Years active 1965-Present Name Bill Tush | Role Humorist | |
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Born October 16, 1948 (age 75) ( 1948-10-16 ) Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Occupation Broadcast Journalist Comedian | ||
First Captain Space Bill Tush Jan Hooks
Bill Tush (born 1948) is an American news journalist and humorist.
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Biography
Tush began his career as a radio disk jockey in 1965 in Latrobe, Pennsylvania, hosting the station's Mid Morning Polka Party. His radio career landed him in Atlanta, in 1974, where he would eventually join Ted Turner at his then-local television station, WTCG, channel 17. As WTCG evolved into SuperStation WTBS, Tush became a jack of many trades at the station, voicing over station promos and identifications, appearing in commercials, hosting movies and reading the news at 3 am, about which Turner jokingly commented, "we have a 100% share at this time". Tush would often read the news with his co-anchor Rex, a German Shepherd in shirt and tie.
Because of the cult popularity of the satirical overnight newscasts, Turner gave Tush his own comedy sketch show in 1980, simply called Tush. The cast included such newcomers as SNL's Jan Hooks and Bonnie and Terry Turner (SNL writers and co-creators of 3rd Rock from the Sun and That '70s Show). The hour-long program aired at 12:05 am Eastern time on Friday and Saturday nights. Although the show ceased production one year later, reruns aired through May 28, 1983. The following week its old timeslot was filled by a six-hour music video program called Night Tracks. Ironically, though, later that year, Tush made a comedic appearance in a Night Tracks sales presentation video playing an investigative reporter. Having no further work at WTBS for him, Turner eventually dispatched Tush to Hollywood to host a new entertainment show, People Now, on Turner's then-relatively-new CNN channel. Eventually, Tush became senior entertainment correspondent for CNN in 1993 and relocated to New York City to host Showbiz Today.
Tush retired from Turner Broadcasting System to pursue other interests, including writing and producing, in 2003. Tush decided to return to Atlanta, where he originally obtained fame.
Tush made a rare public appearance September 12, 2009, at Atlanta's Variety Playhouse to introduce Darryl Rhoades & the Hahavishnu Orchestra Celebration.