"And so it goes" - The trademark signoff of the hip, outspoken female journalist, Linda Ellerbee. On the sitcom MURPHY BROWN/CBS/1988-98, Linda Ellerbee (in a cameo role) challenged fictional TV journalist Murphy Brown (Candice Bergen) as to who first coined the phrase "And so it goes." Murphy used the same phrase at the close of her magazine-of-the-air news program "FYI." In 1986 Linda Ellerbee authored the best-selling book "And So It Goes: Adventures in Television" (Putnam, 1986). As of the 1990s, she produced news programs geared for kis on the NICKELODEON cable channel. Other TV credits include WEEKEND/NBC/1978-70; NBC NEWS OVERNIGHT/NBC/82-83; SUMMER SUNDAY U.S.A /NBC/1984; and SUNDAY BEST/NBC/1991. In the 1980s Linda Ellerbee also anchored a popular weekly essay titled "T.G.I.F." on the NBC morning program TODAY until her departure for ABC in 1986.

"And that's the way it is" - Last uttered by CBS news anchor Walter Cronkite on March 6, 1981. Uncle Walter first began saying his trademark catchphrase on April 16, 1962. Another phrase he made popular was "The time...the place...all things are as they were then, except...you are there.!" when he hosted the historical documentary drama YOU ARE THERE/CBS/1953-57 in which he traveled in time to witness major events in world history and interview its participants. The program concluded with "What kind of day was it? A day like all days, filled with those events that alter and illuminate our times. And you were there."

"Bye-bye!" - Signoff line of John McLaughlin, the boisterous host of the fast-paced half-hour weekly news analysis program THE McLAUGHLIN GROUP/SYN/1982+

"Ciaocito, baby" - Trademark signoff of Daisy Fuentes, the hip Cuban born veejay hostess of programming on the MTV cable network in the 1990s. Her sign-off is a combination of the Italian "Ciao" and the Spanish "Cito"

"Courage!" - Arcane signature signoff once used by CBS newscaster Dan Rather when he ended his nightly news broadcast.

"Glad we could get together" - Nightly signoff of newscaster, John Cameron Swayze for NBC network in the 1950s. Another phrase he made popular was "Takes a licking and keeps on ticking" when he was the commercial spokesperson for Timex Watch Company.

"Good day and may the good news be yours" - The signoff of radio newsman Les Nessman (Richard Sanders) on the situation comedy WKRP IN CINCINNATI/CBS/1978-82/SYN/1991-93. Les' journalistic achievements included winning the Silver Sow Award for his daily hog reports and the Buckeye Newshawk Award for his regular news broadcasts. He had a tendency to be overly dramatic when doing his news reports, especially his on-air introduction. This sample broadcast highlights his overblown ego:

"LONDON! ...MADRID! ...BANGKOK! ...MOSCOW! ...CINCINNATI!... From the four corners of the world; from the news capitals at home and abroad; the day's headlines brought into focus. The issues and events that shape our times. WKRP, information bureau of the Ohio Valley, presents LES NESSMAN AND THE NEWS!"

On the first episode of the 1991 syndicated revival of WKRP, a station disk jockey kidded Les on-the-air by saying "And if it happens in Cincinnati, it's news to Les."

"Good night and good luck" - Classic sign-off of veteran newscaster Edward R. Murrow who began his career reporting via radio the events of the Blitz in London during World War II. His television accomplishments included such programs as PERSON TO PERSON/CBS/1953-61 when he visited two celebrities in their home's each Friday night; and SEE IT NOW/CBS/1952-55, a documentary styled program with serious and informative topics including his famous essay that criticized Senator McCarthy for his irresponsible manipulation of the Communist menace in our country. He is also remembered for his commentary on the simultaneous telecast of both the Atlantic and Pacific oceans: "We are impressed by a medium through which a man sitting in his living room has been able for the first time to look at two oceans at once."

"Good night and good news" - The closing words of fictional anchorman, Ted Baxter (Ted Knight) who worked for the Six O'Clock news at the Minneapolis station WJM-TV on the situation comedy THE MARY TYLER MOORE SHOW/CBS/1970-77. The pompous, (and not too bright) white-haired newscaster often bored his fellow workers with the story of his early career: "It all started at a 5000 watt radio station in Fresno, California...."

"Good night and a good tomorrow" - Nightly signoff of news anchor John Daly when he worked for ABC nightly news from October 1953 through December 1960.

"Good night, Chet. Good night, David. And good night for NBC News" - Popular nightly signoff of NBC news anchor superstars Chet Huntley and David Brinkley. Chet Huntley said good night to David Brinkley for the last time on July 31, 1970 with the hope that "There will be better and happier news, one day, if we work at it." John Chancellor and Frank McGee joined David Brinkley the following week on August 3rd with a new rotating nightly news format.

"Peace" - Signoff used by Dave Garroway, early host of the TODAY SHOW on NBC beginning in January 1952. He closed each program with an upraised hand and the single word "Peace." A former disc jockey, Dave Garroway originally hosted his own variety program GARROWAY AT LARGE/NBC/1949-51 where he first used his trademark closing phrase "Peace." In April of 1961, Dave Garroway's wife died and in July he left the TODAY program after nine years. He closed the show with his familiar "Peace" signoff to the accompaniment of Lionel Hampton's version of "Sentimental Journey"- Garroway's theme song. In 1988 Arsenio Hall, the late night talk show host of THE ARSENIO HALL SHOW/SYN/1988-93 began to use the same signoff and occasionally added the phrase "Peace and think number one" (a sentiment to always reach for the top in whatever you do).

TRIVIA NOTE: As a bit of odd trivia, Dave Garroway was born July 13, 1913 at 13 Van Valson Street in the 13th Ward of Schenectady, New York. In 1982 Garroway died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Reportedly, he was despondent over his health after having open-heart surgery in 1981.

"See you on the radio" - The classic signoff of journalist Charles Osgood, the man in the dashing bow-tie who spoke to million of people each day on CBS radio and television. His book "The Osgood Files" (Putnam Books, 1991) brought together the best of his printed work with essays guaranteed to make his readers, stop, laugh and listen. He currently hosts SUNDAY MORNING program on the CBS Network.

"That's the news and I am outta here!" - The trademark closing of satirist Dennis Miller when he performed the news spot "Weekend Update" (1985-90) on the NBC's late night comedy SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE and later on his HBO program DENNIS MILLER LIVE. Over the run of the SNL numerous persons hosted the Weekend Update, each with their own closing style; "Good night and have a pleasant tomorrow" (Chevy Chase & Jane Curtain); "Good night and watch out" (Charles Rocket); "Good night and good news" (Brian Doyle-Murphy); and 'That's all for tonight. For SNL News, I'm Brad Hall, Good Night."

TRIVIA NOTE: Ex-SNL host Charles Rocket, 56, was found dead in a field near his home at Canterbury, Connecticut on October 07, 2005. He apparently had committed suicide by cutting his throat. His real name was Charles Claverie.

 

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