Last Known Recorded Broadcast - NBC News Digest With Jessica Savitch (1983)

Here's a mostly complete NBC News Digest with Jessica Savitch. This is notable for being one of her last appearances on television before her untimely and tragic death on Sunday, October 23rd 1983. (This is the latest one found so far - it is certainly possible that someone could find another News Digest with her from sometime within 10-18-83 through 10-21-83)

October was not a good month for her, starting out on October 3rd with this infamous, apparently drug-impaired NBC News Digest appearance.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lr8AEx...

Also includes a commercial for Michelob Light.

Opening voiceover by Bill Hanrahan.

This aired on local Chicago TV on Tuesday, October 18th 1983 at about 8:55pm.

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The Museum of Classic Chicago Television's primary mission is the preservation and display of off-air, early home videotape recordings (70s and early 80s, primarily) recorded off of any and all Chicago TV channels; footage which would likely be lost if not sought out and preserved digitally. Even though (mostly) short clips are displayed here, we preserve the entire broadcasts in our archives - the complete programs with breaks (or however much is present on the tape), for historical purposes. For information on how to help in our mission, to donate or lend tapes to be converted to DVD, and to view more of the 3,900+ (and counting) video clips available for viewing in our online archive, please visit us at:
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• Category

  Entertainment

[Lori Savitch]

According to the NBC Archives (reported to me by a representative from the Paley Center for Media) Jessica's last appearance was on Friday, October 21, 1983 - 48 hours prior to her death. It has been accurately reported that she was NOT fired after the infamous October 3 broadcast. In fact, she continued in her role at NBC as this October 18 clip clearly attests. It's your choice to believe whatever you like. Thank you for posting this clip.

[FuzzyMemoriesTV]

Thanks Lori. Very neat that you were able to pinpoint her last TV appearance. She did two digests a night, correct? So the later one on 10-21-83 would have been the final one I presume. Thanks for carrying the torch for your sister's legacy and for caring about accurate information.

[MrDHiland]

Jessica Savitch was very professional in her job, and a pleasure to watch. Her voice was very smooth and pleasant to the ear. I remember her well...and was very saddened to hear of her untimely death. It is very sad that she passed at such a young age. I'm sure she inspired many young girls, during her career, to go into the broadcasting business. That would be a fitting legacy for her life.

[chubwright79]

Jessica savitch was a stunning looking woman.

[MisterRightAway]

Climate change by the 1990's? What were they THINKING?!? LOL!

Jessica was the best. We viewers who were fans still miss her. She's gone, sure, but not forgotten. She may have had a short life, but she left a lasting impression...

[Barry I. Grauman]

''...and on 'NBC NEWS OVERNIGHT'."

[MickeyMorandini1]

God I love watching this woman and I wasn't even alive in 1983. She was hot and shes one of my favorites in the history of my profession...broadcasting

[MickeyMorandini1]

It is a shame that Jessica never had the chance to do what major network anchors like Megyn Kelly do on election nights. She would have been awesome at it. She would have been better than Kelly, Sawyer and Couric, ect. Imagine how cool it would have been to watch her do the classic 2000 election while Rather sat home on the couch drinking a beer. hahaha

[BettinaBalser]

Lori...I want you to know that I idolized Jessica when I was a girl (I was born in 1970, so my "fangirl" days coincided with her career at NBC). I still think of her daily. She looms large in my memories. God bless you.

[ntsecrets]

Funny I was in kindergarten when this aired, and she mentions near the end the prediction that we will see "climate change" in the 1990s that we are now living in the reality of...

[L.Dot. M.]

she has a noticeable accent

[ec295]

I'm only 35. I'm thankful for media that shows Jessica at work. I am proud to say that she's a hero of mine. After seeing the "Intimate Portrait" special, I started reading. I kept reading because I continued to read about her strong work ethic & many kind acts toward people & animals. She loved news as a kid & worked so hard. Clips like this allow us to see U.S. & world history from a great speaker. She is one example from a family that has worked to help people be more educated & healthier.