Nick Clooney

Newscaster / Host


The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Foundation Presents

02:26

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About
About this interview

In his two-and-a-half-hour interview, Nick Clooney talks about his youth in Kentucky and growing up with his soon-to-be famous sisters, Betty and Rosemary Clooney. He describes his work in radio, his service in the Armed Forces Radio Network in the 1950s, and his eventual move to local television at WLWC-TV in Cincinnati during the tumultuous times of the 1960s. He speaks about his local shows, including The Nick Clooney Show, and talks of hosting the national game show Moneymaze. He also discusses returning to Cincinnati to become the news anchor at WKRC-TV. Clooney concludes the interview by speaking about his work as the host of the AMC cable movie network, mentioning his column for The Cincinnati Post, and commenting on his then-current duties for the TRIO network. B-roll consists of photos from both his local and national television work. Henry Colman conducted the interview on June 18, 2003 in Los Angeles, CA.

All views expressed by interviewees are theirs alone and not necessarily those of the Television Academy.

"I felt that if I had any clout, I should use it for good, for what I consider to be good. That's what I operated under. There are certain things that we all understand. It's like my Grandpa Clooney said, 'you always challenge those who have more power than you, and you always help those who have less.' That's a tenet of life, and I think it's an important one."

People Talking About ...
Highlights
Nick Clooney on his screen test for Cecil B. DeMille
04:34
Nick Clooney on his then seven-year-old son George Clooney's response to Robert F. Kennedy's assassination
02:22
Nick Clooney on getting the offer to work for American Movie Classics (AMC)
02:18
Nick Clooney on hosting a teen dance show (The Nick Clooney School Salute) in Lexington, Kentucky and integrating the show
03:31
Nick Clooney on appearing with sisters Rosemary and Betty on The Mike Douglas Show
01:13
Full Interview

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Chapter 1

On his early years and influences; on singing with his sisters; on wanting to be on the radio
On how his family was affected by World War II; on watching his sister Rosemary perform on live network television; on working for Columbia Records
On a poignant conversation with President of ABC News, James Hagerty; on how TV affected the movie business
On his first job in broadcasting at WFTM radio; on working for NBC affiliate WDEL in Wilmington, Delaware

Chapter 2

On his screen test for Cecil B. DeMille; on serving in the Armed Forces Radio Network during the Korean War; on getting bit parts in movies
On returning to radio at WLAP in Lexington, Kentucky after his military service; on working at WKYT television in Lexington and television's effect on radio in the 1950s
On his duties as host, anchorman, program director, and promotions director at WKYT; on hosting a teen dance show (The Nick Clooney School Salute) in Lexington, Kentucky and integrating the show; on working for WLW radio in Cincinnati, Ohio

Chapter 3

On his work at WLW radio and WLWT television in Cincinnati; on hosting his own talk show (The Nick Clooney Show) and getting a show on WKRC
On his daytime talk show competition; on contract disputes; on appearing on The Mike Douglas Show
On production and audiences of his local television shows; on hosting the game show The Moneymaze

Chapter 4

On memorable moments on The MoneyMaze; on anchoring television news for WKRT Cincinnati; on becoming news co-anchor for KNBC Los Angeles and standing his ground in ethical disputes with management
On how news reporting has changed over the years; on hosting On Trial and anchoring news in Salt Lake City and Buffalo

Chapter 5

On getting the offer to work for American Movie Classics (AMC); on interviewing film stars for AMC and his typical work schedule; on being a columnist for The Cincinnati Post
On leaving AMC in 1999; on his morning radio show at WSAI Cincinnati and his work for Good Life Television; on writing a book about movies
On how the internet and cable have affected the newspaper business; on celebrating fifty years in show business; on recent projects
On his proudest career achievement; on how television has changed over the years and how he'd like to be remembered
B-roll photos from his career: with his sisters, on the set of The Nick Clooney Show, hosting a teen dance show, and reporting the news
Shows

ABC News Nightline

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Nick Clooney on Ted Koppel asking him to fill in as anchor of ABC News Nightline
01:46

Donahue

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Nick Clooney on his daytime talk show competition while he hosted The Nick Clooney Show
01:46

Fail Safe

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Nick Clooney on a picture of him with Walter Cronkite at the presentation of Fail Safe, produced by George Clooney
01:09

Mike Douglas Show, The

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Nick Clooney on appearing with sisters Rosemary and Betty on The Mike Douglas Show and how it helped his local show
01:13

Moneymaze, The

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Nick Clooney on hosting the game show The Moneymaze
04:22
Nick Clooney on memorable moments on The MoneyMaze
01:41

WKRP in Cincinnati

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Nick Clooney on enjoying WKRP in Cincinnati while he was at WKRC Cincinnati
01:05
Topics

Creative Influences and Inspiration

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Nick Clooney on his early mentors
00:47

Gerald Ford

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Nick Clooney on interviewing Gerald Ford in the White House
00:52

Korean War

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Nick Clooney on serving in the Armed Forces Radio Network during the Korean War
06:47

Memorable Moments on Television

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Nick Clooney on appearing with sisters Rosemary and Betty on The Mike Douglas Show
01:13

Pop Culture

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Nick Clooney on hosting a teen dance show (The Nick Clooney School Salute) in Lexington, Kentucky and integrating the show
04:10

Representation on Television

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Nick Clooney on hosting a teen dance show (The Nick Clooney School Salute) in Lexington, Kentucky and integrating the show
04:10

Rock 'n' Roll on TV (1950s & '60s)

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Nick Clooney on hosting a teen dance show (The Nick Clooney School Salute) in Lexington, Kentucky and integrating the show
04:10

