Bob Eliot

[Dib9@aol.com]

TV reporter Bob Elliot of WMTW- TV8 Poland Springs/Auburn/Portland died today
at the age of 47.  Elliot, who had a history of heart troubles, apparently
collasped while riding his bicycle at a state park in Cape Elizabeth.  Elliot
was transported to Maine Medical Center in Portland, where he was declard
dead at 11:27 am.

Elliot, a Maine native, was a network correspondent for NBC covering Latin
America and the southwest before returning to Maine in 1986.  He became one
of the state's most popular TV reporters while working at WCSH Portland.  He
was best know for his "Bob's Basement" reports which appeared weekly on WCSH.
  Bob's features were very funny and featured his quircky sense of humor and
views on life.   The station released a couple of video tapes that featured
"The Best of Bob's Basement."  He also was an exceptional reporter who had a
knack for getting people to talk to him.  he clearly had the talent to
continue his acreer at the network level but returned to his home state
becasue he loved Maine and was "tired of walking through other people's
nightmares."

Elliot resigned from WCSH last November after a picture taken of the Governor
on Election Night showed Elliot drinking a beer in the background.  While
Elliot maintained that he had complted his work for the evening, the front
page photo was an embarrasement for the station.  Elliot went to work for
perenial third place WMTW in February.  While his addition did not make any
difference in the spring ratings, it was a big coup for the station.

I met Bob several times while producing the morning show at WGAN.  He was as
smart and funny off the air as on.  He was a down to earth guy, who enjoyed
his work and did not take himself too seriously.  Though he was probably the
most populat TV person in the market, he always considered himself and acted
like a regular guy.  He was a great reporter who could be truly funny on the
air.  A rare talent.  He was also a solid reporter who wasn't afraid to put a
slightly different spin on a story.

Elliot's death was the lead story at 6 on all three local stations.  His
former employer, WCSH, showed alot of class by leading the news with Elliot's
death.  Anchor Pat Callahan gave a personal farewell to his friend.  WMTW
went a little over board on the story.  They devoted their entire 6 pm
newscast to the story.  They did no other news, only sports and weather and
even the sports and weather people mentioned Elliot during their reports.
 While Elliot's death was a big story and a tradgedy, elimating all other
news to cover the story was a bit much.  Other prominent Mainers have died
recently (Ed Muskie, local philanthropist Elizabeth Noyes, Margaret Chase
Smith) and not got nearly the coverage on the local news.  Apparently being
on TV is more important.  It makes you wonder about the perspective of the
people at WMTW.

Dan Billings
Bowdoinham, Maine

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