ran on Baltimore TV for 19 years from 1977 to 1996 has become a touchstone for discussions among longtime Baltimore residents about the way in which TV has changed for the worse in the past 15 years. One of those ways involves locally produced public-affairs shows all but disappearing from the airwaves as government regulations on public service were relaxed and stations dropped the shows in favor of selling the time for infomercials or programs that might attract younger viewers and, thus, more advertising dollars.
In that sense, "Square Off" defines the days when local TV listened to its better angels in the matter of providing time for on-air debate of public issues.
I wrote the article for what then was called the "Morning Sun" in 1994 when WJZ ended its run as a weekly Saturday show and announced it would run on a limited basis (which became only four times a year in its final days in 1996).
Even though it was the highest-rated public-affairs show on Baltimore TV in 1994, station management axed "Square Off" because the audience was deemed too old.
"While the household numbers continue to be good, the demographic appeal of the show is not what it once enjoyed. And you know what that means," Marcellus Alexander, then the general manager of WJZ, told me.
What it meant is that the station could make more money with a show with a younger audience than the one for "Square Off."
Say good night, Richard.
But like I said, Sher, who retired last year from a memorable career at WJZ-TV that involved co-hosting a daily talk show with Oprah Winfrey, is irrepressible, and he held on to the belief the past 12 years that he could bring "Square Off" back to life.
This year, he found two more believers who could help him make it happen: Bill Hooper, the general manager of WMAR, and Murphy, whose law firm, Murphy PA, sponsors the show.
"First and foremost, when we saw the chance to partner with Richard Sher, we knew that was a no-brainer - he is a legend in Baltimore and brings us instant publicity, credibility and valuable experience in our newsroom," says Hooper. "We also want to continue to provide quality local programming, and 'Square Off' is a perfect opportunity to explore the issues that affect our local community. I feel very confident that 'Square Off' will be a success and have another long run on the air."
Murphy, who was a regular on the original program, says, "The show means a lot to me historically, because it was the first local show of this kind, and it was so amazingly popular and effective at the same time in stimulating public debate on very important local issues of the day."
The widely known attorney believes the program helped teach viewers to think politically and debate issues rationally - in direct opposition to the current cable TV climate of insults, anger and personal attacks.
"It gave people a chance to think and rethink their position on a lot of the polarizing issues of that time. You know, gay rights, civil rights, the [ Vietnam] war, whatever was the hot topic of the moment," Murphy says. "So, people got a chance to learn how to in more effective ways express their points of view and listen to the points of views of others. It played a major civic role in raising the level of political and social debate. It did a lot of good, and I believe it can do more of that now when we need it again."
Sher is focused on that public service mission of the show.
"Look, there is simply no place else on local TV where Baltimore issues are debated and discussed," he says. "You might have a show with a host interviewing somebody, but that's not debate like we have on 'Square Off.' The people on 'Square Off' are not just talking heads. They are part of the community and care about it. They bring a passion and commitment to the community that you won't find anywhere else any more on local TV. So, remember, David, this week, before you meet ..."
Got it, Richard: 9:30 a.m. Sundays, WMAR. Back to the future of public-affairs TV.
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