Television Industry

View Topic
Nick Clooney on how TV affected the movie business
01:44
Nick Clooney on television's effect on radio in the 1950s
03:21
Nick Clooney on how television has changed since he first started in the business
00:27

Television and the Presidency

View Topic
Nick Clooney on interviewing Gerald Ford in the White House
00:52

Underrepresented Voices

View Topic
Nick Clooney on hosting a teen dance show (The Nick Clooney School Salute) in Lexington, Kentucky and integrating the show
04:10

War

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Nick Clooney on how his family was affected by World War II
01:47
Nick Clooney on serving in the Armed Forces Radio Network during the Korean War
06:47

World War II

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Nick Clooney on how his family was affected by World War II
01:47
Professions

Anchor

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Nick Clooney on how news reporting has changed over the years
02:20
Nick Clooney on his style of news reporting
01:18

Announcer

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Nick Clooney on problems he encountered in broadcasting because of his young looks and mature voice
00:50

Hosts

View Profession
Nick Clooney on problems he encountered in broadcasting because of his young looks and mature voice
00:50
Nick Clooney on getting the offer to work for American Movie Classics (AMC)
02:20
Nick Clooney on getting the offer to work for American Movie Classics (AMC)
02:20

Interviewer

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Nick Clooney on getting the offer to work for American Movie Classics (AMC)
02:20

Journalists & News Producers

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Nick Clooney on how news reporting has changed over the years
02:20
Nick Clooney on his style of news reporting
01:18
Nick Clooney on action reporting in the news and the then-current style of news
02:03
Genres

Game Shows

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Nick Clooney on hosting the game show The Moneymaze
04:22

Music Shows & Variety Shows/Specials

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Nick Clooney on hosting a teen dance show (The Nick Clooney School Salute) in Lexington, Kentucky and integrating the show
04:10

News and Documentary

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Nick Clooney on anchoring local television news for WKRT Cincinnati
03:32
Nick Clooney on memorable stories he covered while anchoring local television news for WKRT Cincinnati
03:15
Nick Clooney on becoming news co-anchor for KNBC Los Angeles
07:32
Nick Clooney on how news reporting has changed over the years
02:20
Nick Clooney on action reporting in the news and the then-current style of news
02:03

Talk Shows

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Nick Clooney on production and audiences of his local television talk shows
04:12
People

Amanda Blake

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Nick Clooney on his screen test with Amanda Blake for Cecil B. DeMille
01:35

Anne Francis

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Nick Clooney on following Anne Francis around when she was doing commercials
00:32

Cecil B. DeMille

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Nick Clooney on his screen test for Cecil B. DeMille
04:34

Dick Clark

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Nick Clooney on hosting a teen dance show (The Nick Clooney School Salute) in Lexington, Kentucky and filling in for Dick Clark on American Bandstand
00:41

Dwight D. Eisenhower

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Nick Clooney on representing WDEL at a Dwight D. Eisenhower press conference
00:35

George Clooney

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Nick Clooney on his then seven-year-old son George Clooney's response to Robert F. Kennedy's assassination
02:22
Nick Clooney on a picture of him with Walter Cronkite at the presentation of Fail Safe, produced by George Clooney
01:09
Nick Clooney on a picture of him with his son George and sister Rosemary
00:35

Gerald Ford

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Nick Clooney on interviewing Gerald Ford in the White House
00:52

Henry Kissinger

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Nick Clooney on a picture of him with Henry Kissinger while anchoring news
00:33

Jerry Springer

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Nick Clooney on Jerry Springer's talk show airing opposite his show
02:18

Phil Donahue

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Nick Clooney on starting to host a variety/talk show at the same time Phil Donahue began his talk show
01:11
Nick Clooney on his daytime talk show competition while he hosted The Nick Clooney Show
01:46

Regis Philbin

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Nick Clooney on Regis Philbin's appearance on The Nick Clooney Show
00:46

Robert F. Kennedy

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Nick Clooney on his sister Rosemary being there in person when Robert F. Kennedy was assassinated
02:22

Rosemary Clooney

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Nick Clooney on singing with his sisters, Rosemary and Betty Clooney, when they were children
00:34
Nick Clooney on his sisters, Rosemary and Betty Clooney, singing on WLW and witnessing early live television
01:55
Nick Clooney on watching his sister Rosemary perform on live network television
02:16
Nick Clooney on his screen test for Cecil B. DeMille and rehearsing with his sister Rosemary
04:34
Nick Clooney on his sister Rosemary visiting him when he served in the Armed Forces Radio Network
00:28
Nick Clooney on his sister Rosemary being there in person when Robert F. Kennedy was assassinated
02:22
Nick Clooney on appearing with sisters Rosemary and Betty on The Mike Douglas Show
01:13
Nick Clooney on his sister Rosemary appearing on his AMC show
00:57
Nick Clooney on a picture of him and his sisters Rosemary and Betty Clooney
00:43
Nick Clooney on a picture of him and his sisters Rosemary and Betty Clooney on the first day of his variety show
00:28
Nick Clooney on a picture of him with his son George and sister Rosemary
00:35

Ted Koppel

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Nick Clooney on Ted Koppel asking him to fill in as anchor of ABC News Nightline
01:46

Thomas Mitchell

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Nick Clooney on acting in a film with character actor Thomas Mitchell
00:17

Walter Cronkite

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Nick Clooney on a picture of him with Walter Cronkite at the presentation of Fail Safe, produced by George Clooney
01:09

William Shatner

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Nick Clooney on a picture of him with a young William Shatner
00:33

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