The story of jessica savitch nash, alanna, nash, alanna k. Gwenda blair in 1979, newsweek dubbed her the golden girl. The story of jessica savitch, to be published by e. The television film was criticized for omitting or downplaying controversial aspects of savitchs life and career that were discussed at length in blairs book. Oct 22, 20 indeed, savitch struck such a chord that gwenda blairs 1988 book almost golden. A network anchor at thirtyone, sha had made it to the top in a maledominated world of big stars, big money, and superegos. The author, alanna nash, gives you a complete indepth account of jessica s life starting with her grandparents immigration to america. Savitchs family and former colleagues at kywtv, philadelphia, have formed a protectorate around her, vilifying gwenda blair and her book, almost golden, for making savitch appear a hapless. The jessica savitch story 1995 rotten tomatoes this madeforcable drama chronicles the life and premature death of nbc anchorwoman jessica savitch. Dec 28, 2015 jessica savitch gives a talk at ithaca college 1975 duration. Cicely tyson, blair underwood, queen latifah, mario van peebles and erika alexander will star in the sweeping fourhour cbs miniseries in november based on alex haleys last book.
Jessica beth savitch february 1, 1947 october 23, 1983 was an american television news. Jessica savitch movie is simply bad news orlando sentinel. But behind the glamorous tv image was a ferociously driven, selfdestructive woman, a woman who died at age 36 in a tragic auto accident. Journalist blair portrays the tragic life, career, and death of nbc correspondent jessica savitch against the frenetic backdrop of tv news. With a tighter script and direction and a better cast this might have passed muster, but the flimsy story really wasnt worth the effort. Discover delightful childrens books with prime book box, a subscription that delivers new books every 1, 2, or 3 months new customers receive 15% off your. The jessica savitch story, starring sela ward, tonight. Stereo bland, soapopera dramatisation of the rise and fall of americas first female tv news anchor. The jessica savitch story, 1995, directed by peter werner, with sela ward, ron silver, judith ivey, at turner classic movies. The jessica savitch story stars a peroxided sela ward sisters in a movie based on gwenda blairs book about the. Oct 25, 2019 another enthralling lifetime movie based on a true story is almost golden. Jessica savitch and the selling of television news was made into a 1995 lifetime channel movie starring sela ward and ron silver. To my surprise and major disappointment theres not really any website devoted to this groundbreaking woman who earned four emmys, an alfred i. Most people dont write their memoirs until later in life so perhaps providence provoked jessica savitch to write her life story only a short time before her untimely death in october, 1983.
Posthumously she became the subject of two biographies and a television film, almost golden. The factbased true story of the rapid rise to fame and untimely death of. The script paints a psychological profile of a father. It stars sela ward as tv anchor jessica savitch, a moneyhungry, drugaddicted woman who falls from grace when her vices and vicious words are brought to light. She struggled with suicide she finds her husband hanging dead in the basement, drugs, alcohol, and eating disorders, while battling her complusive desire to be the best and rise to the top in what has to date been a mans world. Savitch s life was the subject of a lifetime television madefortv movie starring sela ward called almost golden. This book opened my eyes to the real jessica savitchnot the golden girl that ic and the media have made her out to be. Interesting and informative biography from the late nbc newswoman jessica savitch. However, i do find it eerie that jessica savitch s book anchorwoman was published in october 1982 and she unexpectedly died in october 1983via wikipedia and an adweek online sourcethe book copy that i ordered from amazon lists the edition of this book to have a printing history of g. Savitch rose to fame quickly despite her erratic and outofcontrol personal life.
Sela ward was nominated for an emmy award for her portrayal of savitch, the ambitious 1980s tv phenomenon, who rose to fame quickly despite her erratic and often outofcontrol personal life. Insecurity and substance abuse plague the rising newswoman sela ward until her death at age 36 in a 1983 car accident. Blond, beautiful, immensely popular with the public, jessica savitch had it all. P putnam in october 1982 and berkley edition november 1983. The factbased true story of the rapid rise to fame and untimely death of jessica savitch one of americas first female news anchors. Immediately after the movie, lifetime will present an unusually detailed, onehour documentary on savitch that weaves together photos, personal effects, home movies and copious news clips. The jessica savitch story tv movie 1995 soundtracks on imdb. While gwenda blair in her excellent almost golden p. Jessica savitch and the selling of television news books tell you. The word golden jumps from the title of two new books about jessica savitch, the broadcaster who rocketed to network stardom in the 1970s and.
I dont remember much about this book except that savitchs story was so, so sad. With sela ward, ron silver, judith ivey, jeffrey demunn. Dupontcolumbia university award, and election to the board of trustees at ithaca college. The word golden jumps from the title of two new books about jessica savitch, the broadcaster who rocketed to network stardom in the 1970s and then died tragically five years ago at the age of 35. The jessica savitch story stars a peroxided sela ward sisters in a movie based on gwenda blairs book about the troubled nbc correspondentanchorwoman who died in a 1983 auto. Dutton this fall, alanna nash calls savitch a commercial for the american dream. Ward continued giving notable performances, including the titular character in the tv biopic almost golden.
The jessica savitch story starring sela ward in this docudrama on directv. Jessica savitch and the selling of television news. Bfi members venue hire viewing theatre hire archive content sales and licensing book a film for your cinema stills sales connect with us facebook. Playing teddy on nbcs sisters, shes a recovering alcoholic. Jessica constantly searches for the perfect love, the perfect career and she never seemed to fulfill her dreams. The story of jessica savitch hardcover september 28, 1988 by alanna nash author. Jessica savitch and the selling of television news blair, gwenda on. Jessica savitch earned the love and respect of millions of americans as nbcs first anchorwoman. Ward is compelling as a woman who is a picture of perfect poise when the camera light is on, even as her private life descends into chaos. Two books written about savitch following her death, almost golden and. Jessica savitch and the selling of television news gwenda blair. Remembering jessica savitch 30 years after her death. Reviewed in the united states on september 20, 2012.
Jessica savitch and the selling of television news this link is to an external site that may or may not meet accessibility guidelines. Memorable quotes and exchanges from movies, tv series and more. Based on the book of the same name by gwenda blair, this madeforcable drama chronicles the life and premature death of nbc anchorwoman jessica savitch. She arrives 30 minutes late at the four seasons hotel restaurant to discuss her lifetime movie almost golden. Savitchs family and former colleagues at kywtv, philadelphia, have formed a protectorate around her, vilifying gwenda blair and her book, almost golden, for making savitch. The story of jessica savitch dutton, 1988 by alanna nash, became the basis of the 1996 theatrical film up close and personal starring michelle pfeiffer and robert redford.
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