Hugh Downs, Longtime Host of '20/20' and the 'Today' Show, Dies at 99

, a weekday morning program starring Arlene Francis, when he was asked to joinin a similar capacity. He and Paar started on the late-night program, then broadcast live from the Hudson Theatre in New York, in July 1957.

Downs would wind up substituting for Paar as host more than any other person — and that came in handy when the comedian abruptly walked off the set on Feb. 11, 1960, right in the middle of his monologue. “There was a tendency to think that an announcer was a rich guy who threw his golf clubs in a high-powered car and motored out to the links, but it wasn’t like that at all,” he said. “There was no glamour, it was hard work.

After he became program director and had his salary doubled, Downs left for a similar post at a Detroit radio station in 1940. He once broadcast from a dance hall that was hosting bandleader Xavier Cugat and his bongo player, Desi Arnaz.

I remember being a kid being allowed to stay up on a Friday after TGIF went off hearing his voice announcing 20/20. RIP

My dad was a writer/producer for the Today Show for much of the Hugh Downs era. Hugh’s death reminds me of one of the thrills of my youth, flying with Hugh and dad from LaGuardia to the Taylor Winery in the Finger Lakes in Hugh’s twin engine plane. We took off behind a DC-10.

DianaHollins 🙏🏼

If only this WAS 2020... thank you Hugh Downs! Take us with you!

RIP HUGH DOWNS!

ScottTaylorTV 🙏🙏

Man, I remember being as excited for 20/20 as I was TGIF when I was a kid. riphughdowns

BaBaWaWa and Hugh

😥😓😪

Hugh was so smooth. RIP

RIP Hugh Downs.

Oh, how the world already misses a congenial broadcaster. RIP.

RIP Hugh Downs, you stood tall among those who stimulated my interest in telling the full story, not just the snapshot of 200 or 400 words.

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